ARNE SLOT has hit back at Michael Owen’s “strange” claim that winning the Premier League will leave a “bitter taste” for Liverpool.
The Reds went into this weekend sitting 12 points above Arsenal with just eight matches remaining.
Michael Owen recently interviewed Reds captain Virgil van Dijk[/caption]
While sitting pretty in the Premier League, Liverpool have crashed out of all three cup competitions since January.
The Reds were beaten by Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup and Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League – before losing the Carabao Cup final to Newcastle last month.
During an interview with Virgil van Dijk, former Liverpool striker Owen suggested that his former club may be left with a “bitter taste” from only winning the Prem this season.
Reds skipper Van Dijk immediately hit back, however, saying: “Well, I think we have to change that narrative a little bit.
“We’re fighting for the biggest prize of the season, we worked so hard for it, 20 teams are working so hard to be on top of the Premier League.
“We have eight games to go, we know what’s at stake, we have to go for it, we have to fight, we have to enjoy the whole ride and then let’s see. Like I said, it’s still looking very special in my eyes.
“I think what you said, at the start of the season, I think no one expected us to even try to fight on all four fronts, obviously we’re at the stage now where we’re still fighting for the biggest, and that’s the reality.
“It’s still a possibility that this season will be very, very special.”
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Van Dijk has been a pillar for the Reds this season[/caption]
Ahead of Liverpool’s trip to Fulham tomorrow, Slot backed up his captain.
The 46-year-old said: “Let me understand it right, Virgil was a bit frustrated because it came across as it’s not enough to ‘only’ win the Premier League?
“Michael (Owen) played for us, didn’t he? So he is aware of the fact that in 35 years we won the league once?
“There is your answer. If you can win the league with this club then, phew, nothing else matters. If you do it 10 times in a row then I could understand that people say, ‘Oh but you only win the Premier League’.
“At this club, you can compete for it and let alone win it, then it is a strange question to ask in my opinion.
“If Virgil has this opinion as well then I agree with him. I follow the Dutch media a bit more than the media here and… no, let’s leave it!
“I think the league is better than it ever was, the strength overall is getting better.
“I think even Pep (Guardiola) said there will not be a team again as long as he lives that gets more than 100 points and wins the league four times in a row.”
Slot will still be without Trent Alexander-Arnold and Joe Gomez for tomorrow’s trip to Fulham.
But Alisson and Conor Bradley have trained and could be in line to return.