Liverpool has blown the competition out of the water in the Premier League this season. Having been at the top of the table since November, the Reds have been confirmed as champions.
“Very, very happy, of course,” Arne Slot said during his post-match press conference. “But to a certain extent also quite unreal because you work so hard for this moment to happen and when it then does happen, it needs some time for you to truly feel it. But the fans were so happy that it didn’t take us long, didn’t take me long to understand what we’ve achieved together this season.”
The Reds played a blinder by hiring the Dutchman, which such a move proving to be a masterstroke. But which games meant that Liverpool got over the line and kept Arsenal at bay? There are some key moments that ensured the title headed to Anfield, with Virgil van Dijk set to lift the trophy in just under a month after facing Crystal Palace.
Man Utd 0-3 Liverpool (September 1)
In the months that have passed since, beating Manchester United — even at Old Trafford — has not been viewed as a major achievement. At the time, though, this was a statement win for Slot.
Being so convincing on his first trip to Manchester was a big step forward. Liverpool dominated the game and didn’t look overawed. Jurgen Klopp only won at Old Trafford twice; Slot had got halfway to that total three games into his tenure.
(Image: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Liverpool 0-1 Nottingham Forest (September 14)
Liverpool has only lost twice this season in the league: against Nottingham Forest and Fulham. And yet, Slot has mentioned that solitary Anfield defeat more than any other game during his press conferences and other media duties.
Nottingham Forest winning at Anfield — a bit like the Reds going to Old Trafford and winning with such ease — is no longer as surprising in the context of the whole season. At the time, though, it gave Liverpool enough of a shock to refocus minds and allow Slot to make amends. After that, Liverpool went on a 26-game unbeaten run in the Premier League.
(Image: Getty Images)
Arsenal 2-2 Liverpool (October 27)
If you win your home games against your title rivals and draw away, that is a big step in the right direction. Liverpool is yet to play Arsenal at Anfield but managed to come away from the Emirates Stadium with a creditable draw in October.
Coming from behind twice in a raucous stadium, it was a big test for Liverpool. Virgil van Dijk scored the Reds’ first and then Mohamed Salah netted a late-ish equalizer in the 81st minute. Losing would have been a hammer blow; Liverpool instead dented its biggest rivals hopes of making ground.
(Image: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Liverpool 2-0 Man City (December 1)
Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah both scored as Liverpool beat Manchester City by two goals to nil, just days after winning by the same scoreline against Real Madrid. As weeks go, that isn’t a bad one.
Winning here established a gap of nine points to second-placed Arsenal and 11 to Manchester City. Liverpool, by this point, had really taken charge of the title race — and have never been off top spot since.
(Image: Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images)
Brentford 0-2 Liverpool (January 18)
Liverpool has generally been cool, calm and collected since Slot took over, one or two moments aside. And the celebrations after Darwin Nunez’s late brace at the Gtech Community Stadium were certainly one of those.
Nunez might not score another goal for Liverpool — and he has only found the back of the net once since — but this was another game where it felt like the Reds could not be caught. Think they are about to draw a game, Arsenal? Unlucky.
The Gunners had drawn 2-2 against Aston Villa on that weekend, with the pattern firmly established by now. Even when Liverpool looked like it might not win, its main title contender couldn’t either. The Reds have just been too consistent.
