JUDGE RED!

THERE has been no message of congratulation from Sir Alex Ferguson. Not yet, anyway.

- BY SIMON MULLOCK

Perhaps the former Manchester United manager, who delivered on his own burning ambition of knocking Liverpool off their perch, is waiting for the moment when Kop boss Arne Slot puts the Merseysiders back up there alongside their biggest rivals.

It says much about how Slot has gone about his job during his first season at Anfield that he needed an explanation as to why this 20th title will have that added touch of 'perch' gravitas.

Thanks to Covid regulations in place for the Reds' 2019-20 title win, Liverpool fans have still not seen their idols crowned champions in the flesh for 35 years.

"What is the perch?" asked Slot, when told about the comment which came to define Ferguson's 27-year reign at Old Trafford. “Ah, OK. That would be nice.”

Unlike his predecessor Jurgen Klopp, Slot, 46, is a master of understatement.

There won't be any dramatic fist-pumps for the Kop and the cameras should the players Slot inherited from the German last summer claim the point they need from Tottenham this afternoon to become champions.

The squad that Klopp built was only able to deliver one Premier League during his nine-year tenure.