Sports
Imperious Liverpool Clinch 2024/25 EPL Title After Thumping Tottenham 5-1
Liverpool made easy work of Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on Sunday to clinch a first title since 2020 and only their second in 35 years.
The Reds, 15 points clear of second-placed Arsenal with four games left, are now level with bitter rivals Manchester United as the joint most successful club in English top-flight history.
The Reds’ last title, five years ago, was slightly anticlimactic as it came during the Covid-19 pandemic, meaning Anfield was nearly empty when the trophy was presented due to restrictions.
Tens of thousands of fans swarmed around Anfield in the build-up to kick-off in anticipation of Liverpool’s coronation, setting off flares in the warm spring sunshine as the home team bus arrived.
Slot’s men started on the front foot at an expectant Anfield after a stirring rendition of club anthem “You’ll Never Walk Alone” in the warm spring sunshine.
Mohamed Salah had an early sighter and Cody Gakpo went close with a spectacular overhead kick but Tottenham briefly threatened to become party poopers when Dominic Solanke powered home a header from a James Maddison corner in the 12th minute.
But Liverpool were level just four minutes later when Luis Diaz converted Dominik Szoboszlai’s cross from close range. The offside flag went up but VAR awarded the goal.
The momentum was now all with Liverpool and the home side took the lead in the 24th minute when Alexis Mac Allister thundered the ball home from the 18-yard line past the flying Guglielmo Vicario.
Now the party was well and truly started and Gakpo made it 3-1, slamming a shot into the bottom corner after Spurs failed to clear.
Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou had made eight changes from the team that lost to Nottingham Forest last week as he prioritises the semi-finals of the Europa League and they now had a mountain to climb.
The Liverpool fans — deprived of celebrating the 2020 Premier League trophy due to Covid restrictions, ran through their full repertoire of songs as their team pushed for a fourth goal in the second half.
– Salah selfie –
Top-scorer Salah scored the goal the crowd craved, collecting Szoboszlai’s pass before cutting in and blasting his shot into the bottom corner.
He celebrated by grabbing a fan’s phone before taking a selfie in front of the Kop.
Deafening cheers of “We’re going to win the league” and “We shall not be moved” rang out.
Liverpool had a fifth when Spurs defender Destiny Udogie poked the ball past his own goalkeeper from close range with about 20 minutes to go as the game turned into a procession.
As the game went into added time the club’s anthem rang out again as scarves were held aloft and the final whistle elicited a thunderous roar.
The win leaves Liverpool on 82 points, 15 clear of nearest challengers Arsenal with just four games remaining.
Tottenham are a miserable 16th in the Premier League table after their 19th defeat of the season, putting Postecoglou under enormous pressure.
Tens of thousands of fans swarmed around Anfield in the build-up to kick-off in anticipation of Liverpool’s coronation, setting off flares as the home team bus arrived.
Flags and scarves saying “Liverpool 20-time Champions” were on sale from stalls outside the ground.
At the start of the campaign, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City were favourites to extend their dynastic Premier League reign and make it five titles in a row but their form collapsed.
Arsenal emerged as their closest challengers but they drew too many games, failing to take advantage of the rare Liverpool slip-ups.
It was feared Liverpool’s players would need time to adapt to the methods of Slot, who replaced Jurgen Klopp last June following the German’s departure after nine trophy-filled years at Anfield.
But the former Feyenoord boss has sailed serenely through the season despite relentless speculation over the futures of three of his biggest stars — Salah, captain Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Both Salah and Van Dijk have now signed two-year extensions, though England defender Alexander-Arnold is believed likely to be on the verge of a move to Real Madrid.
Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya has “elevated the team to a different level” in recent years.
Raya joined Arsenal from Brentford in 2023, initially on a season-long loan before joining permanently the following year, and has made 153 appearances for the Gunners.
Since the start of the 2023-24 season, Raya has kept more clean sheets (72) than any other goalkeeper in the top five European leagues, while he has saved 72.3% of the shots he has faced.
In that same time, only Caoimhín Kelleher (five) has saved more penalties among Premier League goalkeepers in all competitions (excluding shoot-outs) than Raya, following the Spaniard’s save against Enzo Le Fee last time out.
Raya helped Arsenal win the Premier League last season, claiming his third consecutive Golden Glove in the process, and reach the Champions League, and Arteta praised his goalkeeper’s impact on the squad.
When asked if Raya has been his best signing at Arsenal, Arteta said: “He’s been a tremendous signing, there is no question about that.
“Whether he is the best or not is just an opinion. It doesn’t matter, we are so happy to have him.
“He has elevated the team to a different level and now we have to maintain that level.
“I think it’s his mentality. David has tremendous quality but he has overcome a lot of difficulties and challenges to reach this point. It wasn’t easy at the beginning, he had to dig in and prove himself.
“Now, he has the right to be one of the best.”
Arsenal will look to maintain their perfect start to the season when they face Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday.
The Gunners have won four of their last six Premier League games against Brighton (D2), as many as they had in their first 12 against the Seagulls (D3 L5).
Alexander Isak revealed he has never regretted joining Liverpool since his move from Newcastle United last summer.
The 26-year-old joined the Reds for a British record transfer fee of £125m on deadline day in September 2025, but struggled under Arne Slot before a leg break in December ruled him out for four months.
Isak scored just four goals in 22 appearances last season, but has made a better start this term under Andoni Iraola, netting three times in six matches.
Liverpool are currently unbeaten in 2026-27, despite winning just one of their four Premier League games (D3) ahead of visiting Bournemouth this Sunday.
And despite their struggles last season, Isak has not had any feeling of regret since leaving Newcastle.
“No, never. I would never think like that,” Isak told BBC Sport’s The Football Interview when asked if he had any regrets.
“[The leg break] was tough. Anyone who had a long injury would know. But on the other hand, when you’re in a good place and when you feel good, you don’t really tend to look back because it doesn’t really benefit you.
“So, I’m just looking forward and feel really optimistic and excited about the season, and what it can bring to us.”
Bournemouth, meanwhile, are still waiting for their first Premier League win under Marco Rose (D3 L1), who succeeded Iraola in the summer.
However, the Cherries will enter this match with plenty of confidence after defeating Real Sociedad 2-1 in the Europa League – their first-ever match in a major European competition.
Sports
Harry Kane: The Ballon d’Or? I Don’t Like Talking About Myself — The 73 Goals Speak For Themselves
Harry Kane has revealed that he does not like to speak about his Ballon d’Or domination, adding that his goals will do the talking.
In a brief chat with Marca, the Bayern Munich attacker said : I have never liked talking too much about myself. The only thing I would say is that last season was incredible, both personally and as a team.
“By far, it was the best season of my life. It is true that scoring 73 goals — the second-highest total in history [after Lionel Messi’s 82 goals in 69 appearances in 2011/12] — speaks for itself. I am extremely proud of it. I can only thank my teammates and everyone who helped make it possible.
“But the Ballon d’Or is not in my hands. It depends on the people who vote. From my point of view, last season is already in the past. Now I am focused on this season and excited to see what else I can do. I know there will be a lot of talk about the award until October because it is a major prize”
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