RED REIGN

LIVERPOOL WALTZED TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE TITLE LAST SEASON, BUT HOW DO THEY NOW GO ON TO BUILD A DYNASTY OF SUCCESS?

- By Mogamad Allie

When Jürgen Klopp announced he would be leaving Liverpool at the end of the 2023-24 season, many were questioning whether the club would be able to survive the loss of a much-loved manager who had returned the club to the top of English football table.

During a highly successful nine-year spell on Merseyside, the charismatic German ended the club's frustrating 30-year league title drought in 2020 and guided them to success in the 2019 Champions League, after also reaching the final in 2018 and 2022. He also delivered the FA Cup in 2022, the League Cup in 2022 and 2024 as well as the Club World Cup in 2019.

No surprise then that last season was billed the most difficult transition a Premier League club had faced since Sir Alex Ferguson retired as Manchester United manager in 2013 after winning 13 league titles in his 26-year spell with the club.

The Red Devils have been in turmoil ever since, failing to win the Premier League and not looking likely to challenge in the next few years.

What was a surprise, a major one, was how seamlessly Arne Slot took over from Klopp who had established himself as a club legend. With basically the same personnel that had finished third - nine points behind winners Manchester City - the former Feyenoord coach led the team to success in his first season at Anfield.

The Dutchman made only subtle changes to Klopp's breathless playing style as his side cantered to the title by a 10-point margin after establishing an unassailable lead with four games to spare. In doing so Slot became the first Liverpool manager to lift the title in his first season with the club.

As the new season gets underway, many Reds fans will be hoping they won't have to endure another five-year gap before their team wins a 21st top flight English title.