Months after establishing a significant lead at the top of the Premier League table, Liverpool officially secured the championship on Sunday. This followed a dominant 5-1 victory against Tottenham Hotspur, successfully concluding an impressive campaign in Arne Slot`s inaugural season as manager.
During the final phase of their title charge, Liverpool operated comfortably, navigating minor challenges thanks to the insurmountable lead they had built earlier in the season. While this might have made the conclusion of the Premier League race somewhat less dramatic, their push to the summit was not easily predicted at the start of the campaign.
There was initial uncertainty about how quickly Liverpool would transition from the nearly nine-year Jurgen Klopp era, which brought significant success including one Premier League title, a UEFA Champions League trophy, and two other appearances in the final of Europe’s premier club competition. Slot quickly settled in at Anfield, losing only one match across all competitions until early January. The Dutch manager, previously only coaching in the Netherlands before moving to England, refined Klopp`s attack-focused approach into one that demonstrated greater control while achieving similar effectiveness at its peak. Their explosive start provided enough security to withstand some difficulties later in the season, ensuring they wouldn`t finish trophyless, even after being eliminated from the FA Cup, UEFA Champions League, and losing the EFL Cup final within a few winter weeks.
As the celebrations begin in Liverpool, here is a look back at the crucial elements that contextualize the Reds` title-winning run and ensured Slot’s first season at Anfield was a success.
Mohamed Salah`s Exceptional Form
Liverpool`s dominant title victory contained an element of surprise, partly because the season initially felt like a period of transition. With limited activity in the transfer market the previous summer, Slot was expected to work with a squad largely built for Klopp`s system, potentially delaying the new manager`s impact. Uncertainty also surrounded key veterans Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, both in the final year of their contracts, raising the realistic possibility of their departures.
However, the transition period proved unpredictable. Liverpool`s belief that Salah had another strong year left was ultimately well-founded. A standout feature of their title run was arguably the finest six-month spell of Salah`s remarkable career, during which the 32-year-old scored with impressive regularity. As of now, his tally for the season stands at 33 goals and 33 assists across all competitions, with the majority occurring between August and February. His form mirrored Liverpool`s; their dip in spring coincided with a dry spell for him, though their early-season performance rendered this irrelevant to their title aspirations.
His outstanding run was sufficient to secure Salah a new two-year contract at Liverpool and place him in contention for the Ballon d`Or, further enhancing his already established legacy. Whether Salah can sustain this level for another two years remains to be seen, but even if his influence at Anfield diminishes, his performance this season is a remarkable individual achievement, potentially one of the best `last dances` seen in the sport.
Manchester City`s Decline
Another factor contributing to Liverpool’s title likelihood was Manchester City’s unexpected stumble. Pep Guardiola`s team began the season having won the Premier League for four consecutive years. While questions arose about their capacity to maintain this intensity for a fifth season, few anticipated the drop in form they experienced this campaign.
Their season was initially disrupted by Rodri`s ACL injury in September, but a sequence of poor results in the autumn indicated deeper issues beyond one player`s absence. Guardiola conceded they were out of the title race before the new year, stating there was `no chance` of catching Liverpool when they were 14 points behind in late December. He was correct; City will spend the final weeks of the season competing for a Champions League spot, which is still not guaranteed in a highly competitive season partly fueled by their own sub-par performance.
City`s decline coincided with a peculiar season across the board for most of the Premier League`s top sides. Arsenal will likely finish second for the third consecutive season and maintained relative consistency but never posed a serious threat to Liverpool`s title bid. Chelsea, meanwhile, truly underwent a year of transition under their first season with manager Enzo Maresca. Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur were relegated to lower-half finishes following unusually poor league campaigns this season. In this context, Liverpool was arguably the only team consistently performing at a championship level and are therefore deserving winners.
Arne Slot`s Strong Initial Impact
If uncertainty characterized Liverpool`s season start, Slot personified it. There was no doubt the former Feyenoord boss had earned a job of this magnitude, having won the Eredivisie and KNVB Cup and establishing himself as an up-and-coming young manager in Europe. However, an adjustment period was reasonably expected, and Liverpool`s quiet summer suggested the team wouldn`t immediately transform to fit Slot`s tactical blueprint.
Nevertheless, the new manager hit the ground running, rapidly demonstrating his managerial style despite working with a squad that still echoed Klopp`s approach. Slot quickly implemented a pragmatic style without sacrificing results. While his team averaged fewer shots than Klopp`s the previous year, the attacking output remained similar during the campaign`s first six months. Even when things became more complex in the latter half of the season, Slot clearly showed he belongs among Europe`s elite and is arguably one of the first young managers to successfully make this significant leap.
New challenges await Slot next season. The difficulties encountered this season highlight areas where Liverpool could benefit from improvements, which will hasten the transition from the Klopp era to the Slot era. What the latter will ultimately entail is a significant question, making the Reds a fascinating team to follow in the coming years.
