Arne Slot on what made Liverpool champions
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Alright Reds, Tony Evans here with Walk On, your Liverpool podcast from The Athletic. I'm here with James Pearce and Greg Evans. He's led Liverpool to a Premier League title in his first season in charge, but what does Arna Slot make of the moments that made Liverpool champions?

Well, let's find out exactly that from the man himself. And then we'll look ahead to Sunday's title party. But before we get to all that, let's have your three words. Greg, welcome back. How are you? Hello, Tony. I'm very good. And thanks for giving me 10 extra seconds to think because I completely forgot. Three words. Oh, yeah. Oh, it's assignment news, isn't it? You've done assignment news. On the beach. On the beach, yeah.

We can live with that. We can live with that. So well prepared. I mean, like the team, you're on the beach. Summer's coming. You're having fun. So why not? James. I'm going with it's party time. It certainly is. Well, that's what James and Greg think. Here's what you're saying. Peter Hutton, Premier League champions. Jason Lee, free from desire. Andy Legg, party with Palace. Mark Miles, football.

Imagine being United. Oh, shut up. No, never want to imagine that. To join our community of listeners on Facebook, just search WalkOn Podcast and join the group. Well, let's get to Arne. These are the moments why we work so hard every single day and everybody works hard, so we're not an exception, but why we come to this club and every time trying to become better and better and better. We do this regularly.

to experience moments like this. Moments like this. James, you've published a great piece today on The Athletic featuring a new contributor, Arne Slott. How enjoyable was it to sit down in his company? And did you do it in a beatster at Wayne Lineker's place? It was an honour. I went down to the AXA training centre yesterday

last weekend and it was difficult trying to think of how best to use the time because obviously, especially in the wake of winning the title, Arnaz Slot has done a lot of media. So, you know, thought in the end, why not?

pick some kind of images from over the kind of almost telling the story and pictures from his first 12 months in charge at Liverpool, which has surpassed everyone's expectations. And, and yeah, we just had a chat through those eight images over the course of 25 minutes. And yeah,

Yeah, he was great company. Yeah. Greg, that's a coup, isn't it, for James? It's brilliant that he's done it. I was just thinking, actually, can I change my three words now to James Pearce exclusive? I think that is more... Because it's such a rarity. It's definitely more apt, isn't it, considering the whole podcast is focused around that. Yeah. When you think his nickname is, you know, Bad News Pearce, it should be Great Stories Pearce.

No, no, listen, it's a great interview and a great article. And it is quite difficult, as James mentioned, to think of something different to do with the manager as well when he's had so many games and so many press conferences and so many...

times he's been in front of a camera talking and asked questions. So, yeah, I think the article worked really well. And, yeah, we're going to go over it today, aren't we? Yeah, and the thing is, James, he insisted, didn't he, that you record it for Warhorn. He said, I want to be on that Warhorn podcast because, you know, it's the best Liverpool podcast out there. So let's start at the beginning there. Back in the summer.

when you were gorging on Philly cheese steaks, no salad in sight in those days. Arne was drilling the squad in the United States. It's Liverpool's night in Philadelphia and it was an explosive first half performance from Arne Slotts' side. The good thing was that I mostly had younger players over there and I could already implement my ideas.

And I think, but I'm not sure, what might have happened is that a few of these were part of the group, they're still our group, and might have called, oh, we like the sessions or we like his ideas because the results were good as well. James, he mentions the young players buying into what he was asking them. Curtis Jones in particular seemed to take a bit of a stick for that. I don't know why. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It was strange, wasn't it? Because I think some people interpreted...

Curtis's enthusiasm for kind of the new methods and new ideas as some kind of slight on, on Jurgen Klopp. And obviously, you know, Curtis felt the need afterwards to kind of come out and just make it clear that that wasn't the case. I think. And in fact, over time, I think Curtis's point is well and truly borne out because what he was trying to say and people took it the wrong way was that in a style of play that was more patient and more controlled, um,

There was a lot more responsibility on the midfield to control a game and to create where he felt that in the Klopp era, it was very much feed the front three as quickly as possible. Everything's got to be done at pace. And I think his quote was, this is more me.

