Liverpool

Alex Turk
Manchester United fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

As I sit here with a stern look, a slight headache and a clenched fist, I will find my professional hat and reluctantly pen this.

There is a deep hatred between Manchester United and Liverpool. It is unavoidable and what makes a great rivalry tick. But so does mutual respect and that comes naturally to two clubs so far above everyone else on the ladder.

So, congratulations, Liverpool. It took you long enough.

It has been 12 years of miserable decline since Sir Alex Ferguson completed his mission and took your perch but you finally got there.

And how poetic? In the background of Liverpool's most memorable Premier League campaign, United are suffering through their worst.

Arne Slot's side, filled with some of Europe's best-paid but finest players, are worthy champions. They are also England's most successful club - that debate is over for now.

But that does not make them the biggest. The infinite global interest in the events at Old Trafford speaks for itself.

And while Liverpool have been fortunate that the Glazers have let United rot across the last decade, there is a new ambitious tenant wearing the pants.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe has made the end game of his passion project clear. His band of brothers have already lit the beacons through their ruthless streak of decisions at the helm.

This is no longer a craving for corporate supremacy. It's a football-focused quest for the restoration of order - and greatness.

The sight of Liverpool drawing level on 20 English titles hours after United could barely draw against Bournemouth will only fuel the fire.

So it might feel like it, looking at the table. But United are not in freefall anymore.

Enjoy the glory while you can. This sleeping giant will not be in its slumber for another 12 years.

• Not a Liverpool fan? Find and follow your club here

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool have confirmed the victory parade for their 20th league title will take place on Monday, 26 May.

The celebration will come a day after the Reds officially lift the Premier League trophy at home to Crystal Palace on the final day of the 2024-25 season on Sunday, 25 May.

Beginning at 14:30 BST, the route will be the same as it was in 2019 and 2022, beginning at Allerton Maze in the south of the city and finishing at Blundell Street, taking around three to five hours.

The club are advising supporters to line the whole 15km route and plan their travel in advance.

Amid the ongoing celebrations of a 20th league title, it is easy to forget that nobody was tipping Liverpool to be Premier League champions this season.

In fact, not one of 30 BBC pundits asked thought they would or could win it.

Jurgen Klopp's departure last summer came as shock to almost everyone and many predicted a Klopp shaped hole to be exposed in the Reds this campaign.

That wasn't people overreacting either because Klopp won it all during his nine years at Liverpool, and as history has proven when Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger left Manchester United and Arsenal respectively, it is hard to just move on.

But move on they have.

Slot has made the so-called transition period look easy and with four games to spare, he has proved everyone wrong.

"The club is in good hands," said Klopp on Slot's appointment last April. "People might worry about the future but I'm not."

The phrase 'I told you so' springs to mind.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Liverpool midfielder Bolo Zenden says Arne Slot turned around criticism with "beautiful football" and "charisma". He is delighted that everybody now sees what the boss can achieve.

"I think no one expected him to actually do what he did with his staff and his players," Zenden told BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast.

"In the beginning people were thinking someone's coming in from the Mickey Mouse league and what's he going to do at Liverpool? Very soon he turned around the criticism with beautiful football, with charisma and I think everybody now sees what he's capable of doing. The most interesting thing is probably still to come.

"I'm sure he's not going to sit still. It's strange to talk about when you've just won the league but I'm sure that in the back of his mind he's already planning for next season."

Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy says the Reds have had the best defender in the Premier League in Virgil van Dijk and the best striker in Mohamed Salah.

He also believes Ryan Gravenberch deserves to be recognised as the best midfielder, describing the 22-year-old's reinvention into a holding player as Arne Slot's "masterstroke".

And when the stats are weighed up, it is hard to argue against him.

Image source, Getty Images

Paul: What a sublime performance. The quality of football from each player, they were hungry and the mindset was to show why we are champions. And they did!

Karen: Wow. So many emotions but never doubted this incredible team. What a journey. Cannot explain how proud I am of this club and all the backroom staff. Slot is phenomenal.

Joe: My team for over 65 years. I'm 78 and proud to be a fan, win or lose, as we do have the best supporters in the world. 21 titles next year.

John: This was such a joy to watch. With everyone packed into Anfield for a real celebration, even without the trophy. CHAMP20NS. Then, now, forever and at last... together.

Jo: It's going to be a wild victory parade. I've been planning on what sandwiches to take for several months. That's confidence. So proud of the team. So happy for us fans. There's nothing like hearing YNWA at Anfield. The emotion was summed up in Virgil's face as it was sung at the end. He didn't want to let us down. Along with Slot and the rest of the squad, he's given his all for this title. Deeply appreciated by all Liverpool fans. Thank you.

Liverpool's Premier League title has been impressive, but here is how it stacks up in the best of the stats...

• Liverpool's second Premier League title is their 20th English top-flight title overall, moving them level with Manchester United as the joint-most.

• The Reds have guaranteed their Premier League title with four games remaining – only three sides have ever been confirmed winners with more matches left to play and Liverpool themselves hold the record of seven in 2019-20.

• Arne Slot is the fourth manager to win the English top-flight title in his first season as Liverpool manager, after Matt McQueen (1922-23), Joe Fagan (1983-84), and Kenny Dalglish (1985-86).

• Slot is the first Dutchman to manage a side to the title in England, making the Netherlands the 10th nation to win in this country. They are also the first new nationality since Liverpool won in 2019-20 under German Jurgen Klopp.

• Like Slot, Virgil van Dijk is the first Dutch player to captain a side to the English top-flight title.

• It is only the second time that the Premier League has been won by a side whose manager and captain were from the same nation, after Arsenal in 2003-04 under a French head coach (Arsene Wenger) and captain (Patrick Vieira).

