'Strange question!' - Arne Slot hits back at Liverpool legend Michael Owen as Reds boss insists 'nothing else matters' in Premier League title hunt

Owen made headlines after suggesting that although winning the league would be “special,” the sting of exiting the Champions League and falling short in the Carabao Cup final could overshadow the triumph. This opinion did not sit well with Slot - or with team captain Virgil van Dijk, who previously clashed with Owen after the Merseyside derby.

Slot made it clear that securing domestic league glory remains the highest priority, particularly for a club that has struggled to consistently win the English title in recent decades. Moreover, it would be Liverpool's 20th Premier League crown, an incredible feat that would see them match Manchester United's tally.

“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?” asked the Liverpool head coach.

“Michael did play 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 I would say. If you do it 10 times in a row then I could understand that people say: ‘Oh but you only win the Premier League.’

"If [Manchester] City only won the Premier League then I could understand people saying: ‘It’s not a good season for City.’ But if, 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.”

The Liverpool boss also addressed a growing narrative suggesting this season’s league might be less competitive due to Manchester City’s inconsistency and Arsenal’s inability to stay in contention. Slot argued the opposite, stating the Premier League has become more balanced than ever.

“I think the league is better than it ever was,” Slot said. “That’s what I hear a lot because 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 because so many more teams are having so many more good players.

“I think he even said what I have said the whole year, that all clubs, even some who are fighting against relegation, have some players who can play for City, for Arsenal, for us, for Chelsea and for these type of teams. The reason why teams you might expect to have more points don’t have them is because the league has become stronger. That is probably why it is such a compliment for us that we do have those points at the moment.”

Liverpool’s performance this season under Slot has been nothing short of impressive. The Reds have amassed 73 points from 30 league games, losing only once along the way. Next on the agenda for Slot’s men is an away trip to Fulham on April 6. With just eight league matches remaining, Liverpool will aim to keep their momentum alive and seal the deal as quickly as possible.