And when you look at, you know, how Curtis has gone to the next level over the course of the season, he was absolutely spot on. And yeah, it was the other part talking about pre-season that I thought was interesting from Slott was he said he was genuinely worried. He explained about the fact that I think he had 11 players still missing up to two weeks before the game against Ipswich, the first Premier League game, and how...

you know, he said, you know, as good as the tour was in the back of your mind, you're like, well, I haven't even been able to work with, you know, 11 players essentially who, you know, were still on holiday after the Euros and the Copa America. And he said, it was such a difficult balancing act, kind of thinking, I want them here because I want to work with them.

But I've also got to think about the bigger picture because I know how draining this season is going to be. And I've got to give them sufficient rest after major tournaments. But yeah, there's no doubt that on that Tour of America...

You could see how quickly he was able to get his ideas across. And I think he was quite self-deprecating saying that part of that was because it wasn't a massive shift stylistically away from the Klopp era, which there's something in that. But I think also when you speak to the players about that period, he properly energised them and really got them to bought to kind of fully buy into what he was trying to do.

Yeah, Greg, and that's a really difficult thing to do, isn't it? When you take over from such a charismatic figure as Klopp. I mean, there wasn't, I don't think there was anyone in football who was wholly convinced, except maybe Liverpool's recruitment team, who was wholly convinced that Slott was the right man. And even they didn't expect him to have the impact he's had so far.

Yeah, I suppose the only other people really to add to that, Tony, would be the guys that he'd previously worked with at Feyenoord, who, you know, between us, we spoke to a lot of them at length when he was coming to Liverpool. And they were saying, this guy's brilliant, you know, just watch this space kind of thing. But...

Coming to manage Liverpool is a very different situation to managing Feyenoord. And yeah, I don't think anybody in England was expecting him to perform so well and Liverpool to pick up so many points. And I think in James's interview, he just comes across as a little bit modest. And I think he has done actually across the course of the season, certainly.

when referencing Jurgen Klopp. I think it's really respectful that he recognises what Klopp obviously did with this group of players and how he set them up for him. But the minor tweaks that he talks about are a bit more significant, I think. And I do think he had to change quite a lot over the pre-season period. And not only did he have to get a group of players on board, he had to try and make training sessions fun.

while at the same time trying to build them into a new style. And that's what we heard from some of the players early on, that they quite enjoyed the sessions, actually. Some of the fitness drills were very one-on-one based and they were all involving little individual challenges. And that just motivated the players and I think helped build a little bit of momentum during that summer period. Well, then, of course, the first game of the season arrived and...

I mean, on the face of it, Ipswich away wasn't the biggest test, but, you know, the jury was still out. And Mo Salah in for Jota, who doesn't miss this time. Liverpool's first goal scored under the new head coach, Arne Slot. In Holland, it's not common that a manager always goes to the away end. Maybe only one or two might do it. Maybe even no one does it.

So I walked in feeling like, okay, the boys deserve the credits for this win. Let them do this. And then afterwards I heard for the first time, this is not normal in this country that you don't thank the away fans for coming. So afterwards I started doing it, of course, thanked them. But still, if you see me now, I don't want to take the shine away from Spire because they've worked 90 minutes very hard.

to get a result and i think they they should be the ones that get the main credits so that's why the first time i went inside immediately so this is for you because there was my style at uh at my former clubs as well yeah james that's that set the tone really didn't that's one of the characteristics i think of the season uh one slot's humility and two is leaving the glory to the players he hasn't been

There's a lot of managers over the years, we've seen plenty of them, who make it about themselves and very egotistical. And they'll make it about themselves under the guise of, oh, it takes some of the pressure off the players. It doesn't, it doesn't. Jose Mourinho is not the special one, as he calls himself, to take pressure off the players. It's because he's a rampant egotist. But Sloss was different.

