Liverpool trained as Premier League champions for the first time on Wednesday, returning to the AXA Training Centre after a couple of days off – a reward for hammering Spurs 5-1 and securing the title in style.
Arne Slot and his side travel to London to take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, with preparations now having begun and the celebrations on pause. Liverpool could still break the 90-point barrier in the league standings if it at least wins three more games and draws one this season.
After taking on Chelsea, Liverpool also has Arsenal, Brighton and Crystal Palace left to play. It is after the final match of the season that Virgil van Dijk will lift the league trophy, becoming the first Reds captain to do so in front of fans since 1990. Here is what we spotted in today’s training session.
Two players missing
Conor Bradley missed the weekend’s game with Spurs thanks to a knock and he wasn’t pictured back in training yet. Slot will give a further update in his pre-match press conference on Friday.
Neither Bradley nor Joe Gomez took part in the session on the grass but they were in the building. Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is yet to make the decision on his future public, started against Spurs and is likely to do so against Chelsea too. Gomez, meanwhile, faces a race to play again this season as he continues to recover from an injury.
(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Flowers in the sunshine
It has been a glorious day in Liverpool, almost like the peak of summer. In the sunshine, the players seemed relaxed and in a great mood. Why wouldn’t they be?
As they entered the pitches, a more flowery background than usual on the side of the wall at the AXA Training Centre was in view, presumably a new installation. Slot will be looking forward to a summer where he can work with his players more than usual with no major international tournaments to get in the way.
Andy Robertson, who was spotted applying sun cream to his face and neck before heading out, might be less enthusiastic about the warm conditions.
(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Liverpool rotation question
Liverpool stars including Federico Chiesa must be wondering what they have to do to get a chance under Slot. Perhaps the league title victory being confirmed could offer an opportunity to test them out?
The Italian, alongside the likes of Harvey Elliott, has a big decision to make heading into the summer transfer window. If they want more minutes, they might have to move elsewhere. The next few weeks could offer a hint as to the plan.
Darwin Nunez, who is another with something of a question mark hanging over him at this stage, scored a lovely deft chip in one of the drills. The Uruguayan will hope to feature off the bench a few more times in the coming games, but he has only scored three times so far in 2025.
(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Focus remains with title wrapped up
While the last few games of the season don’t technically mean anything, Liverpool will want to finish strongly. Mohamed Salah has more records to chase, for one thing.
Setting the marker for next season will be important too. Any talking down of the league title being won should be discouraged, but losing a couple of games from here on in and playing poorly would only fuel that conversation.
The Liverpool stars, while they were all smiles, looked focused ahead of the weekend. Virgil van Dijk wouldn’t want it any other way.
(Image: Andrew Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
Arne Slot all smiles
Liverpool head coach Slot has done a remarkable job this season. He has won the league at the first time of asking and will head into next season with much bigger expectations.
He looked in a great mood here, smiling as he watched the session in the heat. The summer will give him the chance to work extensively with his stars to further hone his plans for the new season. In truth, the next campaign can begin here.
Will he try a few new things before the season is out? If he wants to, this is as good a time as any. Chiesa, Elliott, Wataru Endo and a few others will certainly hope so.
