On a blustery day in the north, when the branches of trees along Ashton New Road swayed and fans walked to the ground with their heads bowed against the wind, Pep Guardiola paced nervously along the touchline at the Etihad, watching Liverpool claim the crown that Manchester City had worn for the past four seasons.
Quietly, Liverpool weathered a storm in recent weeks, dropping points here and there, losing at Plymouth in the FA Cup, conceding a last-minute equalizer in the intense atmosphere of Goodison Park, and drawing with Aston Villa. They bent but did not break.
Then they arrived at the home of the champions, the team that has dominated English football and denied Liverpool so much in recent years. Arne Slot’s side dismissed City 2-0 with first-half goals from Mo Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai, executing their game plan with a calm authority, moving 11 points clear of second-placed Arsenal at the top of the Premier League. It was clear to everyone that it was over.
This inhospitable Sunday in late February, as drizzle fell on Slot, marked a day that would be remembered as the moment Liverpool won the league. While 11-point deficits have been overcome before, such as Newcastle in 1995-96 and Manchester United in 1997-98, the teams that caught them were far different from Liverpool’s current challengers.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal lost 1-0 at home to struggling West Ham, appearing toothless in attack and failing to mount any pressure on Liverpool. Nottingham Forest, in third place, suffered a heavy loss to Newcastle just hours before Liverpool’s match, leaving them 17 points behind and far from challenging Salah, Virgil van Dijk, and their teammates.
Liverpool have simply been too strong this season. Slot has defied the notion that one should never follow a legend. He has taken Klopp’s team and improved it, transforming them into a winning machine that overwhelmed City and proved far too consistent for Arsenal, who will again play second fiddle.
Having endured a challenging series of matches, Liverpool’s upcoming fixtures against Southampton and Leicester City present more favorable opportunities. While some may argue that this coronation is premature, the reality is they are effectively home and dry.
Without being spectacular, Liverpool’s victory possessed a certain majesty. Van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate were formidable at the back, repelling everything City attempted. “This is what a title-winning performance looks like,” Gary Neville stated on Sky Sports.
Going forward, the partnership of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Salah on the right was unstoppable. Alexander-Arnold’s passing was a joy to watch, while Salah dazzled down the wing, leaving City’s defense helpless. Though the crown hasn’t yet been placed on their heads, it was clear that City had passed the mantle to their successors on that gloomy evening.
City had their moments but ultimately fell short. They started brightly, with Jeremy Doku testing Alexander-Arnold and Kevin De Bruyne delivering promising passes. However, they couldn’t capitalize on their early promise. Liverpool’s first goal came from a well-executed corner, with Alexis Mac Allister setting up Salah, whose shot deflected in.
Despite dominating possession at times, City could not find a way past Liverpool’s resolute defense. Salah assisted Szoboszlai for the second goal before halftime, further solidifying Liverpool’s control. City rarely threatened after that, with their best chance ruled out for offside.
Liverpool fans sang, “We’re going to win the league,” long after the match ended, and now everyone believes them. When it becomes mathematically certain, it will mark their 20th top-flight title, tying them with Manchester United. Unlike the 2019-20 title win amid the Covid crisis, this time, the Anfield crowd will be there to celebrate, transforming the stadium into a vibrant spectacle of color and joy.