Liverpool roared back from a goal behind to thrash Tottenham Hotspur 5-1 and wrap up the Premier League title in style on a momentous day at a sun-drenched Anfield. Needing  only a point to ensure a record-equalling 20th English title with four games remaining, Liverpool  were rocked in the 12th minute as Dominic Solanke headed Tottenham in front. But the title party was only temporarily silenced as Liverpool struck back with a Luis Diaz tap-in, an Alexis Mac Allister thunderbolt and a Cody Gakpo shot before halftime.   

A one-sided second half saw Mohamed Salah end a six-match scoring drought by firing a low shot past Guglielmo Vicario in the 63rd minute — celebrating his 28th league goal of an outstanding season by snapping a selfie with a fan. Tottenham's Destiny Udogie then bundled in an own goal to complete a miserable afternoon for the visitors who have lost 19 Premier League games this season. Liverpool, who have now matched arch-rivals Manchester United's English titles record, have 82 points from 34 games played with Arsenal a distant second on 67.

A rendition of You'll Never Walk Alone — the club's beloved anthem — boomed out after the final whistle with the likes of club greats Kenny Dalglish and Ian Rush joining in. "This is difficult to put into words," Liverpool manager Arne Slot, who replaced Juergen Klopp last year and is the first Dutch coach to win the Premier League, said on the pitch.   "It's more than what I can describe... Everyone said we had already won it but you still feel pressure to get the point over the line."

Slot is only the fifth manager to win the Premier League title in his debut season in English soccer and while it was a formality before kickoff, there was still the small matter of Liverpool ensuring the cake was iced in front of their fans. Five years ago, when Klopp's Liverpool ended a 30-year wait for a 19th title, the Covid pandemic meant a rather anti-climactic finale inside an empty Anfield.

Sunday more than made up for that as the fans went through their choir book of club anthems long before kickoff. Sixteenth-placed Tottenham, who made eight changes to their starting line-up with one eye on Thursday's Europa League semi-final, arrived as sacrificial lambs, but momentarily gate-crashed the party as former Liverpool player Solanke headed in James Maddison's corner. 

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)