Yeah, yeah, humility. And I think the other big thing is authenticity, because from the day he walked in, he's never tried to be someone he isn't. And we've all seen that in football, where, you know, the number of people who will have maybe a face for the cameras and then a different face. And he's just...

He's so comfortable, isn't he, in terms of who he is, the principles he's got. He doesn't want the limelight, as he said himself. It was...

he, you know, he wants the focus to be on the players because he's, they're the ones performing out there on the pitch. And yeah, if you think back to that opening weekend at Ipswich, there was this kind of fuss about kind of, you know, why did he not go across the away? And, you know, where were the, where were the Klopp style fist pumps and all the rest of it? And it was like, that's not going to be him. You know, that,

he's not going to try and be someone he's not because I think if you try and be someone you're not, at some point you're going to get found out and look silly so I thought that was so refreshing and his attitude was almost kind of just wanting to let that kind of bond with the fan base just grow organically over time rather than trying to force it and yeah and of course what was it, it was only probably a couple of weeks after that that

he stood in front of the away end at Old Trafford with his name absolutely booming out of that stadium. Yeah, well, Manchester United, I wonder what happened to their season? But Greg, you know what, he also, we also learned something massive there, that he wasn't afraid to make big decisions. I mean, after a bad first half, he took Kwanzaa off at half-time and it was like,

you know, there was no, oh, you know, it's like you say, I want to protect my players. It's like not working for the team, son. Come on, you're off. Yeah. Yeah. The Kwanzaa substitution at halftime was, has been used over and over again as an example, hasn't it? And I remember at the time thinking, blimey, you know, this guy is, he's so ruthless. If, if he thinks something isn't working, he's going to change it immediately. And that,

kind of continued in a certain way throughout the season because some of the half-time changes that he made to the formation and other substitutions, et cetera, worked. But I think with Kwanzaa, we often forget that he didn't actually have much time with Kanate either because he returned quite late, didn't he? So he often says this, that

Oh,

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Ask the fans within Medela. Medela, the cerveza for football. Drink responsibly. Beer imported by Crown & Port Chicago, Illinois. Did you know that foreign investors are quietly funding lawsuits in American courts through a practice called third-party litigation funding? Shadowy overseas funders are paying to sue American companies in our courts, and they don't pay a dime in U.S. taxes if there is an award or settlement.

They profit tax-free from our legal system, while U.S. companies are tied up in court and American families pay the price to the tune of $5,000 a year. But there is a solution. A new proposal before Congress would close this loophole and ensure these foreign investors pay taxes, just like the actual plaintiffs have to. It's a common-sense move that discourages frivolous and abusive lawsuits and redirects resources back into American jobs, infrequently.

innovation, and growth. Only President Trump and Congressional Republicans can deliver this win for America and hold these foreign investors accountable. Contact your lawmakers today and demand they take a stand to end foreign-funded litigation abuse. And Liverpool surely under

I was just a second ago with the Dutch media and they asked me what was the game where you probably won the players for you or which was the game that, and I think it was this game. Because we changed the small detail in the way we did our build-up. Because I said to them, they would expect Dominic Sobbeslai to play on the right. They prepared the whole week for this. He's going to play on the left. We do this and this, this is a bit different.

And indeed, exactly what I said happened. Did we win the game because of that reason? No, because we scored two counterattacks, maybe even three counterattacks. But I think maybe the players did feel, oh, what he's trying to tell us works. Yeah, yeah.

And to have a win at Old Trafford 3-0 also gave us the confidence maybe that there was something special ahead of us. Yeah, I know winning 3-0 against these small teams isn't, you know, that big a deal, you know, it's their place. But no, it really was one of those... People sat up and went, whoa, after that, didn't they, James? Yeah.

