It was 343 days ago when Jurgen Klopp stood in the Anfield centre circle and delivered an emotion-fuelled farewell speech.
“It doesn’t feel like an end, it just feels like the start,” he reassured a fanbase concerned about what the future looked like without him in it.
“Change is good. If you go with the right attitude then everything will be fine. The right basis is 100 per cent there.”
Advertisement
At the time it sounded wildly optimistic. In fact it proved to be gloriously prophetic.
Liverpool are champions of England for the 20th time, bringing them level with Manchester United as the joint-most successful side in English top-flight history, and Arne Slot has taken the fast-track to the pantheon of Anfield greats by inspiring the most remarkable of triumphs.
Sunday’s emphatic 5-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur wrapped up the Premier League title with four games to spare to spark wild scenes of jubilation.
Slot becomes just the third manager in Liverpool’s history to win the title in his debut season in charge, following in the footsteps of Joe Fagan (1983-84) and Kenny Dalglish (1985-86). He becomes the first coach since Antonio Conte at Chelsea in 2016-17 to win the title during his maiden Premier League season.
The understated Dutchman has surpassed all expectations since making the move from Feyenoord last summer. Yes, he was fortunate to inherit a gifted squad but how he’s taken them to the next level with his tactical acumen and expert man-management has been astonishing.
Credit also to sporting director Richard Hughes, who led the search for Klopp’s successor a year ago and was so convinced that Slot’s work in the Netherlands made him perfect for the job in hand. At the time it looked like a gamble, it turned out to be a masterstroke.
Forget the failings of the chasing pack, Slot’s side have simply set standards that no-one else has been able to get close to replicating over the past nine months.
Liverpool have been top of the Premier League since November, with a 26-game unbeaten league run blowing their opponents away. With just two defeats in 34 games, it had long since been a case of when rather than if they would be champions again.
There’s been so much to admire. From the breathtaking brilliance of Mohamed Salah at one end — who celebrated his goal on Sunday by taking a selfie with a fan’s phone and signalling his second Premier League title — to the inspirational leadership of Virgil van Dijk at the other, it’s all been underpinned by a tireless work ethic.
Advertisement
The sense of euphoria inside Anfield on Sunday was magnified by the fact that many inside the stadium had waited their entire lives for this moment.
This was the first time Liverpool had won the English league title in front of supporters since 1990 having been forced to celebrate behind closed doors when Klopp’s side ended the painful 30-year drought in 2019-20.
The sense of growing anticipation on Merseyside had been inescapable since Arsenal’s midweek draw with Crystal Palace left Liverpool on the brink of glory. The street sellers had been doing a roaring trade selling ‘champions of England’ merchandise.
More than hours before kick-off, Anfield Road was rammed as supporters lined the pavement in the spring sunshine to greet their heroes. Some were carrying replicas of the Premier League trophy, others cans of beer to quench their thirst.
When the team coach finally arrived at the stadium, it emerged through a cloud of thick red smoke from the array of flares. The roar was deafening and it set the tone for an unforgettable afternoon as the noise inside Anfield rarely deviated from fever pitch.
(Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
‘Now you’re gonna believe us, we’re gonna win the league.’ Every rendition was that bit louder than the previous one.
There was a spine-tingling rendition of You’ll Never Walk Alone and a new addition to the array of banners on the resplendent Kop which read: ‘It was always Liverpool’, a nod to Van Dijk’s comments after he recently signed a new two-year contract.
With his hands in his pockets as he stood in his technical area, Slot couldn’t have looked more relaxed early on, but Tottenham briefly gave him cause for concern.
James Maddison’s corner was inviting and former Liverpool striker Dominic Solanke punished some slack marking when he nodded past Alisson inside 12 minutes. This wasn’t in the script.
Advertisement
The response both in the stands and on the pitch was emphatic as the volume and the tempo was cranked up.
Within four minutes Liverpool were level with Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai combining to give Luis Diaz a tap-in. The offside flag initially curtailed the celebrations but when a VAR check inevitably confirmed that Diaz was onside, a tidal wave of joy rippled around Anfield.
