Arne Slot. Photo: photosport
Liverpool only need a point at home against struggling Tottenham Hotspur on Monday to seal a 20th English top-flight title but manager Arne Slot cautioned that there would be no early celebrations from his players until the fulltime whistle.
Following second-placed Arsenal's 2-2 draw with Crystal Palace in midweek, Liverpool can win the Premier League by reaching 80 points from 34 matches in Slot's first season in charge since succeeding Juergen Klopp last year.
"It's a big responsibility," Slot told reporters on Friday.
"We are aware that the last time this club won the league was during COVID time (in 2020), so everybody is looking forward to Sunday. But we know there's still a job to do.
"It's a nice game to look forward to but also a responsibility we have for Sunday. Enjoying is what you do after the referee has blown his whistle (for fulltime)."
The 46-year-old Dutchman has shattered expectations in his first season as Klopp's replacement, with Liverpool losing just twice in the league and leading Arsenal by 12 points with a game in hand.
"I've said many times, when you come in, you just look at how things are looking around you and then you work with your players to create a playing style, which we already knew we wouldn't change too much," Slot said.
"You walk through the doors here or at Anfield, you know this club has to win trophies. That doesn't change when I walked through that door.
"The good thing is that most managers work here for a long time, so you have a lot of chances to win something. You are aware of that but that is not the first thing that you think about when you walk through this door."
Liverpool celebrate a goal to defender Virgil van Dijk (C). Photo: photosport
Slot dismissed questions about whether the Premier League was weaker than in past seasons, with the likes of former champions Manchester City and Manchester United both having poor campaigns.
"Everyone can have their own opinion," he said. "The nice thing in life is that you can share your opinion with everyone. It's difficult (to judge), I've only been here a year. I can only tell you what I've experienced.
"It's never been so exciting for a top four, top five finish. All the years before it was quite clear who would get the top four or five positions.
"In my opinion, it's a really difficult league, that's what I experienced over here. It's really hard to win a game of football, but maybe that tells you something about us."
Liverpool will equal the record of 20 English top-flight title wins with United if they do not lose to Spurs.
Spurs missing Son
Tottenham Hotspur are still without Son Heung-min for the trip to Anfield, manager Ange Postecoglou said.
Ange Postecoglou. Photo: Photosport
South Korean forward Son has missed Tottenham's last three games with a foot injury, and Postecoglou said he is the only injury concern ahead of Sunday's game at Anfield.
Spurs host Bodo/Glimt on Thursday in the first leg of their semi-final tie.
"He's improving, which is positive, but not for Sunday. We'll see (for Thursday)," Postecoglou told reporters.
"It was the first time he got out on the grass today and it's definitely better than what it was.
"It's a foot element, so because it's weight-bearing, you need to give him a bit of rest and time off it."
Liverpool can secure the league title with a draw against Spurs, and while Postecoglou's focus is on the Europa League where his side can salvage a disappointing season with a trophy, he wants his team to put in a good performance at Anfield.
"We want to go there and compete well against a very good side. It's not about getting through unscathed, you want to get through having played well against a top team," Postecoglou said.
"Irrespective of what's on the horizon, that's still of primary importance to us."
Spurs have lost 18 league games this season to leave them 16th in the standings on 37 points and well off the pace for a European spot next season, but Europa League success would not only secure some silverware, but Champions League football.
"We're well aware our league form and position is nowhere near good enough but we also know there's an unbelievable opportunity on the horizon," the manager said.
"That's where the focus is and that's where the focus should be for a club that hasn't had a lot of success recently.
"Collectively, if we give ourselves every opportunity to progress to a final then hopefully the momentum we gain from that will give us a chance to do something special."
Postecoglou was a Liverpool supporter as a boy, but that will be far from his mind on Sunday.
"I'm almost a 60-year-old adult, I've gone past my boyhood crushes. It's got no impact whatsoever," he said.
- Reuters
