Liverpool has four games to bask in the glow of its Premier League title success.
The team returned to training on Wednesday ahead of a return to action at the weekend, and if any of the players felt a little worse for wear after a few beers on Sunday night, it didn’t show. The club’s behind-the-scenes footage showed a typically intense session from Arne Slot ’s group, while also light-hearted, as one would expect a few days after clinching the title.
A trip to Chelsea awaits Liverpool on Sunday, before Arsenal travels to Anfield next week. The Reds’ last away game of the campaign is against Brighton & Hove Albion on Monday, 19 May, six days before the season concludes at home to Crystal Palace.
All four games should be accompanied by a guard of honor from the opposition to mark Liverpool’s status as 2024/25 champions. The tradition of the opposition players applauding the new champions onto the field tends to be replicated across the top flight when the league winners have already confirmed their status as champions, but it is not mandatory.
For instance, Chelsea may employ the gesture at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, but it is not guaranteed.
Liverpool.com has approached Chelsea on the matter but has yet to receive a response.
The Reds were treated to a guard of honour in their final seven Premier League matches of the 2019/20 season, when first place was secured. The first of those matches actually came against Manchester City, whose crown Liverpool had just pinched.
Bernardo Silva infamously made headlines by refusing to clap Liverpool onto the pitch; instead, he stood and watched as his City teammates graciously acknowledged the league’s new champions.
City were the last side to receive a guard of honor in the Premier League, when the opposition clapped their entrance to the field in the final three matches of the 2022/23 campaign. Chelsea, again, was the first, followed by Brighton and Brentford.
Historically, it may have stung for Chelsea to show such high respect for Liverpool, but the days of the clubs’ bitter rivalry have subsided.
The Blues head into the weekend in fifth place and are in a battle to secure a Champions League spot next season.
Chelsea also faces Swedish outfit Djurgardens over two legs in the Europa League Conference semi-final across the next two Thursdays, a competition that offers Enzo Maresca’s only hope of silverware in his first season at the club.
Liverpool beat Chelsea 2-1 when the sides last met in October and hasn’t lost against the London side in the last 10 meetings – a run that includes three cup finals.
Liverpool hasn’t lost a league match at Chelsea since May 2018, and the previous three league meetings at Stamford Bridge have ended in a draw.