Yeah, they did. Because let's not forget Old Trafford hadn't been a happy hunting ground for Liverpool, had it during the Klopp era. I lost count the number of times Liverpool went there.

as big favourites, considering the gulf between the teams at that particular time, and fell short. And, you know, you don't have to go back too far, do you? The two games there that played a big part in Klopp's last season unravelling with the FA Cup defeat and then the draw there that was so damaging in the Premier League. So to see Liverpool go there just, you know, a matter of weeks into the new reign under Swart,

and absolutely boss proceedings like they did. And what I loved more than anything about that day was how Liverpool almost declared at 3-0. It was, there was none of that kind of basketball stuff that we saw in the 4-3 in the FA Cup there. It was like, you know, Salah was sensational that day, wasn't he? Set up the two goals for Diaz, scored the third himself. And then it was like, that's fine. Yeah, we're 3-0, do us. You know, you're not getting back into this.

And, yeah, I thought that was interesting from Swat that he kind of felt that although he, again, the kind of humility and the self-deprecating nature of him saying, you know, that wasn't why we won the game. But, of course, all the little things that they'd worked on before that game, I think as players, especially with a new manager,

You suddenly when you see what he's telling you in the build up to a game come true. It's like this guy, this guy knows what he's talking about. I need to listen to this fella because he's going to help take me where I want to get to. And yeah, it was it was just it felt like lift off in terms of this season.

Yeah, and Greg, Salah's spoken last week about the respect that the dressing room gained for him after that win. And, you know, Salah's been around the block, hasn't he? You know, he's reaching that stage in his career where, you know, some players, managers come, you know, new managers come in, they're like, yeah, I've heard it all before. When someone like Salah says something like this, you gotta go, whoa, you know, yeah.

Yeah, I mean, look, his words carry significant weight, don't they? So when he says that he likes somebody like that or he rates them, then yeah, you know, it means a lot, doesn't it? And players can quickly turn on a manager if they think he's a fraud or if they think he's not working properly and he's trying to give them too much information or whatever. But clearly Liverpool players bought into him, you know, very, very early and Salah's gone on record as saying that. And when you look back to that Man United game, you know,

a lot of changes in that game as James said he almost just packed it in really at 3-0 and it was a time where Diaz had scored two goals and he was still on a hat trick and I remember him bringing Gatpo on I think for him and trying to give every player at that point a

the minutes to show that they're worthy of playing regularly in the future. And he obviously was taking Trent Alexander-Arnold off early into the season, wasn't he? And bringing Conor Bradley on. So lots of things were working for him. And he was showing that not only was he able to execute a game plan, but he was involving lots of players as well. Yeah. And that's one of the things that, you know, I really...

I enjoyed, you know, and we saw it early on the first half of the season, you know, and that's a really good point, Greg, that he declared, you know, once they didn't waste any excess energy. And maybe that explains the last few weeks, you know, with Wonder League. Let's declare again. Let's all go to a beat there. Let's have a good time. Let's, you know, let's hang with James Pearce and talk football.

Just a couple of months later, after Brighton came to Anfield, Liverpool were back on top and no-one had given front of them again. Stop it! That is too good! I don't think it helps to be 50 or 20 times in a season angry at half-time. You have to save these moments for the moments that it really matters. Nine out of ten times, I'm only angry if I feel that there's no work rate. That was when we played against Southampton, so then I was angry.

against Ipswich at half-time, I was maybe a little bit angry. But there was no need to be angry because the players worked hard, but the other team just did things differently than we thought. And that's why they were mainly a little bit too late. So then it's smarter to adjust something than to be angry because this team in general, nine out of ten times, always works very hard. So

Yeah, I have the same with my children. If they don't work hard, I can be hard on them. If they work hard and they don't ever be great at school or something else goes wrong, I will never be hard on them. I love that, James. You know, it's the comparison with me children. That's the way a manager should treat players, really, isn't it? You know, you're not the mate. You know, you're like a generation older than them. You're not the dad either. Yeah.

but you better keep them in line. But that's really interesting to talk about his approach at half-time and mention Southampton, because Brighton and Southampton were the two games where they were behind at the half and ended up winning. Yeah, it's only a small clip, but it's a fascinating insight into his thinking. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And I remember in the mix zone after that game against Brighton, speaking to a couple of the players who were,

