Key events
Serie A
Here’s our European round-up, which includes details of a great day for Napoli and especially Scott McTomigol. Or maybe that should be Scott McAdona.
“Champagne Supernova!” is Peter Oh’s suggestion for tonight’s Oasis karaoke list. I think he added the exclamation mark.
“It’s sort of frustrating, and sort of fitting, how this is seen through the filter of United,” says Matt Dony. “The great Tim de Lisle mentioned in his preamble of the United game earlier how similar the two clubs are, and (as much as both would balk) it does ring true. Twenty-all is incredible. Fergie was astonishing. And in different ways, so was Klopp. And in a different way again, so is Slot. Neither clubs’ achievements mean anything if they’re not judged against the other one. An eternal battle. Sorry, City; sorry, Arsenal; sorry, Chelsea.”
I agree. And yet, the greatest rivalries in real time weren’t with each other. Man Utd’s came against Wenger’s Arsenal. What would Liverpool’s be? Revie’s Leeds? Clough’s Forest? Kendall’s Everton Mourinho/Grant/Hiddink’s Chelsea?
I guess Liverpool v Everton from about 1983-89 has to be right up there.
“People with beards in the street being serenaded with ‘Mo Salah running down the wing’ and men with less hair getting ‘Arne Slot’ to Life Is Life,” writes Philip. “But there are lots of karaoke bars between Lime Street and Lord Street. Someone doing Don’t Look Back in Anger… Read the room…”
If you’re going to do Oasis, on tonight of all nights, at least make it Cigarettes & Alcohol.
Also: what about the baldies with beards?
This is how the race for titles between Liverpool and Manchester United has unfolded over the years.
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Liverpool 2-0 Man Utd (up to 1905-06)
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Liverpool 2-2 Man Utd (1910-11)
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Liverpool 5-2 Man Utd (1946-47)
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Liverpool 5-5 Man Utd (1956-57)
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Liverpool 6-5 Man Utd (1963-64)
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Liverpool 6-6 Man Utd (1964-65)
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Liverpool 7-6 Man Utd (1965-66)
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Liverpool 7-7 Man Utd (1966-67)
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Liverpool 18-7 Man Utd (1989-90)
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Liverpool 18-20 Man Utd (2012-13)
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Liverpool 20-20 Man Utd (2024-25)
Arne Slot was full of the joys during his post-match press conference
I’m very, very happy of course but to a certain extent it also feels unreal. You’ve worked so hard for this moment to happen and, when it does happen, you need time to truly feel it. The fans were so happy that it didn’t take me long to understand what we’ve achieved together this season.
It is so special. It was a proud moment when I knew I would become the new head coach here, to be part of such a great football club, and to now be part of the history of this football club is something I could have only dreamed of three or four years ago.
On 12 August 2017, Mo Salah scored on his Liverpool debut at Vicarage Road. Eight years and 184 Premier League goals later, he is an all-time great of English football.
I’d love to know which loser wrote our liveblog of Salah’s debut.
21 min The game still feels a bit formless, even though we’re halfway through the first half. Liverpool are having a bit more of the ball, though with no sign of penetration. I can’t remember Salah touching the ball.
Liverpool and Salah serve up theatre and euphoria
Barney Ronay’s piece from Anfield has landed, and it’s a cracker.
A 5-1 cuffing aside of a sleepy Spurs team was always going to have an end-of-term feel, a day for board games and Toy Story on the wheelie TV. But this was also a roll-over party in many ways, a dual celebration for the plague season, and for all those empty years before the last one. At which point there are two things worth talking about, and one thing not worth talking about, which will still be talked about all the same.
“Has Mo Salah’s selfie broken the internet yet?” asks Gary Byrne.
If it has, it’ll trump everything else he’s achieved in his career. Never mind the Ballon d’Or, he’d win the Nobel Peace Prize!!!
