Chelsea’s victory over Manchester City at Stamford Bridge was hugely important in their quest for a Champions League spot. However, the win meant more to the Anfield faithful than the Blues, as it handed Liverpool their first top-flight title since 1990, kickstarting a party that has been 30 years in the making.
Liverpool have been a cut above the rest this season in the Premier League, winning it with seven games to spare -- the earliest in the history of English football -- beating Manchester United (1907/08 and 2000/01), Manchester City (2017/18) and Everton (1984/85), who all won the league title with five games left in the season.
Though they have steamrolled through teams, it wasn’t always easy for the Reds this season, but through sheer grit and determination, they managed to pull out victory after victory that saw them claim the club’s maiden Premier League title.
We look at five unforgettable moments from Liverpool’s Premier League campaign:
City smashed to bits
Manchester City travelled to Anfield in early November looking to cut the gap to league-leaders Liverpool down to just three and hand them their first defeat of the campaign.
City started the game on good footing, but just six minutes in, against the run of play, Reds midfielder Fabinho smashed a low-drive straight past Claudio Bravo to give Liverpool the lead. Just six minutes later, Mohammed Salah doubled their advantage, heading in a brilliant cross from fullback Andrew Robertson.
Six minutes into the second half, it was the winger from the flank, Sadio Mane, who headed in a delicious ball from captain Jordan Henderson to ensure all three points for the Reds. The only blemish was Bernardo Silva’s goal in the 78th minute that spoiled their clean sheet. However, with that win, Liverpool opened a nine-point lead over City, that has since ballooned up to 23.
Lallana to the rescue
11 days prior to that mauling of City at Anfield, Liverpool travelled to Old Trafford to take on Manchester United, looking to win their 18th straight Premier League match, an English club football record held by City’s centurions.
With just nine points in eight games, United were aiming to upset the league-leaders and arch-rivals and kickstart their campaign. Nine minutes before the break, United centre-back Victor Lindelof pinched the ball from Liverpool forward Divock Origi, after there seemed to have been a foul on the Belgian, and released Daniel James on the right wing, who delivered a sumptuous ball to Rashford who made no mistake in slotting it past Alisson.
Liverpool’s unbeaten run was in grave danger and with time running out, manager Jurgen Klopp played a wildcard and sent in midfielder Adam Lallana, who had barely featured for the Reds since the start of the campaign. The gamble paid off, as a weak shot from Andrew Robertson found its way across the box onto the far post for an easy tap-in for Lallana, who rescued a point for the Reds and maintained their unbeaten start.
Terrific Trent and fabulous Firmino leave Leicester City flabbergasted
Leicester City hosted Liverpool at the King Power Stadium, hoping to cut the gap to Liverpool to seven points. But the 2015/16 Premier League champions were in for a surprise as Liverpool steamrolled over them with a 4-0 hammering, going 13 points clear at the top of the league with a game in hand.
Liverpool dominated their first half but only had a goal to show for it, which came courtesy of fullback Trent Alexander-Arnold finding forward Roberto Firmino with an inch-perfect cross which the Brazilian headed in for the opener. In the 71st minute, Leicester City centre-back Caglar Soyuncu deemed to have handled the ball in the box, giving the Reds a penalty which midfielder James Milner converted with ease.
Alexander-Arnold set up another goal for Firmino before smashing a low drive past Leicester keeper Kasper Schmeichel to complete a 4-0 romp of the Foxes.
Late drama at Villa Park
Before Watford ended their unbeaten run on Leap Year Day, Aston Villa came mighty close to beating Liverpool in November.
The Villains took the lead through summer-signing Trezeguet in the 21st minute after volleying in a free-kick from midfielder John McGinn. Villa managed to frustrate the Reds and held on till the 86th minute, however, fullback Andrew Robertson finally managed to break their resistance, heading in a cross from Sadio Mane to level the scores. The provider then turned scorer, as Mane headed in a glanced Trent Alexander-Arnold corner to win it for Liverpool with virtually the last kick of the match in the 94th minute.
Firmino fires the Reds to victory over Wolves
Liverpool headed to the Molineux with 21 victories in 22 matches but faced an in-form Wolves side, who were chasing a top-four spot to earn a place in the UEFA Champions League.
The Reds took the lead through captain Jordan Henderson in the eighth minute, but Wolves forward Raul Jiminez equalised in the 51st minute as the two teams went back-and-forth for the entirety of the night. With just six minutes to go, forward Roberto Firmino hammered home the winner to make it 22 wins in 23 for the Reds in the Premier League.
Feature image courtesy: AFP / Phil Noble
