A general view (GV) of the Anfield Kop as fans wave banners and flags during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Everton FC at Anfield on April 2, 2025
Of all the flags and the banners which regularly decorate Anfield on these sorts of evenings, there was a brand new one, sprawled across the Kop before kick-off, that served as a direct message to the Everton supporters down the other end of the ground: “We made this city”.
Accompanied by the silhouettes of a number of trophies - that included the old First Division, the Champions League and, yes, the Premier League - the words served as a nod to Liverpool’s lengthy and varied honours list.
And after securing a 1-0 win in the 246th Merseyside derby here, the Reds are now closing in on another piece of silver to toast to; one that might just be cherished like no other given what will be a 35-year wait to mark it in a style that is truly fitting of the achievement.
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Having had no game for well over a fortnight for the first time in months, Slot revealed he was feeling suitably refreshed and recharged ahead of the all-important run-in. But the real issue was always going to be how much his players had been able to conserve themselves after a punishing period between late-November and mid-March came to a shuddering halt with the worst week of the Dutchman's short reign so far prior to the international pause.
A visit from a more durable Everton under David Moyes was likely the one of the least appealing fixtures to return to action to, having seen their lead reduced to single digits by Arsenal the evening previous. But there was to be no Royal Blue monkey wrench inserted into those plans of title glory.
Having seen three points evaporate in the dying embers of the Merseyside derby's Goodison Park chapter in February, and the subsequent anger that followed from Slot and Curtis Jones, among others, the opportunity to reheat things against the old enemy was too good an opportunity to turn down here as Diogo Jota's goal settled an almost archetypal derby Liverpool's way.
A first-half devoid of any real chances for the hosts saw the Blues threaten to go 1-0 up when Beto bamboozled his way through before sliding past Caoimhin Kelleher only for the offside flag to go up.
Beto almost made the breakthrough later in the half when Virgil van Dijk missed a swiped clearance and left him with acres to run into behind the Reds' defence. the Everton striker, though, could only find the post to spare the blushes of a back four who had more than enough back to counteract the one-man attack.
James Tarkowski was booked earlier in the half for a wild lunge that saw him connect with both the ball and a good portion of Alexis Mac Allister's calf. A VAR check deemed the challenge as "reckless" but referee Sam Barrott's on-field caution was upheld.
As they have tended to look in the last few weeks, the Reds were bereft of creativity and while the experiment of midfielder Curtis Jones at right-back was done with a view to seeing more of the ball, it was a tactical tweak that only further highlighted the difficulties of replacing a certain Trent Alexander-Arnold. That is both a short-term problem and a long-term concern for Slot as things stand. The Real Madrid-linked Alexander-Arnold's invention was missed at times.
That perhaps does Jones's general performance a disservice, however. The England international midfielder was always a willing outlet on the right side to help the likes of Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai and his assured style with the ball allowed the team to recycle it time and again as they posted 74% possession. No-one will have enjoyed this more than him, particularly after that tempestuous end to proceedings in the reverse fixture.
After Jota smashed wide from a difficult angle, Mohamed Salah should have worked Jordan Pickford more with his header from Luis Diaz's cross but Everton were good value for their clean sheet at the interval, with David Moyes's decision to pack the midfield and play on the break working a charm.
A better start to the second period got its reward shortly before the hour mark when Jota wriggled free of a handful of challenges inside the area before firing home. It was just the tonic for the Portugal striker, who hasn't really looked himself since an upper-body issue against Chelsea way back in October. Everton's bleating of offside by Diaz in the build up fell on deaf ears.
There has been ample speculation around what the club will choose to do in the transfer market this summer regarding their No.9 position. With Darwin Nunez - once more looking out of sync with his colleagues off the bench here - having long-term question marks over his suitability and Jota's injury issues casting major question marks over his own Anfield career, this match-winner - a first strike since January - was a reminder of his capabilities when opportunities present themselves in the penalty area.
There are few as equipped to steer home when the pressure is on as Jota in the Reds' squad and this, which was just his sixth league goal of the campaign, was proof of that.
Liverpool looked less ruffled by the unorthodox style of Beto after the break and the victory rarely looked in doubt once the deadlock had been broken. A 13th clean sheet of the campaign takes them level with Nottingham Forest for shutouts, two more than Arsenal.
And with the Gunners having chipped away at the Reds' imposing lead on Tuesday night, a victory reaffirms the belief that it will in fact be Liverpool's name on the Premier League trophy now.
Fears of an almighty collapse, however improbable, on the back of a disappointing week prior to the international break can surely be put to bed. Now it's all about how they can hold their nerve over the next few weeks with the finishing line in sight and the mother of all parties awaiting them on the other side.