When Jürgen Klopp departed Liverpool in the previous spring, the Premier League was on the cusp of a new era. As one respected coach exited the league he had helped shape, a new one, Mikel Arteta, was on the rise. It appeared that Arsenal and Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City were ready to dominate the Prem for the foreseeable future. Having finished in the top two spots for the past two seasons, they were joint favorites at the start of the 2024-25 season. This was partly due to the fact that all four of their equally wealthy rivals were led by unproven managers.
However, over the course of the next eight months, Liverpool decisively disproved this notion.
The Reds surged to the top of the table and secured their second Premier League title with a resounding 5-1 victory over Tottenham on Sunday. Their success was attributed to having the best – and healthiest – squad from August to April.
They also clinched the title because of the exceptional management of Arne Slot. The first-year coach, who had spent his entire career in the Netherlands, seamlessly adapted to English football. He empowered Mohammed Salah, maximized Ryan Gravenberch, and trusted Trent Alexander-Arnold, flaws and all.
However, Slot did not revolutionize Liverpool as many had anticipated. Instead, he recognized that soccer is still a player-driven sport. He allowed his players to lead him to victory.
The lesson of Liverpool’s Premier League title
Unlike many modern managers who try to impose their beliefs and personalities on their clubs, Slot took a different approach. When Erik Ten Hag joined Manchester United and Ange Postecoglou took over at Tottenham, they seemed to follow the Guardiola-Arteta-Klopp playbook, introducing semi-revolutionary ideas and trying to assert their authority. This is what their clubs were paying them handsomely to do, and what fans typically expect from their coach – a dominant figure who transforms tactics and culture to drive the team’s narrative. However, Liverpool’s triumph in the 2024-25 season demonstrated that this is not the only path to success.
Slot’s team differed from Klopp’s in a subtle yet effective manner. They excelled because they fielded the best players, and Slot’s brilliance lay in allowing this to take center stage.
How Liverpool ran away with the league
Slot and the club recognized that their existing squad was more than capable of competing at the highest level. Instead of demanding expensive signings, they signed just one player – Federico Chiesa, who did not start a single Premier League game all season. Slot worked with the players at his disposal, and they delivered outstanding performances. Salah had a standout season with increased attacking freedom, Van Dijk solidified his position as the league’s top defender, and Liverpool’s midfield trio of Gravenberch, Mac Allister, and Szoboszlai became the most balanced in the league.
Slot allowed his players to shine, sticking with them through challenges and inconsistencies. The result was a title secured with games to spare.
Critics may argue that Liverpool’s title was won by default due to the shortcomings of their rivals. However, the Reds’ commanding performances and focus on player performance highlight a crucial lesson – soccer is ultimately about the players on the field, not just the manager on the touchline.