Arne Slot can become national champion with Liverpool for the twentieth time on Sunday evening. But the Premier League leaders will be dependent on their closest rivals, Arsenal.
Embed from Getty Images
Liverpool are hungry for the league title only their second in the past 35 years.
The atmosphere around Anfield is electric, filled with anticipation, passion, and belief. This is more than just another season; it’s a potential turning point in the club's modern era, and much of that hope rests on the shoulders of Arne Slot. The Dutchman, who only took over at the start of the season, has quickly won over the fans with his composed leadership, attacking philosophy, and smart squad management. Now, he stands on the verge of history.
Slot could become the first Dutch manager in Premier League history to win the title a remarkable achievement considering the league’s competitiveness and the dominance of big names like Pep Guardiola, Jürgen Klopp, and Mikel Arteta in recent years. No Dutch coach has ever conquered the English top flight since the Premier League was established in 1992, making Slot’s potential triumph not just a personal milestone but a significant moment for Dutch football as a whole.
Liverpool’s campaign has been one of resilience and reinvention. After a few transitional years following their 2019-20 title win under Klopp, the Reds have bounced back with a more balanced and dynamic side. Slot has given new roles to several players and leaned heavily on experienced figures like Virgil van Dijk, who himself is on the verge of writing his name in the history books.
If Liverpool lift the Premier League trophy this season, Van Dijk would become the first Dutch captain ever to do so a moment of immense pride for the Netherlands and for the centre-back who has been a rock at the heart of Liverpool’s defence. He’s already considered one of the best defenders of his generation, but this achievement would elevate his legacy even further.
All eyes will be on Easter Sunday, where the title race could take a dramatic turn. Arsenal, sitting just behind Liverpool in the table, will face Ipswich Town away earlier in the day. Ipswich are in serious trouble, staring relegation in the face, and need a miracle to avoid the drop. However, should Ipswich pull off an unlikely upset against Mikel Arteta’s side, they would not only boost their own survival hopes but also hand Liverpool a golden opportunity to secure the title with five games to spare.
That, of course, hinges on Liverpool doing their part later in the day. The Reds host Leicester City at 17:30 in a fixture that carries huge implications at both ends of the table. Leicester, under the guidance of another Dutch figure – Ruud van Nistelrooy – are fighting for their Premier League lives. A defeat at Anfield would confirm their relegation, just a few years after their fairy-tale title win in 2016.
There’s a poetic twist to this clash: two Dutchmen on opposite sides of the technical area, each with everything to lose or gain. For Slot, it’s glory; for Van Nistelrooy, it’s survival. The stakes could not be higher, and the pressure will be immense. But this is what football is all about – drama, emotion, and the fine margins that define success and failure.
Should both results go their way an Ipswich win or draw against Arsenal, and a Liverpool victory over Leicester Arne Slot would achieve something extraordinary: winning the Premier League in his debut season. Only three managers have ever done that: José Mourinho with Chelsea in 2004-05, Carlo Ancelotti with Chelsea in 2009-10, and Manuel Pellegrini with Manchester City in 2013-14. Slot would join that elite group, etching his name alongside some of the greatest tacticians of the modern game.
In Liverpool’s storied history, only two managers have won the league in their first season at the club. Joe Fagan achieved it in 1984, and club legend Kenny Dalglish followed in 1986. The fact that Slot is even in the conversation alongside these figures speaks volumes about his impact in such a short span.
Of course, nothing is guaranteed yet. The Premier League is notorious for its unpredictability, and anything can happen in the final stretch. But Liverpool fans dare to dream. The club is within touching distance of a 20th league title – one that would tie them with Manchester United for the most in English football history. That in itself would be a symbolic and emotional victory, rekindling the eternal rivalry with their northern rivals.
For now, all eyes turn to Sunday first to Ipswich, then to Anfield. It could be a historic day in English football. Arne Slot, Virgil van Dijk, and Liverpool Football Club are on the brink.
Updated: 11:44, 20 Apr 2025
