Slot pays tribute to Klopp after Liverpool's title win

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot paid homage to predecessor Jurgen Klopp immediately after they were crowned champions for the second time in the Premier League.

Slot led Liverpool to glory in his first season in charge, with a record-equalling 20th title in the top flight confirmed following a 5-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday. And the Dutchman was quick to express his gratitude to Klopp for the squad that he bequeathed.

“It feels great. I don’t think I want to say a lot. The only thing now is to send my appreciation to Jurgen Klopp,” Slot said.

“The work Jurgen and Pep [Lijnders, Klopp’s assistant] did – the culture, work-rate, quality – was outstanding.”

The Dutchman then got the crowd to sing Opus’ 1984 track “Live Is Life” but replaced the lyrics “Arne Slot” with “Jurgen Klopp”.

This was a reference to the same song that Klopp had sung to Anfield after his final match in charge, inserting his successor’s name in the lyrics.

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“I am 99.9 per cent sure that if I pick up my phone there will be a message from Jurgen,” Slot later told BBC Match of the Day.

“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.”

Slot: No way we were going to lose

It is Liverpool’s first Premier League title since 2019/20, however the stands were empty due to the COVID-19 restrictions and Slot was determined his side would not disappoint in front of an expectant and packed Anfield, especially after ex-Liverpool striker Dominic Solanke put Spurs ahead.

“The way we arrived on the bus, everyone was thinking there is no way we were going to lose this game. Conceding first made it difficult, but they always find a way to win,” Slot added.

“Incredibly proud, but not only of the players. Everyone knows what effort they’ve put in over the last few years. Everyone standing here, you [the fans] should give them a wonderful applause as well.

“Let’s forget that it’s the second [title] in 35 years, it’s the second in five years.”