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Klopp dedicates EPL title triumph to fans, ex-players, managers

Last updated on: June 26, 2020 11:03 IST

'…This club is built on what they did. It's built ... on (Bill) Shankly, (Bob) Paisley and (Joe) Fagan and all the others, but on these players...'

'Steven Gerrard -- this club's built on, in the last 20 years, on Stevie's legs. He had to carry all the pressure. He did that exceptionally.'

IMAGE: 'Steven Gerrard -- this club's built on, in the last 20 years, on Stevie's legs. He had to carry all the pressure. He did that exceptionally'. Photograph: Michael Regan/Getty Images

Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp dedicated their first English league triumph in 30 years to the fans and also took a moment to recognise the part played by former players and managers in building the club.

Manchester City's 2-1 defeat by Chelsea on Thursday gave Liverpool an unassailable 23-point lead with seven Premier League games remaining and the team celebrated at a hotel on Merseyside.

 

"My message is: it's for you out there ... I hope you feel it," Klopp told the fans on Liverpool's website.

"It's for so many people. Kenny Dalglish and Graeme Souness spoke to me ... they were very positive. That's nice but it's thanks to them because this club is built on what they did.

"It's built ... on (Bill) Shankly, (Bob) Paisley and (Joe) Fagan and all the others, but on these players... Steven Gerrard -- this club's built on, in the last 20 years, on Stevie's legs. He had to carry all the pressure. He did that exceptionally.

"The boys love being part of this club, they love being part of the story of this club and the history. It's so nice how we learned how to deal with the history, how we learned to use the history in the last two years."

Klopp said he had made sure everyone watched the match together.

"There was no alternative... we thought about it, shall we do something and then we thought maybe not compulsory, the boys have to drive a bit," Klopp added.

"Then I said, 'no, we have to make it compulsory, everybody has to be there,' because I'm more experienced... I know who will stay at home and watch it alone will regret it for the rest of his life."

Jurgen Klopp's side will now look to write even more history. They need 15 points from their remaining seven matches to set a new record points total for a Premier League campaign, and can also become the first team to win every single home game in a single season.

"You know it better than I do! Thirty years ago... 30 years ago... I was 23, so I didn't think too much about winning a title with Liverpool, to be honest! I had no skills for that! Thirty years later I am here and because of the great staff I have, it is unbelievable.

"Tonight, you see them all together. What Ray (Haughan) did organisational wise, what Mona (Nemmer) did food-wise and with nutrition is amazing. What Korny (Andreas Kornmayer) did on a fitness level, what Pep Lijnders did and put into this game, there is so much of his soul in our game now in this short period. It is unbelievable," Klopp told the club's official website after becoming champions.

Liverpool will now play against Manchester City at Etihad Stadium on July 3.

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