Slot Machine: How Arne led Liverpool to the Premier League Jackpot, A Liverpool FC season review.

By Umair Gangat (@umairrg)

When Arne Slot first took over from Jürgen Klopp in the summer of 2024, there were many question marks over the relatively unheard-of coach. However, coming fresh from success in the Eredivisie and quickly implementing his style and presence within the squad, he transformed what Klopp had left him into the Premier League champions at his first attempt.

Klopp had evidently left the squad in great hands after a successful 23/24 season in which Liverpool won the Carabao Cup, as well as mounting an ultimately unsuccessful title challenge resulting in a 3rd-place finish towards the latter stages of the season. Many fans believed there were just a few missing pieces in the side before they could win again. As a result, fans expected a big summer transfer window for the team, with the key signing anticipated to be a defensive midfielder or ‘number six’. However, Liverpool did the opposite and signed just one player for the 24/25 season. Federico Chiesa signed for the small transfer fee of £10 million plus £2.5 million in potential add-ons but rarely featured in Arne Slot’s team, making only four league appearances before it was won.

The ‘number six’ issue seemed to have been solved on matchday 1, where Ryan Gravenberch started in the role away to Ipswich. The Reds won the game away from home 0-2 to start the season positively. Ryan seemed to establish himself in the defensive midfielder role on matchday 3 at Old Trafford, away to Liverpool’s fiercest rivals Manchester United, where he starred in a dominant midfield performance, boasting a 100% tackle success rate, making four interceptions and winning seven duels. After a loss on matchday 4, Liverpool remained undefeated until matchday 31 in the Premier League, with Ryan starting all these games.

The emergence of Ryan Gravenberch as a world-class defensive midfielder was an important factor in Liverpool’s title success, but arguably the three most important Liverpool players had major question marks over their futures at the club. Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold all had contracts expiring at the end of the 24/25 season.

Mohamed Salah has been Liverpool’s most crucial attacking player since he joined the club in 2017, although this season his importance has skyrocketed. Even at age 32, Salah shows why he is arguably the best player in world football. He is currently on 28 goals and 18 assists in the Premier League alone, a record-breaking 46 goal involvements in a Premier League 38-game season. He has been the most important factor in Liverpool’s attack this season, contributing to 54% of the team’s league goals. After the record-breaking contribution to Liverpool’s title charge, fans were desperate for a new contract. Luckily, for fans and club alike, Salah was rewarded for his efforts with a brand-new deal that will keep him at Anfield until 2027.

Similarly, Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk was in the same situation as his world-class teammate, with his current deal also expiring at the end of the season. Van Dijk has been one of the best, if not the best, defenders in the world for several seasons. Despite suffering a complete grade 3 anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear in 2020, he has re-established himself at the top of the game after missing the majority of the 20/21 season. This season, Virgil was the captain as well as being the most important in the back line, carrying significant leadership responsibilities compared to the previous title win. His calm and authoritative presence not only secured defensive stability but also provided a reassuring influence on younger teammates like Jarell Quansah and Conor Bradley, both of whom benefited greatly from Van Dijk’s mentorship. He has also won 67.5% of duels and made 54 interceptions over the season. Virgil opted to sign a new deal until 2027 after earning and cementing his place as a Liverpool legend, showing loyalty to the club, with the club and fans also appreciating him. The Dutchman said in an interview, “It was always Liverpool. That was the case. It was always in my head, it was always the plan, and it was always Liverpool,” showing the captain’s commitment and loyalty.

Unlike Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, the boyhood Red, academy graduate, Scouser Trent Alexander-Arnold decided his time at the club would come to an end. Despite being offered an improved deal with a lucrative financial package, Alexander-Arnold opted not to sign a new deal, leaving many of the club’s core fanbase disappointed. Fans felt as if one of their own had betrayed them, as rumours suggest he will play for European rivals Real Madrid. This came to a boiling point when Trent was booed by Liverpool fans after being subbed on against Arsenal at Anfield, the first game after his departure was announced.

The Trent situation looks to be the last of very few negatives of the season. Liverpool were knocked out at home in the Champions League by Paris Saint-Germain in the round of 16. Despite an exceptional start to the tournament, topping the league phase, the Reds faced tough opposition in PSG, eventually losing on penalties. In the same week, the Reds then lost the Carabao Cup final 2-1 to Newcastle United. Arne Slot’s team failed to retain the cup after winning it the previous season. The Reds also embarrassingly lost to Championship side Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup, ending their hopes in that tournament.

The positive of the early exits from tournaments was that after March 16th, Liverpool could fully focus on the Premier League title challenge. They quickly readjusted after this negative period by beating local rivals Everton at home. Liverpool then won three of the next four games to clinch the title against Tottenham Hotspur in a 5-1 thumping at Anfield. Liverpool fans created one of the loudest and most electric atmospheres in football history. The fan reaction was so loud that scientists recorded seismic tremors, with a peak magnitude of 1.74, due to the energy released by the 60,415-strong crowd after Alexis Mac Allister scored the second goal to give Liverpool the lead. This was the perfect way for Arne Slot to win the Premier League, especially after Liverpool had been robbed of title celebrations in 2020 due to Covid-19.

After a season that started with uncertainty, a new manager, system, and contract situations, Arne Slot led a Liverpool team he inherited from Jürgen Klopp to the Premier League title for the first time in 34 years in front of fans, forever cementing himself and this team in history on his very first attempt.