'Every game is a war' - Kostas Tsimikas hits out at claims Liverpool's Premier League title triumph was 'easy' as he reveals key reason behind 2024-25 success

Following the departure of iconic manager Jurgen Klopp, Slot faced the enormous challenge of building upon a legacy that had reignited Liverpool’s dominance both domestically and in Europe. Yet the Dutchman managed to not only maintain the standards set by his predecessor but also guide the team to a comfortable title victory, mathematically securing the crown with four games remaining.

Many argued that a debilitated Manchester City have paved the way for Liverpool to clinch their 20th league title with such dominance. However, Tsimikas passionately dismissed those suggestions and instead claimed the season was one of the most fiercely contested campaigns in recent memory.

Tsimikas reflected on previous close-run campaigns, using them as a benchmark to illustrate just how tight the margins have been in recent years. Moreover, the Greek defender claimed that the absence of a dominant City team did not translate into a less competitive season. In fact, the contrary was true.

In an interview with Sport24,Tsimikas said: "I can't tell you what didn't happen in previous years, but I can tell you what pushed us this year. And yes, before we faced the good City, it's tough to fight a team like that. Before I came, in 2019 we lost the title at 98-97 (points), then in 2023 we went to 93-92 and this year we mathematically won it at 82.

"Those who say it's an easy championship are wrong. There wasn't a single easy game, there is no easy team in the Premier League. For the first time in history, seven teams finished with 65+ points. This year's championship was treacherous; it didn't have a behemoth like City in previous years, but all the teams had strength, except for the three that were relegated. There is no easy game, every game is a war."

Tsimikas believes that the new era under Slot began with hunger and belief.

“As a football player, when the year starts, you always expect and hope that you can win the championship," he said.

"Even in the last game when we only wanted three points, we were 100% there, dedicated. We wanted to finish it mathematically, to be champions, and after that, to celebrate together. Before that, nothing, we were saying ‘we want a little more, we're not champions yet, we want a little more to achieve our goals’. That was the primary thing, to take each game individually, to get the points."

With the trophy secured, Liverpool’s attention has now turned to retaining their crown in what promises to be an even more challenging campaign. The Reds begin their title defence against Bournemouth, but the road gets tougher quickly, with showdowns against Newcastle United and Arsenal set for later in August.