They actually seemed a bit surprised he wasn't more angry at half-time because, if you remember rightly, Brighton were 1-0 up. It could easily have been 3-0. That first half was so one-sided. And they said that, in fact, he was very calm and composed there.

and just spent the time spelling out with the video analysis exactly where they were going wrong. As he said then, he felt, you know, the press wasn't working properly. Brighton were playing through Liverpool far too easily. And it was all about just correcting things. You know, this is what has to change to turn this game around. And his substitutions that day, as well as the tactical tweaks,

played a big part you know I think Gagpo got the equalizer and Salah got the winner and that was a that was a huge huge day I think in the context of the season one of those days that kind of felt big at the time but actually with hindsight is even bigger because it was you know it was the same day when I think City lost at Bournemouth Arsenal lost to Newcastle and then to win a game in that fashion against such a good Brighton team yeah that that was a real springboard

Yeah, Greg, and it's one of them. I mean, he's clearly not a cup thrower, is he, in the dressing room? But there's that sort of, how shall I put it, a sense of purpose. You know, he talks a lot in the press about, he mentions his kids, they talked about his dad. But you get the feeling that for the players, if they've disappointed him, you can imagine him being like,

less explosive than very, very disappointed and you wouldn't want to disappoint him. I think it's almost worse, isn't it? When someone's kind of doesn't get that angry at you, but then when he does, as you say, when he does get angry, you know, you've really upset him then. And I think that has more of an impact. And, you know, other managers have spoken about that, haven't they? Of trying to hold in their emotions and only use it when it really matters. Yeah.

I did like the reference to his children because you're almost thinking of the group of players as his children as well, aren't you? And you're thinking, how do you keep them in line? But look, that Brighton game, I remember watching the game and thinking,

And I still probably agree with it now, having seen 37 of the other 38 games that they would have played. And that was probably the worst half of their season, wasn't it? The first half, they were dreadful. And it could have been 3-0 to Brighton easily. So,

To be able to pick apart that 45-minute performance and then change it so dramatically after the break was a real sign of his shrewd thinking, really. And yeah, the changes made a difference. I think it was Diaz and Jones who came on, was it, who made a difference for the goal? And then, obviously, Gatpo and Salah scored very, very quick in quick succession. And that made a difference. Yeah, I mean, I think...

His substitutions have been brilliant all season. But next up, January's away win at Brentford. That was 90 minutes of frustration because we were so close to a goal for 90 minutes and constantly you felt like, ah, there's time for us to score because we just keep on going, keep on going. Although Brentford was also a threat on the counter-attack.

And yeah, we brought in Darwin and don't forget the one who gave the assist, Trent Alexander-Arnold. And Darwin scored one of his important goals, but this one was for him maybe the most important one and for us the most important one he scored. Oh, Arne, you've just gone and done it. You've mentioned he who must never be spoken of again.

Now, to be fair, it was brilliant by Trent. And obviously, Darwin's double. I mean, he's had a lot of stick. And clearly, he's not slot a cup of tea. But he was crucial in a game like that. That was a huge day because Arsenal dropped points at home to Aston Villa immediately after this game. And suddenly, it felt like things had really come together. Yeah.

Yeah, I remember speaking to someone and I think the Liverpool squad were actually on the runway at Luton Airport just about to take off to come back to Merseyside when word reached them that Villa had come back from 2-0 down, wasn't it, to get a point against Arsenal. And obviously that just magnifies the importance of what Liverpool had done an hour or two before with Liverpool.

