“You’ve Got to Be Kidding!” – Arne Slot Hits Back at Michael Owen’s Bold Title Claim
“You’re Joking, Right?!” – Arne Slot Fires Back After Michael Owen’s Dismissive Title Take
Slot Backs Van Dijk After Owen’s “Strange” Premier League Remark
Arne Slot was left surprised by Michael Owen’s line of questioning during a post-Merseyside derby interview with Virgil van Dijk.
The former Liverpool striker implied that winning only the Premier League this season would make the Reds’ campaign feel less “special,” to which Van Dijk firmly responded, insisting that lifting the league title would be a huge accomplishment and that he’s focused on changing that kind of narrative around the team.
A few days later, Slot echoed his captain’s sentiments, openly challenging the notion that winning the Premier League wouldn’t be a major achievement. He also dismissed broader claims suggesting the standard of the English top flight has dipped this season.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Slot said:
“Let me get this straight—Virgil was frustrated because it sounded like winning just the Premier League isn’t enough? Michael Owen played for this club, right? So he knows we’ve only won it once in 35 years. That says everything. If you win the league with Liverpool, that’s massive. Unless you’re doing it ten times in a row, how could anyone say ‘only’ the Premier League?
“At this club, just being in the title race is a big deal—winning it is something special. I agree with Virgil completely. I usually follow the Dutch media more than the English press, but… never mind.
“As for the league itself, I think it’s stronger than ever. The overall quality is going up. Even Pep said we might never see a team hit 100 points and win four titles in a row again.”
Why a Premier League Title This Season Would Be Huge for Liverpool
Arne Slot is absolutely right to push back against the idea that winning just the Premier League wouldn’t be a big deal for Liverpool. Especially considering how few people gave the Reds a serious shot at the title when the season kicked off.
While it wouldn’t end as long a drought as our 2020 triumph did, lifting the league trophy this year would carry extra meaning. Fans missed out on a proper celebration last time due to the pandemic, so this would feel even more significant.
For a club with Liverpool’s proud history, no trophy should ever be seen as routine. Let’s not forget—between 2006 and 2019, we won only one piece of silverware (the League Cup in 2012). The recent run of success isn’t the norm, it’s the exception.
Slot also makes a fair point about the strength of the Premier League this season. Clubs like Newcastle, Aston Villa, and Brighton have all raised their game, making the competition fiercer than ever. It’s ironic how often broadcasters hype the league as the best in the world, yet some online critics are suddenly questioning its quality—likely just bitterness over Liverpool’s dominance.
If the Reds are lifting that trophy at Anfield in a few weeks, no one in red will care one bit what the critics have to say.