Luis Diaz celebrate his equaliser against Spurs (Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
The Colombian was serenaded by all four sides of Anfield and soon it was Alexis Mac Allister’s turn to get the same treatment after he unleashed a stunning 20-yard thunderbolt beyond Guglielmo Vicario.
The breathing space Liverpool craved arrived before the break courtesy of Cody Gakpo, who worked his way into space after the visitors failed to clear a corner and produced a clinical finish into the bottom corner.
As Gakpo took off his shirt to show the message ‘I belong to Jesus’, Slot punched the air with delight and embraced his backroom staff.
The second half, just like the title race itself, turned into a procession with Slot’s name chanted repeatedly.
Salah slammed home the fourth before taking a mobile phone from a fan at the front of the Kop and posing for a selfie with his adoring public. The goal took the prolific Egyptian clear of former Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero into fifth place in the Premier League’s all-time list of scorers on 185.
After Dominic Solanke turned the ball into his own net to make it 5-1, red balloons were unleashed from the stands and the chant of ‘champions’ spread around Anfield.
Liverpool’s title party — ending Manchester City’s record-breaking run of four consecutive Premier League titles — was underway and with the trophy lift still a month away it won’t be ending any time soon.
(Top photo: Peter Byrne/PA Images via Getty Images)
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Arsenal vs. Paris Saint-Germain: What important things haven’t changed since last Champions League meeting
Getty Images As anyone from the visiting side will not shy away from telling you, a lot has changed since Arsenal last welcomed Paris Saint-Germain to the Emirates Stadium. Seven months is a long time, Luis Enrique insisted, and since their grueling league phase campaign the French champions have had to "pull their socks up." To Vitinha, it is "obviously" different. And, of course, they are right. The PSG that rocked up to the Emirates Stadium on Oct. 1 looked elegant enough when the ball was at their feet but utterly incapable of laying a glove on William Saliba, et al. Their front three combined for one shot, their best chance of the match falling to Achraf Hakimi 10 seconds before the end of 90 minutes. With Ousmane Dembele sidelined and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia yet to join from Napoli, there were few […]
2025 CJ Cup Byron Nelson $1 million parlay picks, PGA Tour props, golf odds: Get a huge return on $10 bet
Getty Images The PGA Tour schedule continues with a stop at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas, for the 2025 CJ Cup Byron Nelson beginning on Thursday. The Truist Championship, a Signature Event, is up next and the PGA Championship begins on May 15. With those around the corner, some big names are taking this week off, but that isn't the case for Scottie Scheffler and Jordan Spieth, both Lone Star State natives. Scheffler is still looking for his first win of the year, but he's the +280 favorite (risk $100 to win $280) in the 2025 CJ Cup Byron Nelson odds from FanDuel Sportsbook. Spieth is next on the PGA odds board this week at +2000, followed by Sungjae Im and Byeong Hun An at +2500. You can add in top-five, top-10 and other PGA Tour props if you're looking […]
Ban over, Bob Baffert back in Kentucky Derby spotlight
Trainer Bob Baffert looks out at the track early Friday morning at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. April 25, 2025. Disgraced and decorated, Bob Baffert is back at Churchill Downs this week ahead of the 151st Kentucky Derby with a tale to tell. With a a three-year suspension in the rearview mirror -- stemming from 2021 Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit testing positive for the corticosteroid betamethasone -- Baffert returned to the horse racing spotlight hoping to author another chapter in a complicated legacy. "Everyone's been really nice to me," Baffert said of his reception from other trainers and horsemen. "They say they are happy to see me, and I'm happy to be back." Morning line favorite Journalism, who has 3-1 odds out of the No. 8 position, is the deserving favorite according to the 72-year-old trainer. With a pair […]
BatX fantasy baseball cheat sheet: Add Zach Neto, start Kansas City hitters