Liverpool and Manchester United now have 20 titles each. But this season Liverpool have picked up more than twice as many points: 82 to Man Utd’s 39. I don’t think that has ever happened across a full season.
“Looking at your list of title winners, it appears even alphabetical order is conspiring against Man United these days,” says Tim Woods. “Fergie surely wouldn’t have stood for that.”
And you can effing print that.
“To win it is fantastic,” writes Kev. “To win it with a phlegmatic tactician like Slot, is even better. To win it and be told that it was because of x and y, or to devalue it by saying we didn’t win everything is pure wool behaviour. Now, having had an evolution, expect a revolution. Winners stay winners because they change.”
Who gives a floss what anyone else thinks? Liverpool have been brilliant and have a points total that would have made them title challengers in pretty much every season in English football history. You’re with your tribe, celebrating a Liverpool title win together for the first time in 35 years: savour every second of it.
One of the gazillion downsides of the internet is that we struggle to experience euphoria without reacting to outside noise, whether that’s real or imaginary. It’s so corrosive.
“Evening, Rob, from a euphoric pub in Liverpool city centre,” writes Philip. “Great day, though a shame Forest’s great season ran out of puff. I think we can agree that we are (almost) all Crystal Palace fans now. What will the universal levels of joy be like at Anfield on the last Sunday of the season if the game is between the champions and the FA Cup winners?”
Elsewhere, in Serie A, Scott McTomigol has scored twice to put Napoli 2-0 up at home to Torino. Napoli look set to go three points clear of the previous leaders Inter, who lost at home to Roma this afternoon.
English football’s roll of honour
20 titles
Liverpool, Manchester United
13
Arsenal
10
Manchester City
9
Everton
7
Aston Villa
6
Chelsea, Sunderland
4
Newcastle, Sheffield Wednesday
3
Blackburn Rovers, Huddersfield Town, Leeds United, Wolverhampton Wanderers
This feature, written by David Hytner after Liverpool’s symbolic win at the Etihad in February, is worth another read
The watchword was flexibility. It was a new take for Slot on the midfield options he inherited from Jürgen Klopp, albeit it is standard to see his team press in a 4-2-4. He had reasoned that it would be impossible to dominate the ball away from home against a Guardiola team so why not double down on the out-of-possession shape?
Liverpool’s triumph, month by month
The links go to our match report of each game.
August
September
October
November
December
January
February
March
April
One moment that sums up Arne Slot came after the 4-0 Champions League win over Leverkusen, in which Luis Diaz scored a hat-trick. He was being interviewed by Gabby Logan, who praised the masterstroke in putting Diaz up front. Slot matter-of-factly pointed out that Diaz was back on the left wing by the time he scored his third goal.
So many managers wouldn’t have said that; they’d have been too busy bathing in their own genius. It’s only a small thing but I thought it demonstrated that Slot is totally comfortable in his own skin and doesn’t feel the need to play PR games. He also has an honesty which is so refreshing.
Mo Salah’s blistering form in the first half of the season is one of the main reasons Liverpool built up an unassailable lead. Here’s Jonathan Liew’s tribute to an astonishing footballer.
The idea of Salah and Liverpool bound to each other, each looking out for the other, is perhaps one that speaks to the city’s broader mythology. It was telling that when Salah signed his new contract this month, one of the reasons he gave was not just the club but the city itself: the warmth of its people, the welcome it gave his family. “My kids are scousers now,” he joked in a recent interview.
Thanks Alex, hello everyone. It’s supposed to be difficult succeeding legendary managers, and it might be a few years before we appreciate just what a remarkable job Arne Slot has done this season.
He set the tone in his first game at Ipswich, making a decisive tactical change at half-time, and you can pinpoint maybe a dozen games where his tweaks have been decisive. To borrow a line from the great Patrick Barclay, Slot reads games as if he has written them.
Here’s that video of Arne Slot serenading Jürgen Klopp (not present). Big ‘I’ve been forced into karaoke’ energy from Arne, not quite Jürgen’s carefree abandon with the vocals. Still, he holds the tune fine. He’s not quite the Toppermost of the Poppermost, to borrow a phrase – but his team are.
