'It's actually impossible to disagree' - media continue reacting to Liverpool title as transfer point made

A look at how the digital media reacted to Liverpool's 5-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur that confirmed the Reds as Premier League winners on Sunday

Anfield was given a celebration for the ages when Liverpool were confirmed as Premier League winners on Sunday afternoon. A 5-1 drubbing of Spurs was enough to confirm the Reds as champions for a 20th time on what was a famous day on Merseyside.

The ECHO, as ever, was at the game to provide our usual match-day mix of content. From our big-match verdict, through to player ratings, on-the-whistle analysis and our more considered talking points, our dedicated Liverpool FC pages left no stone unturned in the coverage.

Our colleagues from the national media had their say on events at Anfield, which you can read about in-depth here. There was also a mountain of reaction and analysis from the digital media, and the ECHO has rounded up the best online coverage of Liverpool's 20th title triumph.

Over on The Athletic's pages, James Pearce writes: "It was 343 days ago when Jurgen Klopp stood in the Anfield centre circle and delivered an emotion-fuelled farewell speech.

"'It doesn’t feel like an end, it just feels like the start,' he reassured a fanbase concerned about what the future looked like without him in it. Change is good. If you go with the right attitude, then everything will be fine. The right basis is 100 per cent there.'

"At the time, it sounded wildly optimistic. In fact, it proved to be gloriously prophetic.

"Liverpool are champions of England for the 20th time, bringing them level with Manchester United as the joint-most successful side in English top-flight history, and Arne Slot has taken the fast track to the pantheon of Anfield greats by inspiring the most remarkable of triumphs.

"Sunday’s emphatic 5-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur wrapped up the Premier League title with four games to spare to spark wild scenes of jubilation.

"Slot becomes just the third manager in Liverpool’s history to win the title in his debut season in charge, following in the footsteps of Joe Fagan (1983-84) and Kenny Dalglish (1985-86). He becomes the first coach since Antonio Conte at Chelsea in 2016-17 to win the title during his maiden Premier League season.

"The understated Dutchman has surpassed all expectations since making the move from Feyenoord last summer. Yes, he was fortunate to inherit a gifted squad, but how he’s taken them to the next level with his tactical acumen and expert man management has been astonishing."

Over on Goal's pages, Mark Doyle assesses what might come next at Anfield, writing: "Liverpool have been the best team in the Premier League this season - and by some distance too. The Reds have scored more goals than anyone else (80), while only Arsenal conceded fewer (29 to 32).

"It may seem strange, then, that so many supporters and pundits believe that Slot's squad needs to be significantly strengthened during the summer - but it's actually impossible to disagree.

"After all, Liverpool made just two signings last summer. One of those barely played this season (Federico Chiesa), while the other won't arrive until this pre-season (Giorgio Mamardashvili), meaning Slot was effectively forced to work with the exact same group of players as his predecessor.

"It could have been worse, of course. It wasn't as if Slot was taking over a struggling side bereft of top talent. Klopp's Liverpool had finished third the season before and also lifted the Carabao Cup, while Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah spent the majority of the current campaign showing why they deserved lucrative new contracts with one inspirational display after another.

"Tying the two best players in the Premier League down to new deals also means this summer won't be as traumatic as it could have been. However, a significant amount of money will still have to be spent."

Ranking Liverpool's five best performers of the season, Bleacher Report place Mohamed Salah in top spot, writing: "Mohamed Salah has had the season of his life at 32 years old.

"The Egyptian has been responsible for the most goal involvements in a league campaign of his career with 46, which is four more than his next-best total from 2017-18 and 18 more than he achieved last season.

"When the Reds have faltered, it's Salah who has come to the rescue more often than not. He's been playing as if his life depends on it.

"Of course, at one point, it looked like it was to be his parting gift to the Anfield faithful. A lot of his campaign has been followed by the dark specter of an impending exit, but a contract renewal in April settled some nerves and brought intrigue to what more he can achieve with the club.

"He's leading the 2024-25 season's scoring charts with 28, has muscled his way into fifth in the Premier League's all-time goal ranking, and is now the third-highest scorer in Liverpool history.

"Like Gravenberch, his output has dipped slightly entering April, but with teams around the Reds not able to put any pressure on, his efforts earlier in the campaign have proved more than enough to earn him his second English top-flight title and the ninth major trophy of his Liverpool tenure.

"The Egyptian king will look pretty good with another Premier League crown on his head."

Over on Football London's Spurs pages, Alasdair Gold pens: "This was a game that laid bare the gulf between the two teams on the pitch at Anfield.

"Tottenham are a team in a seemingly constant state of rebuild while Liverpool are a team built to win trophies. One spent a summer transfer window collecting youngsters from around the continent, the other had already assembled a team capable of winning the title this season and so they did.

"Ange Postecoglou's team selection showed that he expectedly and understandably has one eye on Thursday night's Europa League semi-final against Bodo/Glimt. He named two teenagers in the midfield in Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray alongside James Maddison.

"It was quite literally men against boys. The foundations of the team in Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Rodrigo Bentancur along with the near ever-present Pedro Porro were all removed and Spurs always looked fearful whenever Liverpool ran at them.

"Even Dominic Solanke's header from James Maddison's corner early in the game felt more like postponing the inevitable rather than really threatening to spoil the party. Spurs were only allowed four minutes to enjoy their lead before Luiz Diaz restored parity from close range following an offside check.

"Liverpool forged ahead through Alexis Mac Allister's powerful strike, before Cody Gakpo added a clinical finish. Mohamed Salah's low effort and a Destiny Udogie own goal completed the bulldozing in the second half.

"Liverpool had torn Spurs apart in two of their three encounters this season and they made it a hat-trick with a 5-1 scoreline that could have been higher but still means they have scored 15 against Postecoglou's side this season."