'I wasn't surprised' - Arne Slot admits Arsenal slip-up was no shock to him as Liverpool prepare for Premier League title party

Slot was not expecting Arsenal to drop further points in the Premier League title race in midweek, but, watching the Gunners’ game with Crystal Palace, the Liverpool boss said he was not surprised to see the Eagles take a share of the spoils to put the Reds on the brink of a record-tying title.

Liverpool now lead the title race by 12 points with five games to play and have a game in hand on Arsenal. The Reds will win the league with a point against Tottenham on Sunday. Arsenal drew 2-2 with Palace at Emirates Stadium, a game in which they were twice pegged back after taking the lead. For the Gunners, the focus has long since turned to trying to win the Champions League, but Slot felt the game summed up the Premier League and its quality.

Slot revealed Liverpool watched the game together, telling a press conference: "It was different. Normally when you watch a game of football, you are either alone or with family or friends. But we watched it all together.

"Before the game, I would have been surprised if the game ended in a draw. But during the game, I wasn't because Crystal Palace again showed what this league is all about. It was a very good performance from them as a team and there were a few very good individual performances as well."

Liverpool will be eager to make up for lost time, having not been able to celebrate the league title they won during the pandemic with fans because of the restricitons in place. Slot, though, knows they cannot simply approach Sunday’s game ready for a party.

"First of all, that's a big responsibility because we are aware of the fact that the last time this club won the league it was Covid time,” Slot said. "So, everybody is looking forward to Sunday but we know there is still a job to be done, at least one point. That's what we know and hopefully our fans know as well when they come to the stadium, that they support us in the best possible way they can – which is what they have done the whole season – and are aware of the fact that we still need a point.

"That's something we are definitely aware of here inside this building. So, it's a nice game to look forward to but it's also a responsibility we have for Sunday.”