Imperious Liverpool smash Tottenham to win Premier League title

Liverpool demolished Tottenham 5-1 to clinch the Premier League title at an impassioned Anfield on Sunday, sealing a record-equalling 20th English top-flight crown.

Arne Slot's men stormed back after conceding a surprise early goal to dominate the first half as the decibel level soared among 60 000-plus crowd.

Liverpool, who can no longer be caught by second-placed Arsenal, are now level with bitter rivals Manchester United as the joint-most successful club in English top-flight history.

It is just their second title of the Premier League era and the first they have celebrated in front of fans since 1990 -- their 2020 triumph came at a near-empty stadium due to Covid restrictions.

Arne Slot's Liverpool are Champions of England 🏆 pic.twitter.com/9WQjY6hGBP
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) April 27, 2025

Slot, who is in his first season in English football, said he had built on solid foundations left by Jurgen Klopp, who departed last year after a successful nine-year reign.

"Almost the whole season we were on the top of the league and had a team that could win it," he told Sky Sports.

"We know how tough the Premier League is, but we always had the belief we could win it.

"The work Jurgen (Klopp) and (assistant) Pep (Lijnders) left, the culture, work-rate, quality, was outstanding. We started (the season) really well and maybe it helped that (Manchester) City had a difficult spell that they have not had in five years.

"When the season started we would have been happy with top four. But I don't think that is fair on the players as they are much better than that and they have shown it this season."

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.

YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE 🔴⚪️

📺 Stream #LIVTOT on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc pic.twitter.com/FNBn0bB2wC
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) April 27, 2025

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.

VAMOS! 😤🇨🇴 pic.twitter.com/z1NFegt9Jh
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 27, 2025

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.

Alexis Mac Allister with a rocket of a left foot 🚀

📺 Stream #LIVTOT on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc pic.twitter.com/GAdk4cMos4
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) April 27, 2025

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 semifinals of the Europa League and they now had a mountain to climb.

Liverpool head into half-time on top of the world 🌍

📺 Stream #LIVTOT on DStv: https://t.co/rM90YyQxaw pic.twitter.com/aEdLrKwRrM
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) April 27, 2025

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.

THAT selfie 🤩 https://t.co/htdEGLMDdi pic.twitter.com/pl3xQt1GnZ
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 27, 2025

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.

WE’VE DONE IT!!!!!!!!! ❤️ pic.twitter.com/5gKRKDeHN8
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 27, 2025

The win leaves Liverpool on 82 points, 15 clear of nearest challengers Arsenal with just four games remaining.

Your 2024/25 @premierleague champions 🤳 pic.twitter.com/yBE51gbT0Q
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 27, 2025

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.

"A lot of emotions before the game, during the whole week, but we got the job done and we are truly deserved champions of England," said Van Dijk.
"The most beautiful club in the world and I think we deserve all of this."