It’s official – Liverpool is the Premier League champion, with the Reds’ title confirmed after an outstanding first season under Arne Slot.
Victory over Tottenham means the title will be heading back to Anfield, five years after Liverpool’s last triumph. Trent Alexander-Arnold’s goal at Leicester was the moment that put the Reds on the verge of greatness before Arsenal’s draw with Crystal Palace all but secured the trophy, with Liverpool having now drawn equal with rival Manchester United on 20 league titles.
But there have been plenty of other huge moments during that campaign that have ultimately led to Liverpool being crowned the champion of England. The usual suspects have all played their parts with the likes of Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, but there have been others who have also made their mark on the season.
Here, Liverpool.com takes a look at five defining moments that led to Liverpool to winning the Premier League title.
Slot’s first big call
Cast your mind back to the very first game of the season. Liverpool is very much stepping into the unknown after nearly nine years under Jurgen Klopp, with Arne Slot taking charge for the first time against newly-promoted Ipswich.
Things don’t quite go according to plan during his first 45 minutes. The Reds can’t find a way to break the deadlock, and are looking a little shaky at the back. The thought that Slot’s tenure could get off to the worst possible start is looking fairly realistic unless he can turn things around at the break.
And so comes his first big decision in charge of Liverpool. Off comes Jarell Quansah – who looked less than thrilled on the bench during the second half – and on comes Ibrahima Konate.
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We didn’t realize it then, but this could well be considered the decision that shaped Liverpool’s season. With Konate alongside Virgil van Dijk, the Reds look a completely different team, and they go on to win the game 2-0. From there, the Frenchman has remained the Reds’ first-choice and, alongside Van Dijk, they’ve formed the backbone of a champion side.
Slot’s decision to haul Quansah off was seen as brutal at the time, but it was the first sign that Liverpool had got its heir to Klopp absolutely spot on.
Man City’s defining moment
It would be remiss of us to talk about Liverpool’s title triumph and not touch upon the moment that might well have swung the race in the Reds’ favor.
As usual, Manchester City was the favorite to make it a fifth consecutive triumph, although the defending champions’ season was turned on its head when Rodri was forced off with a knee injury against Arsenal in September.
(Image: Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Without their Ballon d’Or winning midfielder, City’s form went into freefall. A run of six defeats from eight league games leading up to the festive period – including a 2-0 loss at Anfield – ended their hopes of yet another title, and made it a straight shootout between Liverpool and Arsenal.
Pep Guardiola’s side has of course had more problems than just Rodri’s absence, and it will require some hefty work during the summer to get them back in contention for next season’s title, but the moment the Spaniard hobbled off the Etihad pitch against the Gunners was perhaps the first big turning point in the season.
Salah shines as Arsenal stumbles
Mohamed Salah has perhaps been the biggest difference between Liverpool winning the title, and Arsenal once again finishing second. That was never more evident than during what might have been the most decisive period of the season.
Having suffered a first defeat of the season at Bournemouth, the two sides met at the Emirates Staidum a week later. Mikel Arteta’s side looked set to deal a major blow to the Reds until Salah struck with just nine minutes to go to earn his side a point.
(Image: 2024 Visionhaus)
Liverpool kicked on from there, with Salah leading the charge. The Egyptian grabbed winners against Brighton and Southampton and scored in victories over Aston Villa and Manchester City as the Reds began to take charge of the title race.
Arsenal, meanwhile, were stumbling. After just a point from the games against Bournemouth and Liverpool, there was just another single point from the next two games against Newcastle and Chelsea. Although the Gunners managed to recover, by the turn of the year, the Reds’ lead at the top was at eight points.
Nunez at the double
Having dropped points in their first two games of 2025 against Manchester United and Nottingham Forest, things were getting a little nervy as Liverpool looked to be heading for another draw at Brentford in January.
As the clock ticked down, and with Arsenal perhaps sensing an opportunity ahead of their kick-off against Villa, the Reds needed a hero. Few might have expected it to be Darwin Nunez.
(Image: 2025 Liverpool FC)
So often the source of frustration in front of goal, the Uruguayan came off the bench to strike twice in stoppage time, sparking jubilant scenes in a little corner of London, and no doubt sending shockwaves across the capital. The Gunners would go on to be held to a 2-2 draw just hours later.
In all likelihood, Nunez won’t be a Liverpool player next season. He will claim a Premier League winner’s medal before he goes though, and he can rightfully claim to have played a big hand in earning it.
The best in the world
Much of the attention this season has been on Salah and Van Dijk. Not just because of their contract situations, but because they’ve continued to prove themselves as two of the best players in the world in their positions.
But the Reds have another player who can make a claim to having no equal in world soccer. Alisson Becker has once again showed this season why he might just be the best goalkeeper around, and not just because of that sensational performance in Paris.
The Brazilian has also played a big hand in this season’s title win, and there was perhaps no bigger moment for him than against Wolves. Having been denied victory at Everton just days before, nerves were once again being frayed after Matheus Cunha’s goal at Anfield threatened a late comeback.
Marshall Munetsi had perhaps the best chance for the visitors to draw level, but Alisson showed his prowess in one-on-one situations as he kept his side in front, and helped them to a victory that may well have closed the door for Arsenal once and for all.