Baseball season is well underway, and with a plethora of articles, statistics and metrics available, it can be difficult to know who to start, sit, fade and trade. Using Derek Carty’s BatX projection system, The Athletic has developed a weekly program that helps fantasy managers with difficult roster decisions. From grabbing newly healthy Zach Neto off the waiver wire to slotting in two-start pitchers, you can make choices based on the data high-stakes fantasy managers use to craft their rosters.AdvertisementThe Waiver WireStarting with some waiver targets, we compare year-to-date value (expressed as dollars, where $0 would represent a replacement-level player) against their projected rest-of-season value. This gives you an idea of which players may be available on your waiver wire and why you should grab them before anyone else can.There are some well-known names on the top hitters to target, […]
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts skips visit with Donald Trump at White House commemorating Super Bowl title
Jalen Hurts did not visit the White House with his teammates on Wednesday as the Philadelphia Eagles celebrated their Super Bowl championship with President Donald Trump.Hurts, who was named Super Bowl MVP after Philadelphia's win over the Kansas City Chiefs, did not address why he opted out of the ceremony. White House officials cited "scheduling conflicts" when asked about Hurts' absence.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Eagles are the third championship team to visit the White House in recent weeks, following the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers and the Ohio State football team, which won the CFP national championship.The visits mark a return to tradition from Trump's first term, in which several otherwise routine championship visits to the White House didn't take place due to refused or rescinded invitations and athletes not wanting to be associated with the Trump administration and its policies.Eagles visit […]
Jacobs Gibbs’ Tight End Dynasty Rookie Rankings & Tiers : Post 2025 NFL Draft risers, fallers, more
/ Getty Images We are so back! With landing spots secured, all that is left to do is speculate for months on end. Before we know it, August preseason action will be upon us! Let's go!Dynasty Tight End Rookie RankingsTIER 1TE1 -- Colston Loveland, Chicago BearsTIER 2TE2 -- Tyler Warren, Indianapolis ColtsTIER 3TE3 -- Terrance Ferguson, Los Angeles RamsTE4 -- Harold Fannin Jr., Cleveland BrownsTE5 -- Mason Taylor, New York JetsTE6 -- Elijah Arroyo, Seattle SeahawksTE7 -- Gunnar Helm, Tennessee TitansTIER 4TE8 -- Oronde Gadsden II, Los Angeles ChargersTE9 -- Mitchell Evans, Carolina PanthersTE10 -- Thomas Fideone II, New York GiantsRisers I expected to be on an island in ranking Fannin ahead of Taylor. That's no surprise, and I don't blame anyone who prefers Taylor's set of circumstances entering the NFL. I am content taking a shot on Fannin's upside, […]
Related
Arsenal vs. Paris Saint-Germain: What important things haven’t changed since last Champions League meeting
Getty Images As anyone from the visiting side will not shy away from telling you, a lot has changed since Arsenal last welcomed Paris Saint-Germain to the Emirates Stadium. Seven months is a long time, Luis Enrique insisted, and since their grueling league phase campaign the French champions have had to "pull their socks up." To Vitinha, it is "obviously" different. And, of course, they are right. The PSG that rocked up to the Emirates Stadium on Oct. 1 looked elegant enough when the ball was at their feet but utterly incapable of laying a glove on William Saliba, et al. Their front three combined for one shot, their best chance of the match falling to Achraf Hakimi 10 seconds before the end of 90 minutes. With Ousmane Dembele sidelined and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia yet to join from Napoli, there were few […]
2025 CJ Cup Byron Nelson $1 million parlay picks, PGA Tour props, golf odds: Get a huge return on $10 bet
