Liverpool FC Dutch manager Arne Slot described the Premier League title win at Anfield as one of the best days of his life, as he turned his thoughts towards next season. The Reds crushed Tottenham 5-1 on Sunday to seal a record-breaking 20th English league title with four games to spare, basking in a sensational atmosphere at their packed home ground.
“Maybe for all the Liverpool fans, but for many of them, one of the best days of their lives, and I think it was the same for me,” said Slot. “The way the whole day went, arriving at the stadium, how intense the fans already were, then during the game going 1-0 behind, so it even felt like, ‘Oh, they’re not going to give it to us, we have to work for it’.”
Scoring the goals and seeing how much it meant to the players and the fans was “really special” for Slot to be a part of. Liverpool’s manager highlighted the significance of the win, stating, “It’s nice that we play some very strong teams with Chelsea, Arsenal, Brighton, and Palace, so that gives an immediate challenge to those games. It’s the end of the season, but we also have to look at this as the start of next season already.”
Slot expressed his surprise at the 22-point gap between his side and Enzo Maresca’s Chelsea, whom he felt were the better team when they met in October, despite Liverpool winning 2-1. “We found a way to win, and that is a quality that we didn’t need a lot, because mostly we were the better team on the pitch,” he said. “But in that game, we had to suffer more than any other game, maybe. So to be so many points ahead of them is a big compliment for everyone here at this club.”
The Dutchman announced plans to rotate players in the final games of the season. “Some of them deserve to play already earlier this season because they’ve trained so well,” he said. “They are good enough to play for this club, but I mainly chose the same players. And I think this is also a moment to see where they are, also looking towards next season maybe a bit already. But definitely also because they deserve to play this season.”
Liverpool’s Premier League triumph is expected to be a boost in terms of recruitment. “Winning the league, having these fans, I think this is a big attraction to every player we want to bring in, and that’s definitely helpful,” Slot said. Captain Virgil van Dijk and top-scorer Mohamed Salah have recently signed new contracts to stay at Liverpool, but Slot said there was no update on Trent Alexander-Arnold, who continues to be linked with a move to Real Madrid in the summer transfer window.
As the season nears its conclusion, Slot’s focus is on maintaining momentum and preparing for the challenges ahead. The Reds will face Chelsea, Arsenal, Brighton, and Crystal Palace in their remaining fixtures, and Slot believes these matches will provide a stern test for his team. With the Premier League title secured, Liverpool can now look forward to next season, with Slot’s comments suggesting a sense of pride and anticipation for what’s to come.