Slot thanks Klopp after Liverpool seals 'special' title
Arne Slot showed his "appreciation" to former boss Jurgen Klopp after Liverpool wrapped up its second Premier League title in five years.
The Reds sealed their record-equalling 20th English top-flight triumph - moving level with Manchester United - with four games to spare after a 5-1 rout of Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield.
Dominic Solanke's early header threatened to spoil the party, but Liverpool took control with Luis Diaz, Alexis Mac Allister, Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah all on target, before Destiny Udogie put through his own net late on.
The Dutchman also followed in Klopp's footsteps by guiding the Reds to the domestic crown, five years after the German achieved the feat.
"It feels great," Slot said. "I don't think I want to say a lot. The only thing now is to send my appreciation to Jurgen Klopp.
"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.
"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."
Slot has averaged 2.41 points per game in the league this season. Across his 334 top-flight matches in charge of Liverpool, Klopp averaged 2.11 points per game.
The 46 year-old was thrilled to be able to celebrate the triumph with the fans, who were absent five years ago due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
"It is difficult to put into words," he said. "The scenes here and before the game tell you more than I can describe.
"[The fans being here] is what makes it special. [Five] years ago, they won the league. It was an amazing accomplishment, but the fans weren't there.
"So, you can feel how important it was for them to be here. And the boys did an outstanding job today, including our fans."
As for 16th-place Tottenham, it is guaranteed to finish in the bottom half of the Premier League for the first time since the 2007-2008 season (11th place) after its joint-heaviest defeat under Ange Postecoglou.
It was also Spurs' 19th league loss of the campaign, their joint-most in a single term along with 1993-94 and 2003-04, though the head coach knew his players faced an uphill battle against Liverpool.
"We knew the challenge today was going to be a big one," Postecoglou said.
"When you're facing the best team, and on such a massive occasion, it was always going to be a huge ask for us, and it proved too much.
"Credit to Liverpool, worthy champions and they have been the outstanding team all year."
