Alisson Becker Praises ‘Smart and Brave' Arne Slot after Liverpool's Premier League Title Win
Liverpool's Title Charge: Alisson Becker on Passion, Recovery and Slot's Imprint
Liverpool's 20th top-flight title wasn't just about points or flair. It was a statement of intent from a side balancing world-class quality with an understated but unrelenting desire to improve. Arne Slot's first season in charge couldn't have ended in more emphatic fashion, clinching the Premier League with four games to spare. The 5-1 demolition of Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield will live long in the memory, not only for the margin of victory but the authority it reflected.
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For Alisson Becker, this triumph was as emotional as it was rewarding. The Brazilian, a cornerstone of Liverpool's modern era, lifted the trophy for the second time, though the journey to that moment had been far from straightforward.
'For me personally, it was difficult because of the injury I had – not only this season but the season before,' Alisson reflected. 'Always when you struggle with these kind of things it's not easy.'
Photo: IMAGO
Yet what pushed him to recover wasn't just personal pride. It was the team itself. 'The way the team was playing was fantastic during the whole season, so that made me focused even more to come back in a healthy way as soon as I could, because I was looking forward to playing alongside that team that was playing such nice football.'
Slot's Arrival and the Cultural Reset
A change in manager at a club like Liverpool is seismic, especially when the figure departing is Jürgen Klopp. Yet Arne Slot, in his own understated way, managed to embrace the legacy without being shackled by it. He understood the need for continuity but wasn't afraid to innovate.
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'The style of play didn't change much,' Alisson admitted. 'Arne is smart enough to see that we did good things in the past with Jürgen. But he was really brave and also smart in showing us what we could improve in respect of our style in the past.'
That duality – respect for the past, evolution for the future – has become Slot's hallmark. Under his guidance, Liverpool looked less frenetic, more measured in possession, yet no less dangerous. Crucially, players previously nearing their peak seemed to find new levels.
'He managed to do that so well, taking the best out from the players and even improving players that were at a high level already. It was what we needed at that time and I think this is part of why we were successful this season by winning the Premier League.'
Leadership from the Back
While goals win games, title charges are anchored by defence and decision-making. Alisson's return to full fitness provided both. His presence between the posts has always exuded calm, but this season, it also embodied resilience.
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More than just a world-class shot-stopper, Alisson remains a cultural pillar within the dressing room. His reflections on the campaign strike a balance between humility and clarity.
Photo: IMAGO
'But since the beginning of the season, we started in a humble way, knowing that we would face a huge challenge [in] changing manager and trying to do something special in his first season. But with a lot of desire, with a lot of passion, we did what we did, playing fantastic football and achieving something great and something that is really hard to do [in] winning the Premier League.'
Historic Feat for Slot and Squad
Slot joins an elite list – only the fifth manager to win the Premier League in his debut campaign. But more significantly, he did so by empowering his players and leaning into their strengths, rather than overhauling their identities.
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For Alisson, it was more than just another medal. It was vindication of a season's worth of sacrifice and smart evolution.
'I think winning the Premier League is a big achievement – we are really happy about that. It's not easy to do that in the first season after changing manager. That's a huge achievement from this team.'
There's no over-celebration in those words, only a calm awareness that greatness must be earned daily. And with Slot at the helm and Alisson marshalling from the back, Liverpool's foundation looks as stable as ever.
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