And on that, I’ll hand you over to Rob Smyth. Enjoy.
A penny for Trent Alexander-Arnold’s thoughts. He cut an opaque figure as the crowd serenaded the players with You’ll Never Walk Alone after the full-time whistle against Spurs. As a scouser, it will have meant so much to him – but there’s the unavoidable spectre of his seemingly likely move to Real Madrid. Savouring the moment? Trying to hold back his emotions? Wondering who on earth in front of him is going to track back next season? We cannot say.
Pep Guardiola has had his say on Liverpool’s league triumph. Speaking after his side’s 2-0 victory over Nottingham Forest in their FA Cup semi-final, the Manchester City manager praised Liverpool for ending City’s run of four straight titles.
“First of all, I want to congratulate Liverpool,” he said. “It is well deserved, a fantastic team, and hopefully next season we can be better. This season it couldn’t be possible, so congratulations to Liverpool.” (via PA Sport)
Liverpool player ratings for the season
Andy “The Judge” Hunter does not hang about – he’s rated each of the LFC players based on their contribution this season. There’s a pair of 10s, a handful of 9s but also one 4. Of whom does he say “Exhibit A in the case for Slot’s coaching acumen … his positional sense, movement and distribution making him a vital component of the title-winning machine”? Find out below!
About those Mo Salah selfies with the crowd … Here he is, holding up two fingers (to represent the two league title he’s won at Liverpool, you understand) and sporting one brilliant grin.
It’s not just about No 20 – OK, it is really – it’s also about No 10. As in Arne Slot is, by my calculations, the 10th Liverpool manager to bring home the league title. Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley, Joe Fagan, Kenny Dalglish and Jürgen Klopp – all of whom I knew about. And apparently Tom Watson, David Ashworth, Matt McQueen, George Kay before all of those. Arne Slotting into an exclusive club, as it were.
“They need to get the decorators in,” correctly assesses the Guardian’s own Philip Cornwall, who has a very nice view of a sun-kissed Anfield. They do indeed.
Footage from inside the Liverpool dressing room, they are shaking hands (by which I mean shaking up bottles of fizz and the odd beer) and enjoying a drenched singsong. Andy Robertson emerges to talk.
“The last time we won it was a strange time,” he says. “We enjoyed it, of course, but you can’t beat today: how we came into the ground, the fans during the game, the fans after the win.”
On how this side is distinct from Klopp’s title winners: “It was a different style of play – it was high energy, high press – this team is more controlled … but it’s all about attacking and getting the ball to the dangerous players, that doesn’t change.”
The former Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge is praising Arne Slot’s “aura”, to use the popular modern phrase. “He’s a very honest man – the way he speaks to the press. The tactics he’s clearly got right. They’ve made a great choice in bringing him in – he wasn’t the obvious choice, but he’s the right one.”
The Guardian’s Mark Brown was among the Liverpool faithful this morning as they prepared for the visit of Spurs. Soak it in.
This is important. It means a lot to be here,” said Ann-Marie Barton, who remembers the mixed emotions when Liverpool last won the title: yes she was drinking champagne, but it was alone at home because of the Covid pandemic. “It was just me and Scooby [a stuffed mascot], and he doesn’t talk much.”
Andy Hunter
A nice moment on the pitch as Arne Slot sings Jürgen Klopp’s name to the tune of Opus’ Live Is Life, reciprocating the tribute that the former Liverpool manager paid to his incoming successor at his farewell here last season. Almost in the same spot as well.
“Incredible! Incredible to win the Premier League with the fans is so special,” Mo Salah tells Sky. Asked whether this is different to five years ago, the Egyptian ace says: “Ah, this is so much better, 100%, because of the fans … To show you can do it again is something special.”
