Liverpool win Premier League title after 5-1 rout of Tottenham – live reaction

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It’s not just about No 20 – OK, it is really – it’s also about No 9. As in Arne Slot is, by my calculations, the ninth 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, George Kay before all of those. Arne Slotting into an exclusive club, as it were.

“They need to get the decorators in,” correctly assess the Guardian’s own Philip Cornwall, who has a very nice view of a sun-kissed Anfield. They do indeed.

The Champions Wall outside Anfield.
The Champions Wall outside Anfield. Photograph: Philip Cornwall

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

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.

Arne Slot gets a soaking.
Arne Slot gets a soaking. Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images

“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

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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.

The Liverpool players celebrate in front of the Anfield Road Stand.
The Liverpool players celebrate in front of the Anfield Road Stand. Photograph: Liverpool FC/Getty Images

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.

Liverpool celebrate in the front of the Kop
Wow. Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images

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.

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