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Liverpool manager Arne Slot says his team has a “big responsibility” to wrap up the Premier League title in front of their supporters when they face Tottenham at Anfield on Sunday.
The Reds are on the verge of securing a record-equalling 20th English league title and need just a single point from their final five matches to be confirmed as champions.
Slot’s men can seal the deal this weekend against a Tottenham side currently struggling for form, and the Dutch boss is keen for the title to be decided at home rather than on the road.
Reflecting on Liverpool’s last Premier League triumph, which came during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, Slot acknowledged the club’s desire for a proper celebration this time around. Back then, the trophy lift occurred in an empty stadium due to lockdown restrictions.
“It’s a big responsibility,” Slot told reporters on Friday. “We are aware that the last time this club won the league was during the COVID-19 pandemic. So everybody is looking forward to Sunday.
“We know there’s still a job to do. We need at least one point. Our fans know as well. When they come to the stadium, they have to support us in the best possible way, as they have done all season.
“It’s a nice game to look forward to, but also a responsibility we have for Sunday.”
Liverpool came close to clinching the title earlier this week when Arsenal dropped points in a 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace. Had the Gunners lost, the trophy would have been handed to Liverpool without them kicking a ball.
Slot revealed that he and his players had gathered to watch that match together, hoping for an early celebration. “It was different,” he said. “Normally, when you watch a game of football, you are either alone or with family or friends. But we watched it all together.
“Before the game, I would have been surprised if it ended in a draw. But during the game, I wasn’t, because Crystal Palace again showed what this league is all about.”
Should Liverpool avoid defeat on Sunday, they will match Manchester United’s long-standing record of 20 top-flight titles, adding extra significance to what would be a landmark achievement.
Slot, who succeeded Jurgen Klopp at the start of the season, is set to become the 12th manager to win the Premier League and the first from the Netherlands.
Asked whether he had reflected on the historic implications of such a feat, Slot remained focused: “No, I get these questions, so it comes to your mind, but it is the last thing you think of as a manager at this time.
“We saw last week how hard it was to get a win against Leicester, who were nearly relegated, so I am not getting carried away. We’ve faced Tottenham three times, and I know how difficult it is to beat them.”
Slot’s impressive debut season has seen Liverpool lose just twice in the league. His arrival has reignited the team’s consistency after a disappointing final campaign under Klopp.
“This club has to win trophies,” Slot said. “The good thing is that most managers have worked here for a long time, so you have a few chances to win trophies.
“You are aware of that, but that is not the first thing you think about when you walk through this door.”
Some pundits have argued that Liverpool have benefited from Manchester City’s poor form and injuries that disrupted Arsenal’s challenge. But Slot disagreed.
“Everybody can have their own opinion. That’s the nice thing about the world we live in. I can only speak from my own experience this year.
“In my opinion, it’s never been harder to finish in the top four or five. It’s a difficult league.”
