Liverpool needs just sixteen more points to crown themselves champions of England. Club legend Dirk Kuijt can't wait for that day.
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Liverpool is twelve points clear at the top of the Premier League table with only nine matches remaining, and excitement is rapidly building among fans who can almost taste another league triumph.
What makes this title charge so remarkable is the fact that it has come in a season of major transition. After nearly a decade under Jürgen Klopp a manager who reshaped the club’s modern identity and brought long-awaited silverware back to Anfield Liverpool have not just managed to stay competitive, they’ve thrived. And that, according to club legend Dirk Kuijt, is down to one man: Arne Slot.
Slot arrived at Liverpool under immense pressure. Replacing a figure like Klopp, who had become almost mythic among the Anfield faithful, was never going to be easy. Klopp didn’t just win trophies; he built a culture. He re-established Liverpool among Europe’s elite, won the Champions League in 2019, and delivered the club’s first league title in 30 years in 2020. His emotional departure at the end of the 2023–24 season left fans with heavy hearts and high anxiety. Who could possibly follow him?
In stepped Arne Slot, a man known in the Netherlands for his tactical sharpness and calm demeanor. His work at AZ Alkmaar and, more prominently, Feyenoord, had earned him widespread praise. At Feyenoord, he took a struggling club and made them champions again, instilling a modern, possession-based style with dynamic pressing and positional intelligence. But the Premier League, and Liverpool in particular, is a different beast.
That’s what makes what Slot has done in his debut season so astonishing. He didn’t just survive the transition he owned it.
“I was very happy when Arne joined Liverpool because I knew what he was capable of after doing so well at Feyenoord,” Dirk Kuijt told The Athletic. “But no one expected it to go this well, except maybe Arne himself. He’s managed to build on Jürgen’s work and do it in his own way. Yes, he inherited a strong squad, but the way he’s gotten them to adapt so quickly to his philosophy has been incredible. At times, he’s made Premier League matches look easy, and that’s no small feat in a league this competitive.”
Kuijt, who played for Liverpool between 2006 and 2012, is no stranger to the highs and lows of English football. A tireless forward who earned the adoration of fans for his work rate, commitment, and knack for scoring big goals, he never won the Premier League himself. That fact still stings but seeing a fellow Dutchman lead Liverpool to potential glory fills him with pride.
“Everyone said that whoever came in after Jürgen would have a really hard time, because it's not easy to replace a legend,” Kuijt continued. “We all remember how hard it was for Klopp at the beginning—those early struggles, trying to get the team to press, to believe, to evolve. But Arne has done that in no time. When I watch Liverpool now, I sometimes feel like I’m watching his teams from AZ Alkmaar or Feyenoord. The positional play, the quick ball circulation, the calmness in possession it’s all there.”
Indeed, Slot’s influence is visible in every area of the pitch. The full-backs play narrower, tucking into midfield. The press is coordinated, but less frantic than under Klopp, with more emphasis on controlling the tempo. Players like Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo already familiar with Slot’s Dutch-style philosophy have flourished. Even veterans like Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk have bought into the new approach, providing leadership while adapting their roles slightly to fit the new system.
Tactically, Slot has kept the high-intensity DNA of Klopp’s Liverpool but infused it with greater control. Whereas Klopp’s Reds sometimes lived and died by chaos, Slot’s version dictates games more methodically, grinding down opponents with sustained pressure and technical superiority. This has made Liverpool more consistent over 90 minutes, less reliant on moments of individual brilliance, and better suited to handling the demands of four competitions.
Off the pitch, Slot has also proven himself to be a strong communicator humble, clear, and quietly charismatic. He hasn’t tried to emulate Klopp’s larger-than-life persona, but rather brought his own flavor of leadership. Players have responded positively, with reports suggesting training sessions have been intense but rewarding, and that morale inside the dressing room is sky-high.
Kuijt, now watching from afar but still deeply emotionally invested, senses something historic unfolding.
“It’s going to be absolutely amazing,” he said with a grin. “That Arne could win the Premier League in his first season as manager is something no one will ever forget. We’ve all seen the parades through the city after winning the Champions League in 2019. But I think winning the Premier League, especially after such a transition, will mean even more to the people. It’s going to be absolute madness both in the stadium and in the city.”
Indeed, the significance of winning the Premier League goes beyond just sporting achievement. For Liverpool fans, it is a badge of honor, a validation of their club’s stature, and a reminder that even amid change, their standards remain sky-high. It would also cement Slot’s legacy at Anfield, no matter what comes next.
As the business end of the season approaches, Liverpool still face crucial matches that could define their campaign. But with a healthy lead at the top, momentum on their side, and a team clicking at just the right time, belief is growing that the title is within reach.
And if that happens, it won’t just be a triumph for the players on the pitch it will be a victory for Arne Slot, for the fans, and for the club’s future. Dirk Kuijt, like millions of supporters around the world, is ready to celebrate.
