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.
West Ham United captain Jarrod Bowen will stay at the club as they prepare for life in the Championship.
The 29-year-old England international was part of the side which suffered relegation from the Premier League on the final day of the season, leaving his future in doubt.
Bowen, who joined the Hammers from Hull City in 2020, has played 280 times for the club, scoring 85 goals, and has captained the side since 2024 after the departure of Kurt Zouma.
He has 22 England caps but missed out on a place in Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad this summer.
The news provides a welcome boost for the Hammers, who have begun their pre-season preparation ahead of their first season in the Championship since 2011-12.
Bowen, a key player in the Hammers’ front line, started every Premier League match last season, scoring nine goals.
He famously scored the winning goal in the final minute against Fiorentina in the 2023 Uefa Conference League final in Prague as West Ham won their first major trophy in 43 years.
Bowen had been linked with a summer move away from the London Stadium back to the Premier League. He has now committed his future to the club for the 2026-27 season but has not signed a new contract extension, with his current deal running until 2030.
‘Live my life as captain of West Ham’
Speaking to the Hammers website, external, Bowen said: “My main motivation is staying and bringing this club back to the Premier League where we belong.
“It was only right for me to speak at the right time. Ultimately it [relegation] hurt everyone and it should hurt everyone.
“I flew out to Prague to meet (club directors) Daniel [Kretinsky] and Jiri [Svarc] and the ambition that I got from them, certainly in terms of the direction the club wants to move in, it interests me a lot. It didn’t take a lot, because this club means a lot to me.
“For me, when you’re here for a longer amount of time, you gain more affection, you grow into the club more, you grow into your role more and more, and I think that’s what I’ve done.
“I’ve been here six and a half years and transitioned from a boy to a man and I’ve never tried to hide away from anything.
“There are things you can do better, but certainly in my character on the pitch and off the pitch, I never try and hide away from anything and shift the blame.
“I always try and stand up for them and just kind of live my life as captain of West Ham and also as a fan as well.
“I see myself in years to come as a West Ham fan. So, I always think ‘what would they want as a fan if they got the opportunity to play on the pitch?’. For me, I think I’m like that character as well, so I think that’s the way.”
Bowen will now continue his pre-season preparations with head coach Nuno Espirito Santo, who confirmed that he will remain at the club for the new season back in May.
After a home clash against Portsmouth in the first round of the Carabao Cup a week prior, West Ham kick off their Championship season away at fellow relegated club Burnley on Sunday, 16 August
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has backed Spain to defeat Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final while subtly demanding strict officiating to counter the South Americans’ physical approach.
The club chief made the bold predictions during an impromptu interview with an El Partidazo de COPE reporter while strolling past the Tous store at the Rockefeller Centre in New York.
Laporta predicts Spanish glory
Spain are set to face the defending champions at the New York New Jersey Stadium on Sunday in a clash that pits Barcelona’s past against its present.
Laporta left no room for ambiguity regarding where his loyalties lie ahead of the highly anticipated encounter.
“The Spanish national team will win,” Laporta stated. “We have a better team.”
Other than being a Spanish national himself, his unwavering support for manager Luis de la Fuente’s side is influenced by the fact that La Roja squad currently features eight Barcelona players.
However, Laporta also took the opportunity to issue a thinly veiled warning regarding Argentina’s famously robust defensive tactics.
Lionel Scaloni’s side have relied on an aggressive, physical approach to navigate their way to consecutive World Cup finals.
Laporta suggested that Spain’s technical style could be stifled if the match officials allow the defending champions to disrupt the flow with tactical fouls.
“If the referee is a referee who asserts himself, the national team will have more chances of winning the match,” he told the Spanish radio network.
The showpiece event presents a unique emotional dilemma for Barcelona supporters worldwide.
Argentina are captained by Lionel Messi, the undisputed greatest player in the Catalan club’s history following his legendary spell between 2004 and 2021.
Conversely, Spain’s attack is spearheaded by Lamine Yamal, the 19-year-old sensation who currently wears Barcelona’s iconic number 10 shirt.
This generational dynamic has sparked intense debate across social media platforms, with Laporta stoking the sentiments by saying, “Messi is the past and present; Yamal is the present and future.
Many Barcelona fans have playfully expressed comfort with any potential outcome, while others continue to agonise over whether to support their historic idol or their current teenage talisman.
When the two nations take the pitch on Sunday, it will mark their first competitive meeting since the 1966 World Cup group stage, where Argentina secured a 2-1 victory over Spain at Villa Park in England.
According to official Barcelona reports, following Spain’s 2-0 victory over France, eight Barcelona players have reached the FIFA World Cup final, equaling the record set at the 2010 South Africa FIFA World Cup.
This number matches the record for Barcelona players in a FIFA World Cup final set in South Africa in 2010. At that time, Valdés, Pique, Puyol, Busquets, Xavi, Iniesta, Pedro, and Villa were all in the Spanish squad, ultimately lifting the trophy in Johannesburg.
Barcelona players played a decisive role in this semi-final, helping the team secure a spot in the final. Olmo provided an assist, Yamal earned a penalty, and Cubarsi showed solid performance at the heart of the defense. Additionally, Pedri and Ferran Torres came on as substitutes, injecting vitality and quality in the latter stages of the match. Other Barcelona players who made it to the final include Joan Garcia, Eric Garcia, and Gavi, all cheering for their teammates from the bench.
Gordon is expected to set a new record
On Thursday, Beijing time (CEST), Gordon could potentially feature in the match against Messi and Argentina. If England wins, Barcelona will have nine players in the final, breaking the club’s record for the number of players in a FIFA World Cup final.
Barcelona players have reached the final for 5 consecutive tournaments
Barcelona players have been present in the last five FIFA World Cup finals. In 2010, eight Barcelona players were in Spain’s winning squad. Four years later, Mascherano and Messi represented Argentina in the Brazil FIFA World Cup final. At the Russia FIFA World Cup, Umtiti and Dembele won with France, while Rakitic was in the Croatian team that lost the final. In the most recent 2022 FIFA World Cup final, Dembele and Kounde lost to Messi’s Argentina in a penalty shootout.
Barcelona once again holds an important position in the pursuit of this top international honor, and a new record for Barcelona players reaching the final could even be set.
-
Health & Wellness11 months agoPresident Tinubu Directs Cut in Dialysis Cost from ₦50,000 to ₦12,000
-
News12 months agoPICTURE: In Lagos Couple Sentenced to 22½ Years for Cannabis Trafficking
-
Trending News11 months agoNELFUND Disburses ₦86bn To 449,000 Beneficiaries
-
Business4 months agoDangote Refinery Reduces Petrol Gantry Price To ₦1,200 Per Litre
-
International News4 months agoIndian Police Arrest Nigerian Over ₦290m Drug Haul
-
Business2 years agoHeritage Bank Customers’ Path to Securing ₦5m Insured Funds: A Step-By-Step Guide by NDIC”
-
Business4 months agoAfter Plea Bargain, Court Discharges Stella Oduah of ₦2.5bn Fraud
-
Business2 years ago
Dangote; We Did Not Fix ₦600/Litre Petrol Price