Liverpool have sealed a historic 20th league title — equalling Manchester United’s all-time record — with a commanding 5-1 victory over Tottenham at Anfield. In doing so, Arne Slot has made history, becoming the first manager in the club’s illustrious history to win the English top flight in his debut season.
The celebrations were momentarily dampened when former Liverpool striker Dominic Solanke gave Spurs an early lead. But the hosts quickly responded: Luis Díaz equalized after a VAR review, Alexis Mac Allister fired Liverpool ahead, and Cody Gakpo added a third before halftime. Mohamed Salah then struck early in the second half for his 28th league goal of the campaign, with Destiny Udogie’s own goal completing the rout.
Liverpool’s march to the title has felt inevitable for months. Arsenal’s midweek draw against Crystal Palace left Slot’s side needing just a point to secure the crown, and they did so with four games to spare. It marks Liverpool’s second Premier League title in five years — but this time celebrated properly with fans, unlike their behind-closed-doors triumph in 2020 due to the pandemic. A trophy parade is scheduled for Monday 26 May, with former manager Jürgen Klopp expected to attend after building the squad that Slot has so masterfully guided.
Slot’s appointment last summer, following Klopp’s shock departure, could have marked a turbulent transition. Instead, the 46-year-old Dutchman — recruited from Feyenoord by new sporting director Richard Hughes — made an immediate impact, winning 11 of his first 12 matches and overseeing a 26-game unbeaten league run.
Liverpool have topped the table since 2 November, a pivotal weekend when Arsenal lost to Newcastle, Manchester City’s form crumbled, and Mohamed Salah secured a comeback win over Brighton. Salah, along with Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold — whose contract situations created early-season uncertainty — has been central to Liverpool’s relentless title charge. Salah and Van Dijk have since signed two-year extensions, though Alexander-Arnold’s future remains unresolved amid reported Real Madrid interest.
Slot’s minimal changes to Klopp’s squad — adding only Federico Chiesa last summer and securing goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili for the coming window — paid dividends, emphasizing trust in the club’s existing core. Liverpool are also expected to strengthen further, targeting a new centre-forward and young left-back this summer.
Slot now joins an elite list of managers — José Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti, Manuel Pellegrini, and Antonio Conte — who have won the Premier League in their first season. At Liverpool, only Matt McQueen (1922-23), Joe Fagan (1983-84), and Kenny Dalglish (1985-86) previously won the league at their first attempt, but Slot is the first to do so without already being embedded within the club.
A new chapter has begun at Anfield — and it already looks set to be as glorious as the last.
