Reserved and centered Slot can savour Liverpool’s success as title beckons | Liverpool

Arne Slot was denied the right Feyenoord ending by PSV, when his crew completed seven factors behind their rivals, albeit having gained the Dutch Cup. Eleven months on, he’s poised to mark his first season as Liverpool’s head coach by turning into a Premier League champion and will seal the trophy by defeating a PSV and Manchester United legend, Ruud van Nistelrooy, and confirming Leicester’s relegation.

Ideas of spite won’t enter Slot’s thoughts, nevertheless. He has been reserved since arriving at Anfield, however followers would experience finishing a merited title triumph on the King Energy on Sunday. The added needle is way wanted as a result of Liverpool’s superiority has made the title race tedious. Others are responsible for that.

The benefit over second-placed Arsenal is 13 factors with six video games remaining. A defeat for the Gunners at Ipswich on Sunday adopted by a Liverpool win would enable Slot to plan his outfit for the open-top bus parade. Contemplating his facet’s 100% file in opposition to the underside three – of 5 wins, 15 targets scored and 5 conceded – nobody can be panicking at enjoying doomed Leicester.

Regardless of the failings of these heading down and the hole on the prime, Liverpool’s success and consistency shouldn’t be underestimated. Slot is adamant English soccer is the world’s greatest, prompting him to run by means of a few of the season’s troublesome video games. “Wolves at residence, even Southampton at residence, Plymouth away, which isn’t even at Premier League stage,” he says, earlier than mentioning this month’s defeat at Fulham.

Smaller golf equipment are much less aggressive within the Dutch prime division, he says. “It’s not solely the Eredivisie. You see this in Spain, you see this in Italy. A number of managers have mentioned one thing about that.”

Liverpool wanted a late winner to beat West Ham final Sunday. “They’ve gamers that may play for us and also you don’t see that within the Italian league, you don’t see this within the Spanish league, you don’t see this within the Eredivisie,” Slot says. “You solely see this within the Premier League and that’s why it’s such a preferred league. That’s why individuals pay a lot cash, broadcasters, and that’s why we will convey so many good gamers in.”

This season’s most interesting crew do not need the model of a peak Pep Guardiola facet, however they set the usual early with unfussy 2-0 wins over Ipswich and Brentford. The spectacular type of Mohamed Salah has helped Liverpool sit prime since 2 November and regardless of the odd flirtation from chasers they’ve by no means seemed like shedding their grip on first place due to ruthless effectivity.

Considerations that Virgil van Dijk, Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold would depart for nothing this summer season grew all through the season, however supplied no on-field distraction. This month the Dutchman and Egyptian dedicated to Liverpool however the England defender will nearly actually pack his luggage for the Bernabéu. Van Dijk did loads of badge kissing and it didn’t really feel performative; he all the time wished to remain as a result of life doesn’t get higher than being prime of the league.

The expertise of Van Dijk and Salah has been key and so they deserve the best to raise the trophy with out contractual shadows over them. It will have been bittersweet for Liverpool to win the league and lose three males who’ve contributed a lot over the previous eight years.

Leicester haven’t supplied anybody with a lot of a problem beneath Van Nistelrooy, who was PSV supervisor in 2022-23 when Slot gained the Eredivisie with Feyenoord. Final Saturday’s draw in opposition to Brighton introduced their first level and league targets since late January. Slot ought to have the ability to head residence to the Netherlands after the match for a two-day break a joyful man, even when the title has to attend.

He has not deliberate how he’ll have fun securing Liverpool’s record-equalling twentieth championship. “I’m solely desirous about making an attempt to win a recreation of soccer in opposition to Leicester,” he says. Others won’t be believed, however Slot has by no means let his focus drift. Solely when mathematically assured will he actually get pleasure from himself.

Supporters, gamers and coaches typically need to full the job on residence turf, but when that’s not to be the case for Liverpool – who might additionally win the title on Wednesday with out enjoying, when Arsenal host Crystal Palace – they are going to be placated if issues are completed and dusted early. There have been two league defeats, considerably surprisingly in opposition to Nottingham Forest in addition to Fulham. Liverpool cruised previous Manchester Metropolis in two fixtures, making them look a shadow of the one which twice edged Jürgen Klopp’s heavy metallic band into second.

Months of arduous work has alleviated the stress. “The one factor I care about is the league desk,” Slot says. “I like to have a look at it in the intervening time and I hope I can nonetheless like to have a look at it in a single, two, three, 4, 5 or 6 video games.” The time for fear will quickly be over.