Liverpool thrash Tottenham to secure Premier League title

LONDON (Agencies): Liverpool clinched their second Premier League title in style by thrashing Tottenham Hotspur 5-1 at a jubilant Anfield on Sunday. Arsenal’s downturn in form left Liverpool requiring just one point from their final five matches, but Arne Slot had called on the Reds to finish the job in front of their own fans. Despite Dominic Solanke’s early header threatening to spoil the party, Liverpool did exactly that. Luis Diaz and Alexis Mac Allister struck within eight minutes to turn the match on its head, then Cody Gakpo scored Liverpool’s third to kickstart the celebrations before half-time. With Liverpool playing with freedom in the second half, Mohamed Salah made it 4-1 and Destiny Udogie put through his own net to compound Spurs’ misery. The full-time whistle sparked memorable scenes as Liverpool stretched their lead at the summit to an unassailable 15 points, while Spurs stay 16th after another demoralising loss.

Salah fired over within three minutes as Liverpool looked to harness the energy of an electric Anfield crowd, but the home fans were stunned when Solanke headed in from James Maddison’s 12th-minute corner. Spurs’ lead lasted just four minutes as Diaz tucked Dominik Szoboszlai’s right-wing centre home. Though the Hungarian was initially flagged offside when receiving Salah’s pass, that decision was overturned following a VAR check. Another offside call did stand as Gakpo tapped home soon afterwards, but Liverpool completed the turnaround in the 24th minute as Mac Allister beat Guglielmo Vicario with a 20-yard blockbuster on his weaker left foot. And Liverpool’s title triumph was beyond all doubt in the 34th minute, as Gakpo found the bottom-left corner following Spurs’ failure to clear a set-piece. Liverpool should have had a fourth early in the second half when Gakpo looked to pass to Salah rather than finish, though the Egyptian got in on the act in the 63rd minute, steering a reverse shot into the corner on the counter-attack. The scoring was complete six minutes later as Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross was touched over the line by Udogie with Salah lurking behind him, capping a dream day for Liverpool.

A Day to remember at Anfield: With Liverpool’s only previous Premier League title triumph coming behind closed doors in 2019/20, the Reds’ supporters had not witnessed their side being crowned champions of England since 1990. And an occasion 35 years in the making was greeted with the atmosphere it deserved. There was a carnival feel as the Liverpool team bus arrived at Anfield before kick-off, while the Kop delivered one of its most stirring renditions of You’ll Never Walk Alone. Liverpool were determined to put on a show, going close through Salah’s early sighter and when Gakpo – having juggled the ball inside a crowded penalty area – sent an overhead kick wide of Vicario’s right post. Even when Solanke nodded Spurs ahead against the run of play, a Liverpool reaction felt inevitable. Szoboszlai timed his run to perfection to tee up the equaliser, and Mac Allister’s rocket came after a relentless press kept the visitors penned in near their corner flag. The celebrations really began when Gakpo made it 3-1, and the second half was exhibition stuff from the hosts. Gakpo passed up a simple chance for his brace when he looked to feed Salah, but it was fitting that the crowning moment came from Liverpool’s outstanding Egyptian, who celebrated his 28th Premier League goal of the season by taking a selfie on a delighted fan’s phone.

Liverpool can now celebrate equalling the record of 20 English top-flight titles won by rivals Manchester United, and they might look forward to receiving a guard of honour ahead of their remaining fixtures versus Chelsea, Arsenal, Brighton & Hove Albion and Crystal Palace.  Sunday’s match was of far greater importance to Liverpool than it was to Spurs, and Ange Postecoglou’s team choice said as much, with Vicario, Mathys Tel and Djed Spence the only survivors from Monday’s 2-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest. While Spurs’ biggest match of the season is set for Thursday, against Bodo/Glimt in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League semi-final tie, Postecoglou said his side were hoping to do more than get through Sunday unscathed. Solanke’s header raised hopes Spurs could keep things competitive, but the defensive issues that have plagued them all season then allowed Liverpool to run away with the contest. Liverpool’s third goal will have particularly irked Postecoglou. The half-time introductions of Dejan Kulusevski and Pape Sarr failed to inspire an upturn as Spurs fell to their 19th Premier League defeat this season, the joint-most they have ever suffered in a single campaign, alongside 1993/94 and 2003/04. And with fixtures against West Ham United, Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and Brighton to come, they could still drop further before 2024/25 is through.

What the managers said: Arne Slot: “It was clear we couldn’t lose this game. Everyone on the bus said there’s no way we’re going to lose this game. They always find a way to win. “Incredibly proud, not only of the players but the people standing here, sport directors, my staff members, we should give them a big round of applause. Let’s forget it’s the second in 35 years, it’s the second in five years.”

Key facts: Liverpool’s Arne Slot is the fifth manager to win the Premier League in their first season after Jose Mourinho (2004/05 with Chelsea), Carlo Ancelotti (2009/10 with Chelsea), Manuel Pellegrini (2013/14 with Man City) and Antonio Conte (2016/17 with Chelsea). Only Harry Kane (213 for Spurs) and Sergio Aguero (184 for Manchester City) have scored more goals for a single Premier League club than Mohamed Salah has for Liverpool (183 – level with Wayne Rooney for Manchester United). Virgil van Dijk is the 12th different player to captain Liverpool to the top-flight title and the first non-British player to do so.