Quizzed about Slot’s style, Salah replies: “He very honest. He’s quite tough, but he makes our life easier – because he tells you what you want to do.” He cheekily adds: “Now I don’t have to defend much!”
Arne Slot, in a snug Liverpool FC shirt, is coerced into singing in the centre circle. He grinningly, gratefully, abdicates this position when Andy Robertson chases him with a big bottle of bubbly. Now they’re all posing for a mass team photo on the pitch.
“So, about that perch …” emails Matt Dony. Yep, Liverpool have caught up their north-west rivals and Manchester United will have to budge up along their perch to make room. It’s all square: 20-20 vision.
Peter Oh emails: “One of the most memorable moments of Jürgen Klopp’s farewell ceremony at Anfield last year was when he led the fans in an ‘Arne Slot!’ chant. At the time it felt almost like an incongruous, revolutionary moment of self-effacement. Now it feels visionary. I guess hindsight is 20/TWENTY! Thank you Jürgen! Thank you Arne!”
Quick Guide
English league title winners
Show
20 Liverpool, Manchester United
13 Arsenal
10 Manchester City
9 Everton
7 Aston Villa
6 Chelsea, Sunderland
4 Newcastle, Sheffield Wednesday
3 Blackburn, Huddersfield, Wolves
2 Burnley, Derby, Portsmouth, Preston, Tottenham
1 Ipswich, Leicester, Nottm Forest, Sheffield Utd, West Brom
“It’s difficult to put into words,” says Arne Slot, straining even to hear himself over the raucous home fans. “You can see what’s happening here; before the game already. That’s what makes it special – three or four years ago they won the league, but the fans weren’t here. That’s why it’s amazing to have them here.”
He praises the character of his players, the hard work of his staff and also the squad and setup that Jürgen Klopp left behind him. “It maybe helps a bit that City had a difficult spell that they haven’t had for five years,” he adds, modestly. Klopp would likely agree.
Liverpool 5-1 Tottenham: report
Andy Hunter is at Anfield and this is his red-hot take on the match itself. Spurs actually gave Liverpool a brief scare by scoring first, but it was all one-way traffic after that. The report is below!
“It’s special – it’s something we don’t take for granted,” the title-winning captain, Virgil van Dijk, tells Sky. “A lot of emotions before the game, but we got the job done – we are deserved champions … This is the most beautiful club in the world. Let’s enjoy all of this over the next few weeks and let it sink in.”
You’ll Never Walk Alone rings out from the Kop, the Liverpool players link arms with Arne Slot and his coaching staff, facing their supporters. It’s a spine-tingling moment at any time but this is extra special.
The Liverpool players are dancing in front of a flare-strewn Kop. Mo Salah – as he did when celebrating the fourth goal against Spurs – is taking the odd lucky fan’s phone and grabbing some precious selfies, grinning in front of a horde of LFC faithful.
Alisson cries “vamos!” as he embraces Mohamed Salah. Two of the, by my calculations, magnificent seven players in this side who are winning their second league title with Liverpool – alongside Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez, Curtis Jones, Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold. Congrats, gents.
Liverpool win the Premier League!
Liverpool have sealed their 20th league title by winning 5-1 against Tottenham at Anfield. They’ve bossed it, capturing the trophy in late April with four games left to play, joining Manchester United as the English club with the most top-tier titles.
Arne Slot has come in to fill Jürgen Klopp’s big, clown-sized shoes and made it look relatively straightforward, cruising to Premier League supremacy in his first season (play the game, Arne, this is supposed to be difficult).
If Liverpool’s title under Klopp was the most cathartic, ending that 30-year wait, this feels more breezily joyous. In 2019-20, the league was mathematically sealed during lockdown and via a Manchester City defeat by Chelsea. In 2024-25, it is picture perfect for Reds’ fans: rubber-stamped with a resounding victory at a full, loud and sunny Anfield.
The players are on the pitch and they look overjoyed. Stick with us for all the reaction and Liverpool’s title celebrations.