Arne Slot said that Liverpool “always believed” that they could win the Premier League despite entering the season as third favorites behind Manchester City and Arsenal.
The Reds sealed their second Premier League title, and the first in five years, with a storming 5-1 victory over Tottenham over Anfield on Super Sunday, so that they were brought out of sight of the second placed gunners with four more games to go.
Speaking on the back of a title -winning debut in the Premier League, which at least had been unexpectedly outside of Anfield, told Slot Sky Sports that there had always been a feeling that it was possible in the club.
“We were on top of the competition all season, but you also know how difficult the Premier League is,” he said. “The conviction for us to win it was the entire season here.”
“It is difficult to put into words. You can feel how important it was for the fans to be here. We always come back, we always find a way to win. I don't think we can have lost today.
“Our most important focus was to win this game, if you are part of it, you still feel the pressure to get the points over the line.”
Liverpool -captain Virgil van Dijk greeted his side as the “really deserved” champions of England.
“It is special and it is something that we do not naturally consider. It is great,” said the defender Sky Sports while he and his teammates celebrated on the field.
“Many emotions before the game, throughout the week, but we did the job and we have (are) really deserved champions of England.
“(Liverpool is) the most beautiful club in the world and I think we will earn all this. Let's enjoy the next few weeks and let it sink.”
Salah: Has Slot improved me? Look at the numbers!
The improvement of the already impressive figures of MO Salah is one of the highlights of Liverpool's title-winning campaign under lock, whereby the Egyptian on course registered the highest target involvement of each individual player in a Premier League season.
Salah brought his game to new levels under Jurgen Klopp after his transfer from Roma in 2017, but at the end of his first season he worked with lock, he said that the Dutchman had recorded him an acceleration in Anfield.
“You see the numbers, it seems that way,” he told Sky Sports. 'Now I don't have to defend much.
“It is quite difficult to say one thing [different between Klopp and Slot]But the tactics are very different.
“But I told him 'as long as you rest me defensively, I will offer offensive' – so I am glad I did that. Of course it was the manager's idea, but he listens a lot.
“He is very honest. He is Dutch, the Dutch are quite difficult, but he made our lives easier because he immediately asked what he wanted you to do, what we did.”
Redknapp: Liverpool can go again with Tweaks
Former Liverpool -midfielder Jamie Redknapp said that Liverpool would not need important additions for the Premier League next season, despite the expected revival of Man City and the constant threat of Arsenal.
“They have the best center-back in world football with a mile in Van Dijk,” he said. “A keeper who is still at the height of his powers, Salah whose statistics and figures are through the roof.
“Next year it may need a little tweaking, a few players brought in. You have Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes who have phenomenal football knowledge and they will ensure that they find the next Salah or Van Dijk.
“But this doesn't need that much work. This Liverpool side will be a power next year and they are full of confidence.”
Analysis: Slot's subtlety key to success of the first year
Sky Sports' Laura Hunter:
It appears that there is life in Liverpool after Jurgen Klopp – and also silverware! The start Arne Slot has made his Anfield official period remarkable, and the riposte for those who would consider Liverpool would go back to the post-Klopp era.
Slot has been smart but just authentic. When he pays tribute to Klopp's repair work to bring Liverpool back to the European giant they were in the 1980s, he means it.
He sang the name of his predecessor on Sunday about the PA system in the same style in the same style that Klopp sang on his Anfield shed last year. There is mutual respect, but also a concept that what he has achieved would not have been possible without a bone-up from Klopp. The provisional work was transforming.
Slot did not tore the playbook. He didn't have to. A tweak here, a tweak there was everything needed. Less chaos and more control.
Slot deserves a greeting for his dedication, only loses two league matches on the way to the title, scores more goals than any other side and managing the second best defensive record. Liverpool is back on their perch.
How long they stay there will now be the true size of how good the Dutchman really is.