Liverpool's road to glory: How a defeat, stopping Arsenal and Darwin Nunez double won the league
Liverpool have won the club's 20th league title and a second Premier League crown in the past five years, but their road to glory this season hasn't always been a smooth one
Liverpool are champions of England for a 20th time, and Premier League winners for a second. After a dominant campaign, the Reds have snapped up the title with four games to spare are barely given their rivals an inch.
It hasn't all been plain sailing for Arne Slot in his first Reds season though, and indeed Liverpool's superb campaign was partly sparked into life by what first appeared to be a costly defeat, as well as a draw at Arsenal just when the Gunners looked to be turning the screw.
Those two games feature among the most important on the Reds' path to the title, which you can follow here:
September 1: Manchester United 0-3 Liverpool
Rocking up at Old Trafford for Slot’s first game against the so-called ‘big six’ and one of Liverpool ’s greatest rivals as well as going up against fellow Dutchman Erik ten Hag, the Reds dominated at Old Trafford and sent a message that they were serious contenders.
September 14: Liverpool 0-1 Nottingham Forest
Yes, a defeat was one of Liverpool’s big moments in winning the league. Why? Because it was an early learning experience for Slot that no team can be underestimated in the Premier League. Nobody expected Forest to have the the season they have so when the Reds lost to them it was a shock but it also gave Slot a test of the challenges from all teams unlike in Holland when those outside of the big clubs rarely cause problems.
October 27: Arsenal 2-2 Liverpool
Liverpool did not play anywhere near their best at the Emirates Stadium and they had to battle back into the game twice to get a result against Arsenal. If the Gunners thought the title race was going to be between them and Manchester City, this was a day that they found out the Reds would be in the mix this season. Virgil van Dijk equalised earlier in the game before Mo Salah scored late to peg Mikel Arteta ’s men back again. Huge.
November 2: Liverpool 2-1 Brighton
Brighton were leading at half-time and were the better team in the first 45 minutes as Liverpool struggled but they showed their resilience to spark a find second-half comeback and get a big three points thanks to goals from Cody Gakpo and Mo Salah. Liverpool went top that day. They’ve never finished a matchweek off it since.
December 1: Liverpool 2-0 Manchester City
The champions arrived at Anfield. This was a huge test for Slot’s side against Pep Guardiola ’s previously all-conquering outfit. It was not just the three points that were important but the manner of the performance. Slot had got the tactics spot on. Liverpool were happy for City to have plenty of the ball but they would be more ruthless in attack.
January 18: Brentford 0-2 Liverpool
Liverpool were heading for a disappointing draw that would give Arsenal hope in the title race as they couldn’t break through against the Bees but then up popped Darwin Nunez with a stunning late double to keep their momentum going.
February 1: Bournemouth 0-2 Liverpool
Bournemouth had already gained wins over Arsenal, Manchester City and Nottingham Forest this season. Arsenal were hoping that Liverpool would also struggle away at the then Champions League chasing Cherries but they got the victory to move nine points clear of the Gunners. It's been inevitable since this day, really.
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