Liverpool football fans will be on top of the world this week after their side reclaimed the Premier League trophy, which was their first since 2020. Arne Slot’s team beat Tottenham Hotspur to win 5-1 on Sunday, after initially falling behind within the first 15 minutes after a Dominic Solanke header. All the Reds needed was a point, thanks to the draw between Crystal Palace and Arsenal in the midweek, and they delivered in style in front of an Anfield crowd to clinch the title.
They haven’t been without their struggles though, with long-term injury setbacks which forced Slot to rotate through the squad, utilising and relying on the youth team at times. There were periods where results didn’t come easily for the champions, particularly through a rough winter spell, where results saw Liverpool drop 11 points from a possible 15. Everton’s James Tarkowski ruined their hopes of winning the Merseyside derby, where he scored late on in the game to bring it to a 2-2 draw, snatching two points away from the title chasers, a result which would’ve felt more like a defeat for the Reds.
Each point dropped would’ve weighed heavily on both the squad and the fans, a constant reminder that they were getting further away from winning the trophy in front of the Kop. The pressure for every match mounted, and the margin for error was thinner, especially with rivals Arsenal on their tail.
Winning the title at Anfield was a moment of significance for the club after winning the trophy 5 years ago in front of an empty stadium in what many call ‘the covid season’. The city erupted with passion, with fans from all around coming together and celebrating a momentous moment in the club’s history. Following the title-winning match, one fan said: “Just look at the atmosphere, we didn’t get to do this back in 2020 when we won, so this means double for us now.”
Prior to the 2024/25 season starting, the BBC asked 30 of their pundits to predict their top 4 finishers. No pundit predicted Liverpool to win, two pundits, Stephen Warnock and Fara Williams had them to place second, whilst 25 said they’d finish third or fourth. Notably, three of the pundits did not have the Reds in their top four at all. Pat Nevin, one of the three who believed they’d struggle this season, said “I am thinking they will need another year under Arne Slot to make the top four.”
After Jürgen Klopp’s departure, many were sceptical about where that’d leave Liverpool in the coming seasons, and many doubted Slot’s capabilities, including ex-captain Jamie Carragher, who suggested appointing Slot was a gamble. Needless to say, the gamble paid off, as the new Reds manager’s tactics and playstyle led them to a 20th league title. The Dutchman praised his predecessor in a press conference after Sunday’s game:
Liverpool still have four games left this season, with their final being Crystal Palace at Anfield on the 25th of May. Their trophy parade will take place on the following Monday, a celebration of their achievement.
Arne Slot’s side will undoubtably crave more, and attention now turns to potential moves over the summer transfer window. As they prepare to defend their league title and compete on multiple fronts, they will hope for better fortune across all aspects in the 2025/26 season.
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