FeatureLiverpool legends on title No.20: 'This is what makes the club so special'

The Reds became Premier League champions last weekend on an emotional day in front of the Kop against Tottenham Hotspur.

Fans answered calls from captain Virgil van Dijk to ensure the whole of Anfield was transformed into a sea of red, and watched their team emphatically wrap up the championship with a 5-1 win.

Liverpoolfc.com caught up with 10 heroes of the club's past for their thoughts on a truly historic day at Anfield and the season overall...

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Jamie Carragher

"Unbelievable scenes that you don't see anywhere else and that's what makes this club so special.

"People have waited a very long time for this moment and it didn't disappoint. Arne Slot is now an LFC legend and that will never change no matter what happens over the next few years.

"To win the title in your first season is pretty remarkable considering who he was replacing. Hopefully it's the first of many!"

Jan Molby

"It's incredible and it was an incredible day. Right from early on Sunday morning the fans turned up in their thousands, red shirts everywhere.

"It's always about the football and I thought it was an incredible performance. If anyone was in any doubt, we have proven yet again that we are the best team in the league. The job Arne has done is just incredible. I mean, who could have anticipated this was going to happen? Probably not even Arne himself.

"He believed in the players and they went hard from the first game of the season and they have got their rewards."

Robbie Fowler

"That is one of the best feelings I've ever had – better than any trophy I've ever won or seen won. This eclipsed all the European finals because doing it on home soil in front of the best fans in the world at Anfield makes it extra-special."

John Aldridge

"This is absolutely brilliant and this is what we do – we win things. I've been lucky to have seen the best team in England by a mile. I've been spoilt all my life seeing us win so many league titles as a fan and as a player. I'm very lucky.

"That was just a very special day. The fans were absolutely magnificent and they deserved that moment. Arne has done an incredible job and he deserves all the credit and plaudits that come his way."

Ronnie Whelan

"As a former Liverpool captain, that made me very proud. I got a throwback to when we won the title back in 1982 when we beat Tottenham 3-1 to win the title. We actually went a goal down that day before we turned it around in the second half.

"On Sunday, I actually think Tottenham scoring woke everyone in the team up and they were absolutely magnificent after that.

"Arne has done an unbelievable job and carried on the great work from Jürgen Klopp. There was a little hiccup over the last five games or so but you can't win a league title and be great every week – you have to battle and get results.

"Arne has got everybody behind him – the players and the crowd, which was something else on Sunday."

Phil Thompson

"It was totally incredible at Anfield on Sunday and out of 10 it was a 10 all day long. We did what we do best as Liverpool fans. We are unique and we are different. We make it so special and other teams must look at us and wonder, 'How do they get it so right?'

"Compliment to the Tottenham fans as well who stayed for a long time and didn't try to ridicule us. They stood and they saw what happened and looked amazed because it was so encapsulating. An extraordinary day. We make things special at this club and it was sensational.

"It was lovely to meet Arne after the game for the first time when I was working for LFCTV. He came over and gave us his time. He is Mr Cool and it was great to be able to say thank you to him.

"There is a generation now of young Liverpool fans, this has been 35 years in the making for them to see us win the title at Anfield. And for Arne to give us this day was amazing and we thank him for that from the bottom of our hearts."

Ray Houghton

"When you take into consideration this is Arne's first season at the club, to do what he has done is absolutely remarkable. He got the players focused from day one with a real passion and commitment.

"If you look at it, 25 wins so far this season and the second-best with 19 is Newcastle – that's like 25 per cent more wins, which is incredible. Liverpool have been the best team by quite a margin.

"The celebrations were fantastic. I was actually quite envious because I was thinking back to when we won the league in 1988 and 1990 and I don't remember celebrating like that! Virgil van Dijk had asked everyone to wear red and that was very evident. It looked absolutely incredible and I've never seen so much red at Anfield."

David Fairclough

"It was spectacular what we saw on Sunday. There has been a lot of emotion held in people's minds and memories from the COVID Premier League win and we hadn't won it in front of our fans for 35 years, so there was a lot of happiness oozing to come out. It was just amazing, absolutely tremendous, a sparkling win and to witness the celebrations afterwards, it was very emotional.

"Arne has done a tremendous job. People were worried when Jürgen left and there were question marks about what the future would hold, but he has come in and done an incredible job. You can liken it perhaps to Bob Paisley taking over from Bill Shankly in the modern era, and it would be nice if he could emulate the type of success that Bob had following Shanks."

Sammy Lee

"I have to say, I've been involved in an awful lot at Liverpool over the years but that was one of the most emotional days I've ever had. It just showed the impact our captain Virgil van Dijk can have to inspire people when he asked the fans to all come in red and they answered it. It was just wonderful.

"I've had many emotional moments at Liverpool as a fan, player and a coach but when the fans sang You'll Never Walk Alone at the end with Arne, the staff and the players in front of the Kop, I thought to myself, 'Wow!' It was a wonderful moment and I was so proud to be there. One of the most memorable moments I've ever had at Anfield.

"What a job Arne has done. He showed his class when he referred to the job Jürgen had done and the legacy he left him. This fella just oozes class and I do think we are very fortunate to have him. He has been nothing short of heroic. He hasn't changed too many things but he is his own man and has stamped his own mark on this place in every way, shape or form."

Mark Lawrenson

"It was absolutely amazing what we witnessed on Sunday. I've never seen anything like that before in my life and it certainly wasn't like that in our day!

"The job Arne has done has been fantastic. He is obviously an intelligent guy and sometimes you don't have to make wholesale changes and mess around with something that isn't broken.

"He's tweaked a few things, only signed one player and you can see he is a very good man-manager. The players are happy and you can see that with [Mohamed] Salah and Van Dijk signing new contracts. He has done a fab job."