As Arna said, 90 minutes of pure frustration thinking this is going to be a really damaging draw. And then, you know, what a way to win the game with those two late goals in stoppage time. And you're right, Tony, in terms of him being able to impact games and I think and take risks as well. Now, that was the other thing he said, actually, when we were talking about that image was...

was he said, you know, if you look at that day, you know, he basically, he brought on Darwin Nunes, he brought on Harvey Elliott, he brought on Federico Chiesa. I think Curtis Jones came on as well. It was basically, you know, we are going to throw everything and kind of spin the wheel a bit, really, in terms of, you know, there's a gamble because you're going to leave yourself a bit more open, especially, you know, Brentford decent on the counterattack. But yeah, it paid off and yeah,

Yeah, it's certainly not been a stellar season, has it, for Darwin Nunes, but despite his struggles, he still had a few big moments along the way. Yeah, Greg, and that's the thing. We've talked about how brilliant it was to see him when the team got ahead and declaring and all that. And there's a lot of managers who, in those situations, could point to a sort of innate caution there,

But the one thing about Slott, he's not been shy of signaling a cavalry charge when it sneezes. No. There have been times, haven't there, when, you know, Chiesa's been... Chiesa hasn't played very often, of course, this season. He got his first start last week and didn't do too well, to be fair. But...

In the more recent defeats to Fulham and Chelsea, Chiesa was used, wasn't he, almost as the final throw of the dice. So look, when he needs to give it a real good go with attacking players, he does. Just going back to Nunes, it's been a real disappointing season for him, hasn't it? I think he hasn't scored in 25 of the 29 games that he's played, which is incredible really for a player who costs so much money and is an actual striker. But...

you know, if Liverpool fans are just looking back over his contributions, some of those were really important. And, you know, forget about all the games he hasn't scored in. This was the one that he really made a difference in. Occasionally, you reserve right-back pops up with a goal and we could just class Darwin Nunes as that type of guy on this occasion. Yeah.

I think everybody felt in that game, if we can bring this win over the line, we are getting very, very, very close. And they fought for it so hard to get that done. Mo was almost playing as a fullback in the second half. So it was a moment where I think the boys should get a lot of credits for because they have quality players.

yeah they can cause we can get credits for their quality but to work so hard and get get a win over the line is i think something i like to see our fans like to see and um yeah that this probably tells you all that he was so tired in the end but it was also maybe partly running but also mentally because if you're under so much pressure because them doing attack after attack after attack

that drains you out mentally as well. James, he's talking about the victory over Manchester City at the Etihad. And whilst some of the other wins this season could be put down to slot guile, this was pure wear great, wasn't it?

It was, yeah. It was the lowest percentage, wasn't it, on record that Liverpool have had in a Premier League game and still won. Only 34% of the ball. But I thought it was a masterclass, really, in terms of keeping a team at bay. If you remember rightly, there was all that weird fuss on social media afterwards about how many times Doku had beaten his man and all the rest of it. Yet, it was almost like, that's fine. You just dart away down that byline all you want.

because, you know, we'll deal with every single aimless cross that gets knocked into the box. And it was never in doubt, was it? Liverpool, you know, got into a position of control and ascendancy 2-0 up before the break. And yeah, the way in which they kept City at arm's length with that remarkable work ethic, you know, was epitomised by that image of Dominic Zabozlai.

lying on the turf at the end, absolutely exhausted. And, you know, let's not forget, despite City's issues, you know, they have shown at times that it's still a very, very difficult place to go to. Liverpool haven't won there in the Premier League for nearly 10 years. And it was another example as well of slot...

coming up with the right plan because, you know, I think there was a few people scratching their heads when they saw the team sheet an hour and 15 minutes before kickoff with no number nine. Yet, you know, he effectively played Zabozlai and Curtis Jones as two number tens. And yeah, with those runs from deep,

It worked an absolute treat on the day. And of course, that was, you know, that was the first time that the kind of the travelling cop broke rank, I guess, and bellowed, you know, we're going to win the league and hand it over Manchester. It was, and even, you know, Slot said himself that that kind of was the day when it was like, right, we are so close now to where we want to get to.

