When Jurgen Klopp departed from Liverpool last spring, the Premier League found itself on the cusp of a new chapter. A fresh face, Mikel Arteta, was emerging as a formidable coach, following the exit of a manager who had significantly shaped the league. Consequently, Arsenal and Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City seemed set to dominate the Premier League in the coming seasons, having finished first and second in the last two campaigns. As they approached the 2024-25 season, they were considered co-favorites, especially since their similarly wealthy competitors were guided by less experienced managers.
For the past eight months, Liverpool has been challenging this narrative by proving it wrong.
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The Reds ascended to the top of the league, clinching their second Premier League title this past Sunday with a 5-1 victory over Tottenham.
Arne Slot, Liverpool’s new manager, played a crucial role in this success. The first-year coach, who previously spent his career in the Netherlands, quickly adapted to the English style. He empowered players like Mohamed Salah, maximized Ryan Gravenberch’s talents, and relied on Trent Alexander-Arnold despite his imperfections.
However, he didn’t overhaul Liverpool’s existing identity. Instead, he acknowledged that football fundamentally revolves around the players and allowed them to guide the team to the trophy.
Mohamed Salah played a pivotal role in securing Liverpool’s second Premier League title. (Photo from Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
(Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
The Insights from Liverpool’s Premier League Triumph
Slot deviated from the approach favored by many modern managers, who often try to impose their philosophies on their new teams. For instance, when Erik ten Hag joined Manchester United and Ange Postecoglou took over at Tottenham, both seemed to embrace the playbooks of Guardiola, Arteta, and Klopp, introducing semi-revolutionary concepts. Their ambitions to assert authority came at considerable cost, as that’s what their clubs expected.
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Today’s fans increasingly demand a commanding figure who reshapes tactics and culture, effectively steering the narrative of the team. This was precisely what Guardiola achieved, and how Klopp challenged him. Arteta also managed to revitalize Arsenal, pulling them from a decade of underachievement. Each of these managers transformed their squads, be it through positional play or aggressive strategies, establishing a pathway to the Premier League summit.
Yet, this is not the sole way to ascend.
This is the key takeaway from Liverpool’s triumphant 2024-25 season.
Slot’s team differed from Klopp’s, but it was not dramatically reinvented.
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Its success stemmed from utilizing the best players effectively, with Slot’s insightful management facilitating a compelling narrative.
He was strategic and detail-oriented. His tactics enabled Liverpool to win decisively. His management of player rotation ensured that key athletes remained fit and energized. To be clear: he played a significant role in this championship.
However, it was his hands-off style that laid the groundwork for Liverpool’s success. Players are ultimately the ones who determine the outcome of matches.
Liverpool’s Louis Diaz (L) scored the first goal against Tottenham Hotspur, contributing to their 5-1 victory that sealed the Premier League title. (AP Photo/John Super)
(AP News)
Liverpool’s Path to the League Title
Slot and the team recognized that they had the potential to compete effectively. Rather than arriving with a lengthy wish list demanding several high-priced signings, he collaborated with the current team, which resulted in signing only one player. Federico Chiesa, who did not start any Premier League matches this season, joined a squad where 19 players had started at least once last year.
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Slot capitalized on this foundation, enabling players to shine. Salah enjoyed his best season yet, experiencing reduced defensive duties and more offensive freedom compared to under Klopp. Virgil van Dijk reaffirmed his status as the league’s top defender. As Manchester City dealt with injuries and Arsenal struggled with creativity, Liverpool’s midfield trio of Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, and Dominik Szoboszlai emerged as the most complete and balanced in the league.
Slot did not stifle any of his players, maintaining faith in Alexander-Arnold and Diaz despite their defensive weaknesses. Ultimately, this led to securing the title with four games to spare.
Critics may argue that the title came as a result of fortuitous circumstances, as Arsenal lost all their strikers and City faced injuries that hindered their performance. Neither among them reached the 80-point mark. Their struggles allowed Liverpool to win by a wide margin. The Reds did lead at various points but didn’t dominate; their goal difference of +48 stands as the largest since Leicester City’s +32 in the 2015-16 season.
Nevertheless, they are deserving champions. Their success underscores a vital truth in football: winning rests not solely on the coach but on the players who create, score, and prevent goals.
In terms of fan sentiment, this victory for Liverpool signifies a refreshing shift in how success can be achieved in soccer. It reminds fans that strategy and player empowerment can lead to triumph, rather than solely relying on a coach’s rigid tactics, offering hope for teams across all leagues.
