Arne Slot has led Liverpool to one of the most unexpected title wins in their history, with four games to spare. Mail Sport looks at the six matches that defined a remarkable season…
Brighton and Hove Albion
November 2, 2024; Anfield. Won 2-1
Every fire needs a spark to light it and this game set Liverpool ablaze.
The opening weeks of Slot’s reign had seen a lot of caution — the manager being unsure about going on to the pitch after games at Anfield, some fans unsure about his style of play — but here a flag was planted in the ground.
Liverpool were trailing with 21 minutes to go, then Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah scored within 180 seconds.
The game, the mood of the stadium, the course of the season was altered. Slot’s men reclaimed first place. They wouldn’t let it go.
Manchester City
December 1, 2024; Anfield. Won 2-0
Perhaps City arrived on Merseyside at the point when they were most vulnerable, but there was something unusual about the game: there was never, not for a second, any thought that Liverpool would get anything other than three points after Gakpo opened the scoring.
Mail Sport looks at the six games which secured Liverpool the Premier League title this season
A 2-1 comeback win against Brighton in November altered the course of Liverpool’s season
A month later, the Reds tore Man City apart to win 2-0 and truly show their contrast in form
It was a 2-0 evisceration, a contest Liverpool should have wrapped up long before Salah converted a 78th-minute penalty. These teams were clearly heading in different directions.
Fulham
December 14, 2024; Anfield. Drew 2-2
A colossal point. Arsenal — playing at the Emirates — expected to beat Everton, and when Andy Robertson was sent off and Liverpool trailed at half-time, the chance was there for Mikel Arteta’s men to capitalise.
But Liverpool grabbed a point and here Slot showed his outstanding tactical thinking, dropping Ryan Gravenberch into defence from midfield to make a back four, then playing five up front in the second period.
Gakpo and Diogo Jota got the goals that secured the draw — and Arsenal were held to a stalemate by Everton.
Brentford
January 18, 2025; Gtech Stadium. Won 2-0
This, perhaps, was the moment Arsenal’s spirit broke. Liverpool had squandered so many chances and looked to have taken a backward step four days after drawing at Nottingham Forest.
But in the dying minutes, Darwin Nunez unexpectedly became the hero. He scored twice in stoppage time and those goals were daggers to the heart of Arsenal fans.
Manchester City
February 23, 2025; Etihad Stadium. Won 2-0
Arsenal had somehow contrived to lose to West Ham 24 hours earlier, squandering any chance to apply pressure before Liverpool went to the home of the champions.
And Slot masterminded a performance of total authority. Liverpool played with the swagger of a team unbeaten in 22 games, Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai taking the contest away from Pep Guardiola’s men before the interval, then defending with maturity in the second half.
Liverpool won an invaluable point when they drew 2-2 to Fulham in December, down to 10 men
Darwin Nunez’s heroics at Brentford in January, where he scored twice in stoppage time, earned Liverpool a 2-0 win and truly broke Arsenal’s spirit
In February, Liverpool once again showed their tactical prowess over City to win 2-0 away
Arne Slot’s side bounced back form a Carabao Cup defeat by Newcastle and Champions League exit to PSG to beat Everton 1-0 in the Merseyside derby at the start of April
‘We’re gonna win the league,’ the away end sang on repeat. Nobody was going to disagree.
Everton
April 2, 2025; Anfield. Won 1-0
March had been difficult for Liverpool. The Carabao Cup was surrendered meekly and the Champions League ended in penalty misery against Paris Saint-Germain. If there was a moment they were going to be vulnerable, it was against their neighbours.
It was a tense derby but Jota’s winner brought a sound from Anfield the like of which had not been heard since the night Barcelona were beaten 4-0 in May 2019.
It was comfort, catharsis and confirmation with one sweep of Jota’s right foot. The biggest hurdle had been cleared. Liverpool, everyone knew, were going to be champions again.