Yeah, without a doubt. I mean, obviously, from the beginning of the season, despite them not being at the best, Manchester City always felt like the biggest threat. I mean, unless you believe the Arsenal myth. But yeah, that was the day when I think you could say, Greg, with some certainty, Liverpool were going to win the 20th title. I certainly felt that way. It was a really, really important victory.

there was the talk after the game that Liverpool were getting gifted the title and that they were so lucky because Erling Haaland hadn't played and all that nonsense and then that continued a few weeks later when Newcastle didn't have Alexander Isak up front and you were hearing it all and everybody was trying to put Liverpool down and there's so much more that goes into title winning teams as we all know. Teams have injuries across all parts of the season and

Manchester City at that point was so difficult. I remember Zabosla, I think, at the time he scored, I was looking into him at the time and I was thinking about writing an article because he hadn't scored too many goals and I thought he was quite wasteful in front of goal on a number of occasions but...

When you speak to people at Liverpool and they talk about the work that he puts in during a game, you know, his statistics are unbelievable and his recovery levels are amazing as well. So for him to get the goal that was really important on that day was so important. And then, yeah, Liverpool went on and you just didn't doubt them from there.

Yeah, Greg, I agree completely because, you know, they played Villa shortly before, hadn't they? And so Bozlai was excellent, apart from in the box, whereas Composia failed and there was a little bit like, hmm, you know, you've got to be doing better than that, son. Yeah, I felt that way because, you know, he'd come to Liverpool as a recognised goal scorer, really. We've seen him score so many free kicks as well for Hungary.

And for me, he was just getting to that point where he wasn't scoring as much. And I was looking into his statistics. But if you go to the Etihad and score the vital goal, it doesn't matter that it's too much. Yeah, no one's going to complain. Yeah.

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If you want to know how to fan the football way, ask the fans with a Medela. Only they know when to show up for the game and what to bring. And that every win is best celebrated with a Medela. Medela, the cerveza for football. Drink responsibly. Beer imported by Crown & Port Chicago, Illinois.

Did you know that foreign investors are quietly funding lawsuits in American courts through a practice called third-party litigation funding? Shadowy overseas funders are paying to sue American companies in our courts, and they don't pay a dime in U.S. taxes if there is an award or settlement.

They profit tax-free from our legal system, while U.S. companies are tied up in court and American families pay the price to the tune of $5,000 a year. But there is a solution. A new proposal before Congress would close this loophole and ensure these foreign investors pay taxes, just like the actual plaintiffs have to.

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To hear people saying they've worked at a club or being a fan of this club for so many years with all the success this club had and still do something that is more special to them, and that's what they tell me, so I have to believe them and you said it as well, that is probably the highest you can achieve. To do something at a club which will always be remembered or which is a very special memory.

in the history of a club and it's already special to do this as a club that maybe to go to a final like Crystal Palace now for the first time in so many years or Newcastle to win one thing in 35 years but to do it at a successful club like this and people still saying this was probably one of the most special days I've ever been at Anfield yeah that brings emotions even with a calm and collected guy like me

That is one of the most special things people can tell me. Well, yeah, that was a pretty big party, James. And we expect a bigger one this weekend.

And let's just mention Crystal Palace. They're going to be in party mode as well on Sunday, joining in it. I mean, what's going to happen? I mean, is he going to be, after the victory, are you and him going out for like two days of Rotterdam-style house music? You know what I mean? Do you know what it was? He actually went on, when we then talked about the scenes,

against after that win over Tottenham that obviously sealed the title. He said it kind of is two moments that he picked from the day. He said one was...

on the coach on Anfield Road, just, he said, just the seeing the reaction and the reception from the supporters who had lined the route. And he said the other one was when freed from desire was blaring out afterwards. He said, just, just seeing the outpouring of, of joy and how many, how much everyone was loving it on and off the pitch. So, so yeah, he actually praised the, the D the Anfield DJ. So I think,

I think we can assume that Free From Desire is probably nailed on to be on the post-trophy lift soundtrack at Anfield on Sunday. But yeah, and he also talked about how being part of something like this just whets your appetite. He said, you know, when you see what it means to people, you want this to be the start of something. You want to build on it.