• Liverpool have led the league for the vast majority of the Premier League season – including today, the Reds have ended 207 days top of the table in 2024-25, 166 more than any other side.

• Liverpool's title has been spearheaded by the best attacking record in the Premier League this season - the graphic below shows all the metrics where they rank first.

• The most important part of this Reds attack has been Mohamed Salah. The winger leads the Premier League rankings for both goals (28) and assists (18) in 2024-25.

• Only two players have recorded more goal involvements in a season in the competition than his 46, both of which came in 42-game campaigns (Alan Shearer and Andy Cole - 47).

Image source, Getty Images

Liverpool boss Arne Slot "must be in dreamland" and now has a "wonderful platform" to build from after the Reds' Premier League title win, says former midfielder Danny Murphy.

The Reds' 5-1 win over Tottenham on Sunday saw them confirmed as the 2024-25 champions and secured Slot the league title in his first season in charge.

It is Liverpool's 20th top flight trophy - equalling the record of rivals Manchester United - and their first since 2019-20 under Jurgen Klopp.

"It's a phenomenal first season - so much to admire," Murphy told BBC Sport. "Slot has ingratiated himself with the fans quickly. They took to him – obviously easier when you're winning games of course.

"The way he conducts himself, the knowledge, the wisdom. It's things like the game at Old Trafford where he was talking about tactics and what they planned to do to win the game. There are so many little details that he has. He obviously loves the game and knows the game.

"There are so many things that they've done that's worked for them, so many things to like. That's a great platform for them to now go and build on."

Following in the footsteps of Klopp was never going to be an easy task, but Slot could not have asked for much more from his first campaign at the helm - winning the title, reaching the final of the Carabao Cup and quarter-finals of the Champions League.

"He's probably had an easier ride than he ever anticipated because he would have envisaged some hiccups, and there haven't really been many," Murphy added.

"He has given himself a wonderful platform where the fans are on board. They've loved what they've seen - they like him, they're singing his name and they're eulogising about him.

"It's all positive. He must be in dreamland, honestly.

"It's just an unbelievable start for him. Let's be perfectly honest about this, the most ardent Liverpool fans and pundits – and I'm one of them – never envisaged a league title this year after Klopp leaving, and making one signing.

"It's just incredible."

Highlights and analysis from Sunday's two Premier League fixtures, plus the best of the action from the rest of the weekend.

If you missed Match of the Day 2, catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

And you can watch Saturday's Match of the Day here.

Listen back to the weekend's full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Bournemouth 1-1 Manchester United

• Liverpool 5-1 Tottenham

Image source, Daily Express and Guardian

Sunk in yet?

Liverpool are Premier League champions and you get to celebrate every single moment of it.

At the heart of it at Anfield on Sunday was head coach Arne Slot, who has not only made the so-called impossible task of succeeding Jurgen Klopp look so easy, but also managed to equal Manchester United's tally of 20 top-flight titles.

It is a special time to be a Red.

Image source, Daily Star and I

Liverpool, West Ham, Newcastle United, Manchester United, Tottenham and Chelsea are all interested in signing Canada striker Jonathan David, 25, when his Lille contract expires in the summer - but Marseille are hoping to persuade the player to stay in France. (RMC Sport, via Get Football News France, external)

Chelsea are pushing hard to seal the signing of Juventus forward Kenan Yildiz, 19, but face competition from Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United and Manchester City for the Turkey international. (Caught Offside, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Monday's full gossip column

Follow the gossip column on BBC Sport

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We wanted to know how you are feeling - or even celebrating - after Liverpool claimed their 20th top-flight title with a triumphant win over Tottenham at Anfield.

Here are some of your replies:

Belinda: The best day, especially because we can finally properly celebrate. The flag is out, the champagne is out, the sun is still out a bit, the kids are still up to celebrate as well. Life is good as a Liverpool fan.

Adrian: Elated! Jubilant! Celebrating a title win with everyone is amazing. The lonely celebration of Covid is gone. A great team, a great season - and more to come. I'm sharing this moment with my 10-year-old son!

Emily: I'm absolutely buzzing! I jokingly said to my dad that it would end 5-1 and Mac Allister would be player of the match... I should've put a bet on!

Matt: How am I feeling? Smug. Exceedingly smug.

• Not a Liverpool fan? Find and follow your club here

Zahid: What a season. We've had our sad moments, our mad moments and our best-we've-ever-had moments. But throughout the whole time, this team never gave up. We went from doubters to conquerors. Thank you Slot and everyone at Liverpool football club

Aloukik: Arne Slot has raised every aspect of the team by 1% and overall it has made a big, big difference.

Mike: Whoever said it could be difficult for Arne Slot to fill Jurgen Klopp's shoes... look now! He has a different approach compared to Klopp - and OK it was all set up ready for him with such a great team - but he has stamped his own style on the side. Liverpool cruised like a luxury liner to the Premier League title with such ease and aplomb. Let's believe they can carry it on in the future, being not the same as but close to Bill Shankly's Liverpool of the 1970s.

Daniel: Waited my whole life to celebrate this with fellow Scousers! The Slot Machine rolls over to another year - up the Reds!

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Liverpool full-back Andy Robertson has been speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live amid the celebrations: "It means everything to us. Everyone has been in the party spirit since the moment they woke up in Liverpool today.

"After the initial wobble, we recovered well and it ended up being a good afternoon.

"Arne Slot has done unbelievably - him and his staff. His backroom staff work so hard. It was just about getting into the rhythm and we have managed that. We are delighted for him and for ourselves."

On how long the celebrations will last: "On the schedule, we are meant to be in tomorrow. As the schedule stands we are - but that will be getting cancelled!"