In a moment of pure class, Liverpool head coach Arne Slot led the Anfield faithful in a rousing chant for his predecessor, Jürgen Klopp, moments after guiding the Reds to their 20th English top-flight title with a commanding 5-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur. The gesture reciprocated Klopp’s own gracious act a year earlier, when he serenaded Slot’s arrival with a chant during his emotional farewell speech at Anfield.
The Dutchman, who took the reins from Klopp in the summer of 2024, has defied expectations in his debut season, steering Liverpool to the Premier League crown with four games to spare. The title, secured in front of a packed Anfield, marks the club’s first championship celebrated with fans since 1990, erasing the bittersweet memory of their 2020 triumph during COVID-19 restrictions. Goals from Luis Díaz, Alexis Mac Allister, Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah, and an own goal by Destiny Udogie sealed the rout against Spurs, sparking wild celebrations across Merseyside.
As the final whistle blew, Slot took center stage on the Anfield pitch, microphone in hand, and turned the spotlight on Klopp. “The only thing I can do now is to show my appreciation to Jürgen,” Slot declared, before launching into a rendition of “Jürgen Klopp, na na na na na,” sung to the tune of Opus’ 1984 hit Live Is Life. The Anfield crowd erupted, joining Slot in honoring the man who had laid the foundation for this success during his nine-year tenure. The chant echoed the one Klopp had initiated for Slot on May 19, 2024, after his final match in charge, a 2-0 win over Wolves, when he urged fans to welcome his successor with open arms.
Slot’s tribute was more than a symbolic nod—it underscored the seamless transition from Klopp’s high-octane “heavy metal” football to Slot’s more controlled, possession-based “chamber music” style. “The work Jürgen and Pep [Lijnders] did—the culture, work-rate, quality—was outstanding,” Slot told Sky Sports. “I’m 99.9% sure that if I pick up my phone, there will be a message from Jürgen,” he added, highlighting the ongoing bond between the two managers.
The 46-year-old Dutchman, who became the fifth manager to win the Premier League in his debut season, inherited a squad largely built by Klopp, with only Federico Chiesa added as a significant signing. Subtle tweaks—such as longer, less intense training sessions, a shift to a 4-2-3-1 formation, and a focus on midfield control—transformed Liverpool into a relentless winning machine. The Reds amassed 82 points, spending 206 days atop the Premier League table, 165 more than any other team.
For Liverpool fans, the moment was deeply personal. “It’s special to win it at Anfield—it’s very difficult to describe,” said Mohamed Salah, who celebrated his 185th Premier League goal, overtaking Sergio Agüero’s record for a foreign player. “This is 100% better than last time [in 2020]. The feeling is unbelievable.” Captain Virgil van Dijk, the first non-British skipper to lead Liverpool to a top-flight title, dedicated the triumph to the supporters: “I was desperate to win it for them and all the fans around the world.”
Klopp, now head of global soccer for Red Bull, had set the tone for this unity a year ago. In his farewell speech, he led the Kop in singing “Arne Slot, na na na na na,” a moment that resonated far beyond Anfield, with fans in Slot’s hometown of Zwolle, Netherlands, chanting it outside his home. “This says the most about him,” Slot reflected at the time, marveling at Klopp’s selflessness.
The mutual respect between the two managers has become a defining narrative of Liverpool’s 2024-25 season. Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane praised Slot’s “amazing job,” while Gary Neville admitted he was “stunned” by Liverpool’s dominance, having predicted a fifth-place finish. “You’d have thought they needed locking up if they said Liverpool would be here,” Keane quipped on Sky Sports.