And yeah, I can't wait for this weekend. It's actually, I've got the Football Writers Association Player of the Year Awards dinner in London tonight. The LFC Foundation dinner with Jurgen Klopp in Liverpool Friday night. Radio One concert in Sefton Park Saturday night. Trophy lift in the game Sunday and the parade Monday. So pray for me on Tuesday.

He's going to need medical intervention, isn't he, Greg? I remember James when he decided to stop drinking for a little bit. He just knew that this May was coming, didn't he? Away from slot, Greg, you've written a brilliant piece this week about the impossible task of playing against Mohamed Salah. He's on 28 goals and 18 assists. He needs one more to level the record for goals and assists in a Premier League season.

And he's two assists short of equal in the Premier League record in a single season with 20. I mean, you know, if he has a big day against Palace, it's going to be hard for even Thierry Henry to match him in terms of Premier League legend status. Yeah, I think so. I mean, it's funny, isn't it, how these articles come together sometimes because...

This was probably three months in the making, really, an article that takes quite a long time to put together because you have to speak to various different people who have played against him to get their thoughts. And, you know, that's obviously not something you can do in a hurry. And at the time we decided to do the article was when he was in this unbelievable form, you know, August to February. He was absolutely unstoppable, wasn't he? And we were thinking, blimey, what numbers is he actually going to get to?

The last few months haven't quite been, well, they haven't been as successful, have they, as the start. But inevitably, there was going to be some sort of drop-off at some point in the season. Else, you know, he just wouldn't have been a human if he continued at the rate he was going. I'd like to see him do it against Crystal Palace. I'd like to see him get a goal or an assist just so he can then say that, you know, it was the most...

and creative season ever for a Premier League player. And I do think the form that he showed between August and February makes him deserving of that title almost.

So let's see. But yeah, for those who haven't read it, go and have a read that we, our team of reporters spoke to many different left backs, many different centre backs and some of his former teammates and current teammates and Arne Slott just to find out what it's like to either play against Mo Salah or be alongside him. You know, with reporters like Greg and James, if you're not subscribing to The Athletic, then I mean, frankly, you don't really care, do you? You know, just do it.

But, James, it's not about just do it. We know that you're... Have you been in training for this weekend? Have you done anything to get yourself...

mentally and physically in the state to push all the way through. So, Monday nights. Are you doing it like a marathon, James? You're just staggering the points each day. So, it's four points on a Monday, then five points on a Tuesday, then six points, then you do these ten points. LAUGHTER

In preparation for the big one. I've been doing a lot of meditating and a lot of visualising of how I'm going to get through it. I think it's best to just break it down into small chunks. You can't be looking at Monday's parade now, can you? At the moment, I'm just focused solely on the Football Writers' Dinner in London tonight. Let's tick that one off with Mo Salah and then we go again tomorrow. You're going to be some state on our Tuesday morning editorial call, aren't you, James? LAUGHTER

After five days on the session. Yeah, well, next week's Tuesday podcast is going to be an interesting experience. I mean, some of us will remain professional and completely sober. We'll be in position to pick up the slack. But, I mean, frankly...

Who knows? Who knows what mess James Pearce will be in on Tuesday? You better tune in then to find out. So that's it from Walk On, your Liverpool podcast brought to you by The Athletic. Thanks to James and Greg, as well as you two for listening. We'll be back next week to reflect on the title celebrations and we'll see if James is in a zombie state. I expect he will be. The Athletic FC Podcast Network.

Did you know that foreign investors are quietly funding lawsuits in American courts through a practice called third-party litigation funding? Shadowy overseas funders are paying to sue American companies in our courts, and they don't pay a dime in U.S. taxes if there is an award or settlement. They profit tax-free from our legal system, while U.S. companies are tied up in court and American families pay the price to the tune of $5,000 a year. But

But there is a solution. A new proposal before Congress would close this loophole and ensure these foreign investors pay taxes, just like the actual plaintiffs have to. It's a common sense move that discourages frivolous and abusive lawsuits and redirects resources back into American jobs, innovation, and growth. Only President Trump and congressional Republicans can deliver this win for America.

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