Mohamed Salah marked Liverpool`s comfortable title win by taking a selfie with a fan`s phone.
Unexpected champions before the season kicked off according to many, Arne Slot’s seemingly flawless team have cruised to victory, appearing almost effortless.
This title-clinching victory seemed the most effortless against a meek Spurs side who have seemingly given up on their Premier League campaign in favour of the Europa League.
Aside from an early header by Dominic Solanke, Ange Postecoglou’s inadequate team were perfect opponents for Slot`s champions, and they caved in as soon as the hosts stepped up the pressure.
First-half goals from Luis Diaz, Alexis Mac Allister, and Cody Gakpo left no doubt about the result, both in this game and the title race.
Then, Salah’s superb strike and Destiny Udogie’s own goal after the break delivered a champagne scoreline to celebrate a long-awaited party at Anfield, 35 years in the making.
This was the first time Liverpool could celebrate a league title success in front of their supporters since Kenny Dalglish’s team won the club’s 18th in 1990.
Five years ago, Jurgen Klopp secured the 19th – his only Premier League triumph during his illustrious tenure – but that, of course, was during Covid times when fans were not permitted.
The supporters more than compensated this time, bringing a festival atmosphere long before the game even started, as their cherished club drew level with Manchester United on 20 titles.
Thousands lined the streets outside the ground, waving flags and flares as the team bus arrived.
This momentous day for the hosts occurred just 24 hours before the anniversary of their 1990 title win.
Dalglish’s side, captained by Hansen, also fell behind to an early header when Roy Wegerle stunned Anfield for QPR. Back then, the nervous hosts had to wait until just before half-time for Ian Rush to equalize, with John Barnes securing a 2-1 win from the penalty spot after the break.
Here, the nerves were calmed much more quickly after Solanke’s powerful header within 12 minutes had threatened to disrupt the party atmosphere.
The England striker, who had a brief spell with the Reds as a youngster, eluded Diaz and outjumped Ryan Gravenberch to emphatically head home James Maddison’s corner.
Nobody saw it coming – but almost everyone expected the response.
It came incredibly swiftly – even for this potent Liverpool attack and leaky Spurs defence – as Slot’s side scored a rapid double.
First, Salah cleverly found Dominik Szoboszlai, who rolled it across the box for Diaz to easily finish.
Szoboszlai, now the first Hungarian Premier League champion, was initially ruled offside, but VAR correctly intervened, and the goal stood.
Six minutes later, and after Gakpo had a goal rightly disallowed for offside this time, the hosts took the lead.
Spurs, so often the creators of their own downfall, had only themselves to blame as Mathys Tel lost possession trying to play out from the back. Gravenberch got in front of Archie Gray and managed to offload it to Mac Allister, who drew his left foot back and blasted the ball into the top corner.
Postecoglou had spoken during the week about how he sometimes “pokes the bear” with his critics by responding sarcastically.
Poking the bear was a fitting description of what his own side had done to Liverpool here – and his team were devoured as a result.
Two goals became three on 34 minutes, removing any sense of uncertainty from the occasion.
Spurs were again at fault as Lucas Bergvall`s pathetically weak header attempting to clear a corner fell directly to Gakpo’s feet.
The Dutchman was afforded the space to get the ball under control, shift it onto his right foot, and pick his spot into the far corner.
Slot’s animated celebration at that moment suggested that even he, the cool head insisting no one get ahead of themselves, knew the title was now clinched.
After the break, it was simply a question of how many more goals they would add.
