Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has paid heartfelt tribute to the emergency services for their rapid response to the serious incident that marred the club’s Premier League Trophy parade on Monday.
The event, which was meant to celebrate Liverpool’s 20th English top-flight title matching Manchester United’s record turned tragic when a car was driven into a crowd in the city center, leaving more than 50 people injured. Eleven remain in hospital, all in stable condition.
Slot, who was named the 2024/25 Barclays Manager of the Season at the League Managers Association (LMA) annual awards, withdrew from the ceremony out of solidarity with those affected.
In a letter read out at the event and published on Liverpool’s official website, Slot expressed his gratitude to the emergency services, authorities, supporters, and bystanders who helped in the immediate aftermath. “Football is and always should be a game built on rivalry, but it is also a great source of comradeship, especially at times like this,” he wrote.
Slot, the first Dutchman to win the award, also thanked the LMA, Premier League, and rival clubs for their support over the past 24 hours. He described the decision to withdraw from the awards as “absolutely right given the seriousness of the situation,” and asked the football community to keep those affected in their thoughts and prayers.
Despite the tragedy, Slot’s debut season at Liverpool was nothing short of spectacular. Succeeding the legendary Jürgen Klopp, Slot led the Reds to the Premier League title, finishing 10 points clear of Arsenal.
Liverpool won a league-high 25 matches, scored 86 goals (14 more than any other team), and conceded just 41 (the second-best defensive record in the competition).
Slot’s Manager of the Season award completed a historic individual awards treble for Liverpool, with Mohamed Salah named Player of the Season and Ryan Gravenberch winning Young Player of the Season. This marks only the third time a Premier League club has swept all three major individual awards, following Manchester City’s achievements in 2020/21 and 2022/23.
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