Mohamed Salah nearly caused Liverpool to miss out on a fifth goal against Tottenham at Anfield on Sunday, but a VAR review confirmed that he was marginally onside.
After initially falling behind against Tottenham as former Liverpool striker Dominic Solanke scored a header inside 13 minutes, the Reds fought back strong with five unanswered goals. Luis Diaz replied first after VAR overturned an incorrect offside decision, before Alexis Mac Allister, Cody Gakpo, and Mohamed Salah added to the promotion party.
In the 70th minute, it appeared as though Salah had scored again but the ball came off Tottenham defender Destiny Udogie. Despite Salah not touching the ball, there were concerns that he was in an offside position, but it was reviewed and cleared by VAR.
“The referee’s call of goal was checked and confirmed by VAR – with Salah in an onside position,” Premier League Match Centre confirmed on X after the goal was awarded. The argument raised by Tottenham was that Salah interfered with play from an offside position, but the new semi-automated offside technology confirmed that the Egyptian was on.
It was a fitting end to a dominant Premier League season for Liverpool, who just needed a draw to secure the Premier League title on Sunday and stormed to a 5-1 win. The atmosphere was electric as the players walked out onto the pitch, but the noise evaporated when Solanke scored his first goal at Anfield since leaving Liverpool in 2019.
Four minutes later, the noise was restored when Dominik Szoboszlai found Diaz for an easy finish, before Mac Allister scored a stunning strike from outside the area. Gakpo then provided Liverpool with breathing space with a third goal after 34 minutes, but Liverpool fans were wondering when Salah would get involved.
The second half was Salah’s time, as he finally found the net after 63 minutes. Trent Alexander-Arnold almost assisted Salah seven minutes later, but Udogie turned the ball into his own net.
When the full-time whistle went, Liverpool players began celebrating wildly on the field and not a single fan moved from their seat as everyone soaked up the winning moment. It was the second Premier League title won by Liverpool since the division was formed in 1992, but the first in front of fans.
Liverpool’s last success in 2019-20 ended a 30-year wait, but due to the global pandemic, fans were not in attendance. The success this season is set to make up for that, with record crowds expected at Liverpool’s eventual trophy parade.
(Image: Getty Images)
The prospect of winning the title in front of a sold-out Anfield crowd gave Liverpool a “big responsibility” according to current head coach Arne Slot, who stressed the importance of getting the job done on Friday. Slot will lift the Premier League title in his first season as Liverpool coach, but remained focused on the job in hand despite it being so close.
“First of all, that’s a big responsibility because we are aware that the last time this club won the league it was Covid time. So everybody is looking forward to Sunday but we know that there is still a job to be done and that’s at least one point,” Slot said.
“That’s what we know and, hopefully, our fans know as well and they support us in the best possible way they can – like they have all season – and are aware of the fact that we still need a point. We are definitely aware of that. It’s a nice game to look forward to but it’s also a responsibility we have for Sunday.”
The players all responded to Slot’s comments, putting in a fine performance despite the early scare. Liverpool still has four games to play this season, but can enjoy them knowing that the title race is already over.