Getty Images The PGA Tour schedule continues with a stop at TPC Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas, for the 2025 CJ Cup Byron Nelson beginning on Thursday. The Truist Championship, a Signature Event, is up next and the PGA Championship begins on May 15. With those around the corner, some big names are taking this week off, but that isn't the case for Scottie Scheffler and Jordan Spieth, both Lone Star State natives. Scheffler is still looking for his first win of the year, but he's the +280 favorite (risk $100 to win $280) in the 2025 CJ Cup Byron Nelson odds from FanDuel Sportsbook. Spieth is next on the PGA odds board this week at +2000, followed by Sungjae Im and Byeong Hun An at +2500. You can add in top-five, top-10 and other PGA Tour props if you're looking […]
Ban over, Bob Baffert back in Kentucky Derby spotlight
Trainer Bob Baffert looks out at the track early Friday morning at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. April 25, 2025. Disgraced and decorated, Bob Baffert is back at Churchill Downs this week ahead of the 151st Kentucky Derby with a tale to tell. With a a three-year suspension in the rearview mirror -- stemming from 2021 Kentucky Derby winner Medina Spirit testing positive for the corticosteroid betamethasone -- Baffert returned to the horse racing spotlight hoping to author another chapter in a complicated legacy. "Everyone's been really nice to me," Baffert said of his reception from other trainers and horsemen. "They say they are happy to see me, and I'm happy to be back." Morning line favorite Journalism, who has 3-1 odds out of the No. 8 position, is the deserving favorite according to the 72-year-old trainer. With a pair […]
BatX fantasy baseball cheat sheet: Add Zach Neto, start Kansas City hitters
Baseball season is well underway, and with a plethora of articles, statistics and metrics available, it can be difficult to know who to start, sit, fade and trade. Using Derek Carty’s BatX projection system, The Athletic has developed a weekly program that helps fantasy managers with difficult roster decisions. From grabbing newly healthy Zach Neto off the waiver wire to slotting in two-start pitchers, you can make choices based on the data high-stakes fantasy managers use to craft their rosters.AdvertisementThe Waiver WireStarting with some waiver targets, we compare year-to-date value (expressed as dollars, where $0 would represent a replacement-level player) against their projected rest-of-season value. This gives you an idea of which players may be available on your waiver wire and why you should grab them before anyone else can.There are some well-known names on the top hitters to target, […]
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts skips visit with Donald Trump at White House commemorating Super Bowl title
Jalen Hurts did not visit the White House with his teammates on Wednesday as the Philadelphia Eagles celebrated their Super Bowl championship with President Donald Trump.Hurts, who was named Super Bowl MVP after Philadelphia's win over the Kansas City Chiefs, did not address why he opted out of the ceremony. White House officials cited "scheduling conflicts" when asked about Hurts' absence.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThe Eagles are the third championship team to visit the White House in recent weeks, following the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers and the Ohio State football team, which won the CFP national championship.The visits mark a return to tradition from Trump's first term, in which several otherwise routine championship visits to the White House didn't take place due to refused or rescinded invitations and athletes not wanting to be associated with the Trump administration and its policies.Eagles visit […]
Jacobs Gibbs’ Tight End Dynasty Rookie Rankings & Tiers : Post 2025 NFL Draft risers, fallers, more
/ Getty Images We are so back! With landing spots secured, all that is left to do is speculate for months on end. Before we know it, August preseason action will be upon us! Let's go!Dynasty Tight End Rookie RankingsTIER 1TE1 -- Colston Loveland, Chicago BearsTIER 2TE2 -- Tyler Warren, Indianapolis ColtsTIER 3TE3 -- Terrance Ferguson, Los Angeles RamsTE4 -- Harold Fannin Jr., Cleveland BrownsTE5 -- Mason Taylor, New York JetsTE6 -- Elijah Arroyo, Seattle SeahawksTE7 -- Gunnar Helm, Tennessee TitansTIER 4TE8 -- Oronde Gadsden II, Los Angeles ChargersTE9 -- Mitchell Evans, Carolina PanthersTE10 -- Thomas Fideone II, New York GiantsRisers I expected to be on an island in ranking Fannin ahead of Taylor. That's no surprise, and I don't blame anyone who prefers Taylor's set of circumstances entering the NFL. I am content taking a shot on Fannin's upside, […]
Be the first to leave a comment