Mo Salah show to Gravenberch gamble, 5 factors that were vital in Liverpool's record-equalling title win

The most remarkable thing about the 2024-2025 Premier League season was that Liverpool seemingly cruised to a record-equalling 20th English league title. Indeed, if you consider 14th-placed Manchester United, whose record was equalled, to be a bullock cart, it was as if Liverpool—their greatest rival—was a six-speed sports car that never needed the sixth gear. The chasing pack all missed key components—Arsenal, a striker; Manchester City, Rodri, and so on. 

 

But, it was not as straightforward as it seemed. For one, this was Liverpool’s first season under new head coach Arne Slot. He had the tough task of replacing the iconic Jurgen Klopp. Slot got off to a brilliant start, but there were times in the season when things were challenging. But Liverpool, like true champions, stayed at it, even as others faltered. Here is a look at five things that defined Liverpool’s title triumph.

 

The VVD-Konate axis

 

 

Defensive stability was the key to Liverpool's flying start to the campaign. The imposing Ibrahima Konate was Slot’s preferred partner to club captain Virgil van Dijk. It was a partnership that laid the foundation for the club’s title charge—in the first 12 matches, Liverpool conceded just eight goals. The duo have the most clean sheets among the Premier League’s regularly used centre-back pairings (11) and the team concedes only 0.9 goals per game with the pair starting and 1.3 otherwise. 

 

The Gravenberch gamble

 

Ryan Gravenberch was a Klopp signing in 2023 when the former manager rebuilt his entire midfield in one summer. However, one position the club failed to bolster to the level required for a title contender was defensive midfield. There was reportedly an attempt to secure the services of Martin Zubimendi, Rodri’s deputy for Spain, in the summer of 2024, but the Real Sociedad star ultimately rejected the move. 

 

Instead of splashing out on a panic buy, Liverpool looked within. Slot decided to try Gravenberch as a holding midfielder. It turned out to be a masterstroke. The Dutch midfielder gained confidence as he got regular starts and has now become one of the best holding midfielders in the league — he ranks first for interceptions and second for involvement in moves leading to goals. 

 

Salah at a whole new level

 

The Egyptian, who turns 33 in June, shattered multiple records this season. He has 28 goals and 18 assists, so far. In other words, the winger has contributed to 58 per cent of the team’s goals so far!  Mohamed Salah is the only player in the league with a share of more than 50 per cent. Unsurprisingly, he set a new record for goal contributions in a 38-game season and, with four games remaining, is on track to become only the fifth player to be top for both goals and assists in a Premier League season. 

 

Mo Salah has been a consistent and, often underrated, performer for Liverpool ever since he joined the club in 2017. For instance, he has never once scored below 20 goals in a season in all competitions. But, it is fair to say that even Salah’s biggest fan may not have foreseen what he would go on to do this season. 

 

Grinding out the results

 

After a great start, Liverpool’s first real test came with Chelsea’s visit in late October. The London club, then sixth in the league, were starting to gel under the new head coach. 

 

Enzo Maresca's men gave the league leaders a tough match and Slot, despite winning 2-1, admitted that Chelsea were better than his side. Winning in that fashion was the first sign that this team had what it takes to be champions. The very next match saw a hard-fought draw at Arsenal—2-2 after trailing twice. 

 

In early November, there was a comeback win at Brighton & Hove Albion (2-1). On the same day, Arsenal lost to Newcastle United and City at Bournemouth. In mid-December, Liverpool rescued a point at home against Fulham (2-2), despite being a man down for over 70 minutes. Arsenal and City again dropped points in that round of fixtures. Perhaps most memorable was the late Darwin Nunez double on January 18 against Brentford (2-0). The team had hit a rough patch of form at the start of the year—winning only one of four matches in all competitions—when the Uruguayan struck twice in stoppage time to get it a well-deserved and much-needed win. And, Arsenal threw away a two-goal lead against Aston Villa to draw 2-2. 

 

Goodison and the run-in

 

The last Merseyside derby at Goodison Park was never going to be easy. And just as it started to feel like Liverpool had done enough to get a 2-1 win, Everton scored—in the eighth minute of second-half stoppage time—to earn a draw. Three days later, there was another tough match in store; Liverpool had to survive a spirited fightback by Wolverhampton Wanderers to secure a 2-1 win. 

 

The next three matches genuinely had the potential to derail Liverpool’s title charge—Aston Villa and City away, followed by Newcastle at home. Villa held Liverpool to a 2-2 draw. But, the league leaders bounced back by outplaying champions City in a 2-0 win. In the same round of fixtures, title rivals Arsenal lost to West Ham United. In the next match, Liverpool beat Newcastle 2-0 and Arsenal were held to a 0-0 draw by the season’s surprise package Nottingham Forest. 

 

Thus, what could have been a period of setback ended with Liverpool extending their lead from six points to 13 points. That win against Newcastle was on February 27, exactly two months before the 5-1 thrashing of a hapless Tottenham Hotspur that officially sealed the title on April 27. 

 

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