Mohamed Salah had champagne poured over him by Darwin Nunez despite attempting to stop his teammate from doing so, after Liverpool clinched the Premier League title with a 5-1 win over Tottenham.
Nunez and Salah were seen laughing as Cody Gakpo attempted to take a selfie with his teammates, with Luis Diaz and Alexis Mac Allister also nearby. Nunez was seen holding a bottle of champagne, and initially pretended to pour it over Salah’s head before the Egyptian waved his finger.
When Salah turned around, Nunez proceeded to pour it over him anyway and the two shared a laugh before Gakpo finally took his photo. Due to Salah’s light-hearted reaction, it may have been alcohol-free champagne, just like it was five years ago when Liverpool last won the Premier League.
Due to Salah’s Muslim faith, alcohol is strictly forbidden and considered haram. Liverpool defender Ibrahima Konate is also a Muslim, but the Reds have made specific arrangements in the past to ensure that all players can enjoy the celebrations without any concerns.
At the end of the 2019-20 season, when Liverpool ended its 30-year wait for a league title, the Reds made sure to respect both Salah and former player Sadio Mane. While they sprayed champagne to celebrate, then-captain Jordan Henderson revealed that it was strictly alcohol-free.
“The champagne was non-alcoholic with the trophy lift because of Mo and Sadio,” Henderson told The Times. “Within the dressing rooms there’s none of that [intolerance] so why isn’t that the case in the outside world?”
It was a huge victory for Liverpool, who only needed to draw against Tottenham to lift the Premier League title, but the Reds clinched the trophy in style. After Dominic Solanke threatened to spoil Liverpool’s day with an early goal, the Reds scored five unanswered as Luis Diaz, Alexis Mac Allister, Cody Gakpo, and Salah found the net.
Destiny Udogie added the fifth for Liverpool as he put the ball in his own net, but while it was an embarrassing moment, the defeat was already accepted. It was a special day for the Liverpool players, who were able to celebrate a league title in front of fans for the first time in 35 years.
The previous Premier League success in 2019-20 was impacted by the global pandemic, but Anfield was sold-out for Sunday’s celebrations. It was also a huge achievement for head coach Arne Slot, who became the fifth manager to win a Premier League title in his first season, and is the first Dutchman to do so.
(Image: PA)
“It is very special because we have had some great managers, especially at a club like this,” Slot said to BBC Match of the Day. “I think from the moment we arrived on the bus everyone could feel that we were never going to lose this game.
“The fans were so supportive before and during the game. Even at 1-0 down you felt this team and the fans could get it over the line. Conceding from a set piece is always difficult but from that moment we were outstanding. We could have scored a few more. Tottenham’s focus was probably more on Thursday but you still have to win it and we did.”
When asked if Liverpool will try and win the league again next season, Slot added: “That is something we are definitely going to try. But first we are going to enjoy the last few games.”
