Arne Slot didn’t take long to add his name to the list of Liverpool managers to have won a league title. And it is, of course, less than a year since Jurgen Klopp was leading the chanting of his name at Anfield before he had even been officially announced.
Here, it was Slot leading the renditions of Klopp’s name that reverberated around a jubilant stadium. Around 11 months after it became clear that he was taking over and stepping into what some might have considered the impossible job, the Dutchman’s side confirmed their place at the top flight’s summit.
If it wasn’t already clear that Slot was the perfect fit to take over from Klopp and guide Liverpool into a new era, the 46-year-old further endeared himself to Reds fans in the aftermath of the game. “Let’s forget it’s the second title in 35 years… it’s the second in five years,” he said, swiftly putting the narrative right.
Slot, like Klopp, seemingly has a habit of saying the right things in the perfect moments. He isn’t as outgoing as his predecessor, and, crucially, he hasn’t tried to imitate him, but the ex-Feyenoord boss has forged his own path.
Slot going out of his way to thank Klopp was not just a polite message, but one that he felt was the right thing to do. It was a heartfelt, unplanned moment, but also one that proves how comfortable he is in his own ability.
Not once since Slot arrived has he talked down the chances of doing something special straight away. While almost everyone else thought there would be a transition period and that winning the league would be too difficult, he never ruled it out.
As well as inheriting a strong roster of players — which, by the way, he has elevated to a new level — Slot also has high standards and demands only the best. He will already be thinking about how to do even better when Liverpool kicks off next season as the reigning champion.
(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
“I am 99.9 per cent sure that if I pick up my phone, there will be a message from Jurgen,” Slot told BBC Match of the Day a little later. “The only thing now is to send my appreciation.
“So many moments in the season, the two of us have had contact. I think he showed last season what a wonderful human being he is by introducing me. But what mattered most is the team he left behind that was able to win the trophy.”
Liverpool has four more games remaining this season and could yet end the campaign on 94 points. Most excitingly, though, there are clear areas where an improvement should be possible, most notably at left-back and number nine.
“The work Jurgen and Pep [Lijnders] did — the culture, work rate, quality — was outstanding,” Slot added, while speaking to Sky Sports. Others have played their part, but it is his name — deservedly — that will be aligned with this title triumph.
