Liverpool are champions of England once more after a 5-1 win over Tottenham saw them reclaim the Premier League title on Sunday.
A record-tying 20th league title has long since essentially been an inevitability, the Reds surging clear of an Arsenal side that has dropped points too often to maintain a serious challenge.
But Arsenal’s shortcomings are only a small part of the story, with Liverpool’s return to the top of the mountain a richly deserved reward for a season of hugely impressive consistency in Arne Slot’s first campaign at the helm.
Here we look at the key factors behind Liverpool’s march to the title.
A tougher nut to crack
Liverpool being free-scoring is nothing new. They scored 94 goals in 2021-22, seven shy of their record in the Premier League, under the guidance of Jurgen Klopp, and are unlikely to eclipse that mark this season.
The difference in the first season of the Slot era has been at the back.
In the denouement of Klopp’s storied tenure at Anfield, Liverpool kept just five league clean sheets, their fallibility in that regard a key reason why they eventually fell away from Manchester City and Arsenal in the title race.
This term, despite Allison missing 10 games, Liverpool’s opponents have drawn a blank 13 times.
Recent months have seen Liverpool show a little more vulnerability at the back, with the EFL Cup final defeat to Newcastle United and this month’s 3-2 loss at Fulham evidence of that.
But, for the most part in 2024-25, Liverpool have proven much harder to break down. With Virgil van Dijk securing his future at the club and the promising Conor Bradley likely to step in for Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back, the Reds can be hopeful of their rearguard maintaining that kind of solidity going forward.
20 – Liverpool have won their 20th English top-flight title, moving them level with Manchester United for the joint-most by any side. Reds. pic.twitter.com/392vPSWOBg
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 27, 2025
Liverpool’s enviable top-half record
Perhaps the best illustration of the difference for Liverpool this season as opposed to previous campaigns was the ease with which they brushed aside the team that had consistently frustrated them during the Klopp era.
Though this season’s Manchester City vintage is far from the finest, the comfortable nature of Liverpool’s 2-0 home and away wins over Pep Guardiola’s men was stark.
Those victories form part of a wider hugely impressive record against top-half sides under Slot.
Indeed, only Nottingham Forest and Fulham have succeeded in beating Liverpool this season, each taking four points from the Reds. Arsenal, Newcastle and Aston Villa are the only other top-half teams to even hold Liverpool to a draw.
When Liverpool have come up against the best the league has had to offer this season, they have responded time and again, and that is a key reason for their massive gap at the top.
In addition to their draw with Liverpool, Arsenal have dropped points in top-half clashes with Forest, Newcastle, City, Chelsea, Villa, Bournemouth, Fulham and Brighton. It is impossible to escape that marked contrast when examining how the title race became so one-sided.
Snatching points from the jaws of defeat
The 15-point gap between Liverpool and Arsenal paints the picture of a breeze to the title. While Liverpool have won the league comfortably, Slot’s men have still had to show a significant amount of resilience.
Victory over Tottenham made it 22 points from losing positions this season for Liverpool, moving them ahead of Manchester City (20).
Whereas City have lost nine times after falling behind in 20 games this season, Liverpool have lost twice after seeing their opponent go in front on 14 occasions. Only five of those games have ended in victory, but seven have ended in draws.
The Reds fought back to claim a point in matches with Arsenal, Newcastle, Fulham, Manchester United, Forest, Everton and Villa. Without those recovery missions, the title race would have a significantly different look.
Salah’s historic season
It feels only fitting that the last word should be on the man who has defined this season throughout.
The issue of Mohamed Salah’s contract loomed in the background for the majority of Slot’s first season in charge, but the Egyptian removed the question of Liverpool letting him go from the picture with a remarkable campaign.
Looking forward to seeing that Salah selfie 👀 pic.twitter.com/zwDp7HgszW
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 27, 2025
Salah has authored one of the finest seasons in Premier League history, racking up 46 goal involvements (28 goals, 18 assists), a record for a 38-game campaign.
He needs only one more to tie the record of 47 (Andy Cole 1993-94 with Newcastle and Alan Shearer 1994-95 with Blackburn Rovers) for the most in any Premier League season.
Nobody would dare bet against him going past that mark in Liverpool’s four remaining games and, after his future was secured this month, he will continue to be the focal point as the Reds look to maintain their dominance next season.
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