LIVERPOOL, England — Beneath a haze of red smoke and the roar of 60,000 jubilant fans, Liverpool finally lived their long-awaited dream. A commanding 5-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield sealed the club’s 20th top-flight title — a celebration 35 years in the making.
Hours before kickoff, the streets outside the stadium were packed. Supporters scaled trees and scaffolding to greet their heroes, while inside, Anfield pulsed with anticipation. By full-time, Liverpool’s coronation as Premier League champions was complete, and the celebrations erupted in full force.
Goalkeeper Alisson Becker collapsed to his knees at the final whistle. Trent Alexander-Arnold leapt onto Ibrahima Konaté’s back, fireworks bursting overhead. It was a cathartic moment for fans who hadn’t been able to properly celebrate their 2020 title win due to the pandemic, when the trophy was lifted in an empty stadium.
On this day, the Kop was anything but empty. At Virgil van Dijk’s request, the stands were a glowing wall of red, an unforgettable backdrop to a night of release, joy, and triumph. And for fans of Manchester United, it was a bitter pill to swallow — Liverpool had drawn level with their historic rivals, each now holding 20 league titles.
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Though the match against Spurs seemed a mere formality following Arsenal’s draw with Crystal Palace earlier in the week, the game began with a jolt. Tottenham took an early lead through Dominic Solanke after an unforced Liverpool error. But as they’ve done all season under new manager Arne Slot, Liverpool bounced back swiftly and decisively.
Luis Díaz brought the Reds level, Alexis Mac Allister fired them ahead with a stunning long-range strike, and Cody Gakpo added a third to send Anfield into raptures. The second half saw Mohamed Salah slot home his 28th league goal — a historic one, making him the Premier League’s top-scoring foreign player, surpassing Sergio Aguero.
Tottenham’s misery deepened when Destiny Udogie inadvertently turned the ball into his own net, capping off a dream day for the hosts. The Anfield faithful erupted into chants of “Champions, champions!” as the final whistle blew.
Celebrations stretched long after the match, flares lighting up the stands and Dua Lipa’s “One Kiss” thundering over the speakers. Slot and his players remained on the pitch, basking in the glory, eventually joining arms in front of the Kop for an emotional rendition of “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”
The most poignant moment came during Slot’s postmatch interview. When asked about his journey to this point, he paid tribute to his predecessor, Jurgen Klopp, by spontaneously singing his name — a heartfelt nod to the man who laid the foundation for this triumph. But based on this season’s success, it’s clear that Slot is forging a legacy all his own.
