Liverpool chairman Tom Werner says FSG owe it to fans to make team even better

Liverpool chairman Tom Werner believes owners Fenway Sports Group owe it to the club’s fans to build on their Premier League title win.

A second championship in five years, and the first to be lifted in front of supporters since 1990 due to Covid restrictions in 2020, was celebrated wildly inside and outside of Anfield following Sunday’s 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace.

Arne Slot’s team had everything wrapped up a month ago and that has helped the club advance their transfer planning more rapidly, with a deal effectively done for Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong and talks continuing with the Bundesliga side over a club-record £125million signing of forward Florian Wirtz.

Leverkusen managing director Simon Rolfes, at a press conference to present Erik ten Hag as their new manager, said: “There is concrete interest from Liverpool, but there’s no more to say right now. Florian is our player.”

The club are also looking for a new left-back, with Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez of interest, and possibly a striker and centre-back. Asked if there was a busy summer ahead, Werner said: “It’s already busy.

“We go again. It never gets old, winning. We owe it to all of our supporters to bring back a team even better next season.”

Werner also paid tribute to the job Slot has done, having been given the unenviable task of taking over from Jurgen Klopp.

“It’s extraordinary. We obviously had high hopes for this season but he has been an extraordinary coach,” he added.

“I think there have been three coaches who have won the Premier League in their first season and Arne is one of them. He is just an extraordinary leader.

“He’s authentic, he’s not trying to be anyone else. The team was an extraordinarily good team but he brought the best out of them.”

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has already spoken about a “big summer” ahead in terms of transfers.

But while that business takes place in the background, he said the current squad should allow themselves a short while to bask in their success before turning attention to their defence.

“We deserved it, we have to enjoy it until a certain point and then be completely focused on how we attack next season,” said the Dutchman, who was giving himself until Thursday to make the most of the achievement.

“You have to take some time to digest this as these things don’t happen that often – I’m a real big believer in taking your time to enjoy it.

“Winning the Premier League is not a given, (Manchester) City did it many times in a row. For us, this is an incredible feeling.

“I think it’s the hardest thing to do to retain the title but we will see.

“We have the quality and I think the club is doing a lot of work behind the scenes to strengthen the squad as well.

“We’ll have a good pre-season ahead of us but first we will celebrate, then internationals, then I’ll completely switch off on holidays. Off season, pre-season, Community Shield and then back on it.”

Van Dijk was presented with the trophy by Alan Hansen, the last Liverpool captain to lift the league title in front of fans.

The Dutchman was pivotal in the former defender – who last summer was seriously ill for two weeks – becoming involved.

“I was very determined to make sure he was going to be the one who handed the trophy to me,” he added.

“I am happy it worked out. I think he has been one of the greatest centre-backs the club has ever seen.

“Obviously he was ill last year and I’m glad he is looking well now and I was really happy for him to get his moment in front of the Kop as he deserved it too.”