Football in England: Liverpool celebrates the championship and Klopp successor Slot

At the moment of his greatest success so far, Liverpool coach Arne Slot danced and thanked Jürgen Klopp. The fact that FC Liverpool is the 20th time English football champion is also the merit of its predecessor. “He left me a team that the trophy could win,” said Slot on the lawn of Angeldd, while the fans celebrated in the stands and the players on the pitch.

After all, the master coach even sang “Jürgen Klopp – Nana Nanana” – a thank you for the fact that Klopp had sung his name a year ago. “I think this is something that no coach has ever done before,” said Slot beaming. “That definitely helped me.”

Slot exceeds all expectations

Almost exactly a year ago, the Dutch was announced as the successor to Klopp. At that time, many doubted that Slot could fill out the big footsteps that the popular and successful German coach had left in Anfield after eight and a half years. Even if Slot made a good impression on the media and fans from the start: Nobody could expect that the transition would go so smoothly.

Four game days before the end of the Premier League season, the Reds made the championship perfect with a 5-1 win against Tottenham Hotspur. In view of the strong competition on the island, this is an impressive success. Many experts had typed before the season that FC Arsenal could win the title after two runner -up championships. Some trusted Manchester City the fifth championship in series.

Liverpool as the title candidate had practically nobody on the piece of paper, not even slot himself. “When the season started, we would have been satisfied with a place in the first four,” said the 46-year-old, who was always modest. “But I think that’s not quite fair to the players, because they are much better – and they showed that this season.”

Agreement between slot and goal scorer Salah

Compared to the previous season, the squad remained largely unchanged. The only prominent newcomer was Federico Chiesa, who, however, struggled with injuries and only came on four league missions. The most important change under slot: Compared to the breathless and sometimes chaotic “heavy metal football” from Klopp, the Dutch focused on a more controlled but no less intensive style of play with more possession.

“I don’t have to defend that much anymore. His tactics are different,” confirmed the outstanding striker Mohamed Salah, who has a large part in winning the championship with 28 goals and attributes it to an agreement with slot. “I told him:” If you relieve me defensively, I will deliver aggressively “, and I am glad that I did it. He went into it and you can see that now.”

Despite the championship, Liverpool has to increase

Until the beginning of the year, it even looked like FC Liverpool could play for four titles. But then the sobering was followed in the FA Cup against two-division club Plymouth, the final defeat in the league cup against Newcastle United and finally the bitter departure in the Champions League after penalty shootout against Paris Saint-Germain.

After you benefited in this Premier League season that Manchester City weakened unusually and the title favorite Arsenal played too often, Liverpool will have to increase in the next season in order to have a chance to defend the title.

The club will have to be active on the transfer market. Torgarians Salah and leaders Virgil van Dijk were extended. On the other hand, Liverpool will have to do without another top performer in the future: Trent Alexander-Arnold is reportedly faced with a move to Real Madrid. His departure will hurt the reds.

Finally a real master celebration after 35 years

First, after winning the 20th championship title, through the Liverpool with the archrival Manchester United, celebrations are announced. Slot released his team for Monday. The right master celebration will take place on May 25th after the last home game. Then Liverpool is given the Premier League trophy. A moment that many fans have been waiting for for 35 years.

When the team won the league for the first time after 30 years after 30 years, the ranks in the stadium were empty due to the Corona pandemic and the long-awaited triumph could not be celebrated appropriately.

The second championship title will feel all the more valuable in five years for supporters and players from Liverpool. “It is unbelievable to win that with our fans,” enthused Salah, who had celebrated his goal for 4-1 with a selfie in front of the stands. “This is 100 percent better than the last time.”