LIVERPOOL, England : Moments after the final whistle sounded to confirm Liverpool as Premier League champions in a remarkable debut season for manager Arne Slot, the Dutchman paid tribute to the man who helped pave the way for his success at the Merseyside club.
Slot's post-match salute to the delirious Liverpool fans at Anfield involved leading them in a song about the club's beloved former manager Juergen Klopp.
After his emotional final game with Liverpool last season, Klopp, who won seven major trophies in his nine years on Merseyside, had encouraged the Anfield faithful to sing the same song - set to the tune of Austrian band Opus's "Life is Life" - about the incoming Slot.
Klopp's classy gesture stuck with the 46-year-old Slot.
"Because of what (Klopp) did, before I even arrived here," Slot said, when asked why he paid tribute to the German who guided Liverpool to the 2020 Premier League title.
"I think that is something that not even one manager ever did before, so that definitely helped me.
"He helped me even more with the team he left behind and the culture he left behind, the culture of hard work, not only from players but also from the staff members had been incredible. For obvious reasons I thought it was a nice moment to thank him as well."
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk had looked disconsolate after Klopp's emotional final game, fighting back tears as he wrapped his boss in a hug on the Anfield pitch that day.
"To replace Juergen, it's a big job and I think the manager did it in his own way together with his staff. He definitely deserves a lot of credit for that," a delighted Van Dijk said on Sunday.
"I don't think anyone - obviously that's been said by so many from the outside world - would have thought
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