Liverpool staged a roaring comeback from a goal down to emphatically thrash Tottenham Hotspur 5-1 and secure the Premier League title in style on a momentous, sun-drenched Sunday at Anfield.
Needing just a single point to guarantee a record-equalling 20th English league title with four matches still to play, Liverpool were stunned in the 12th minute when Dominic Solanke headed Tottenham into an unexpected lead.
However, the title celebrations were only briefly muted as Liverpool responded with three goals before halftime: a tap-in from Luis Diaz, a thunderous strike from Alexis Mac Allister, and a well-taken shot by Cody Gakpo.
A dominant second half saw Mohamed Salah end his six-match goal drought in the 63rd minute, firing a low shot past Guglielmo Vicario. He celebrated his 28th league goal of an outstanding season by memorably taking a selfie with a jubilant fan.
Tottenham’s miserable afternoon was compounded when Destiny Udogie bundled the ball into his own net, completing a chastening defeat for the visitors, who have now suffered 19 Premier League losses this season.
Liverpool, having now matched arch-rivals Manchester United’s record of 20 English league titles, sit atop the table with 82 points from 34 games played, a significant 15 points ahead of second-placed Arsenal (67 points).
A powerful rendition of “You’ll Never Walk Alone,” the club’s cherished anthem, reverberated around Anfield after the final whistle, with legendary figures like Kenny Dalglish and Ian Rush joining in the emotional chorus.
“This is difficult to put into words,” said Liverpool manager Arne Slot, who took over from Jurgen Klopp last year and becomes the first Dutch coach to win the Premier League. “It’s more than what I can describe… Everyone said we had already won it, but you still feel the pressure to get the point over the line.”
Slot becomes only the fifth manager to win the Premier League title in his debut season in English football. While the outcome was largely a formality before kickoff, Liverpool still had the significant task of securing the title in front of their passionate home supporters.
Five years prior, when Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool ended a 30-year wait for their 19th title, the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in an anti-climactic finale inside an empty Anfield. Sunday’s emphatic victory more than compensated for that, as the Anfield faithful passionately sang their club anthems long before the match even began.
Sixteenth-placed Tottenham, who made eight changes to their starting lineup perhaps with Thursday’s Europa League semi-final in mind, appeared to be lambs to the slaughter. However, they briefly threatened to spoil the party when former Liverpool player Solanke headed in James Maddison’s corner kick.
Liverpool’s deficit lasted only four minutes. Diaz, making his 100th Premier League appearance for the club, tapped in Dominik Szoboszlai’s low cross. Although initially disallowed for offside, a VAR review overturned the decision, prompting widespread relief among the Liverpool supporters.
Unsung Hero Strikes
Eight minutes later, the Anfield party was in full swing as Liverpool took the lead with a spectacular goal from Mac Allister, a true unsung hero in Liverpool’s midfield engine room. Tottenham carelessly gave away possession while attempting to play out from the back, and when the ball reached the Argentine World Cup winner, he unleashed a stunning left-footed shot that soared high past Vicario.
With the visitors now seemingly resigned to their role as bystanders in Liverpool’s title parade, the hosts began to run rampant. Gakpo added Liverpool’s third goal in the 34th minute, further cementing their dominance.
All that remained to complete a perfect day for the Anfield faithful was a goal for their Egyptian idol, Mohamed Salah. He duly obliged after the break with a trademark finish, cutting in from the right wing and unleashing a powerful shot past Vicario.
“It’s special and something we don’t ever take for granted,” said captain Virgil van Dijk. “Lots of emotions today, we are truly the deserved champions.”
After a season of remarkable consistency in which Liverpool have suffered just two defeats in 34 league games, no one could argue with their status as champions.
