Liverpool clinch Premier League title as Ange Postecoglou makes unwanted Tottenham history
Liverpool demolished Tottenham 5-1 to clinch the Premier League title at an impassioned Anfield on Sunday, sealing a record-equalling 20th English top-flight crown.
Arne Slot's men stormed back after conceding a surprise early goal to dominate the match, feeding off the crackling energy from the 60,000-plus crowd.
Liverpool, who can no longer be caught by second-placed Arsenal, are now level with bitter rivals Manchester United as the joint-most successful club in English top-flight history.
The result also handed Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham their 19th league loss of the season – matching the 1993-94 club record for most league losses in a Premier League campaign.
It is just their second title of the Premier League era and the first they have celebrated in front of fans since 1990 — their 2020 triumph came at a near-empty stadium due to Covid restrictions.
Returning the favour 🎶�� pic.twitter.com/FfntxA0Zu2
â€' Liverpool FC (@LFC) April 27, 2025
Slot, who is in his first season in English football, said he had built on solid foundations left by Jurgen Klopp, who departed last year after a successful nine-year reign.
'Almost the whole season we were on the top of the league and had a team that could win it,' he told Sky Sports.
'We know how tough the Premier League is, but we always had the belief we could win it.
'The work Jurgen (Klopp) and (assistant) Pep (Lijnders) left, the culture, work-rate, quality, was outstanding. We started (the season) really well and maybe it helped that (Manchester) City had a difficult spell that they have not had in five years.
'When the season started we would have been happy with top four. But I don't think that is fair on the players as they are much better than that and they have shown it this season.'
🎶 Jurgen Klopp! La La La La La! 🎶
Arne Slot returned the favour during incredible scenes at Anfield.
Watch the Premier League on Optus Sport ðŸ'² pic.twitter.com/2Y7GF5Djx5
â€' Optus Sport (@OptusSport) April 27, 2025
Slot's men started on the front foot at an expectant Anfield after a stirring rendition of club anthem 'You'll Never Walk Alone' in the warm spring sunshine, but they were rocked by an early goal from Tottenham's Dominic Solanke.
However, Liverpool barely blinked and roared back with a Luis Diaz tap-in and a screamer from Alexis Mac Allister.
Now the party was well and truly started and Cody Gakpo made it 3-1, slamming a shot into the bottom corner after a much-changed Spurs team failed to clear.
The Liverpool fans ran through their full repertoire of songs as their team pushed for a fourth goal in the second half.
Top-scorer Mohamed Salah scored the goal the crowd craved, collecting Dominik Szoboszlai's pass before cutting in and blasting his shot into the bottom corner.
He celebrated by grabbing a fan's phone before taking a selfie in front of the Kop.
Deafening cheers of 'We're going to win the league' and 'We shall not be moved' rang out.
Liverpool had a fifth when Spurs defender Destiny Udogie poked the ball past his own goalkeeper from close range with 21 minutes to go.
As the game went into added time the club's anthem rang out again as scarves were held aloft and the final whistle elicited a thunderous roar.
The win leaves Liverpool on 82 points, 15 clear of nearest challengers Arsenal with just four games remaining.
Tottenham are a miserable 16th in the Premier League table after their 19th defeat of the season, putting manager Ange Postecoglou under enormous pressure.
Tens of thousands of fans swarmed around Anfield in the build-up to kick-off in anticipation of Liverpool's coronation, setting off flares as the home team bus arrived.
Flags and scarves saying 'Liverpool 20-time Champions' were on sale from stalls outside the ground.
At the start of the campaign, Pep Guardiola's City were favourites to extend their dynastic Premier League reign and make it five titles in a row but their form collapsed.
Arsenal emerged as Liverpool's closest challengers but they drew too many games, failing to take advantage of the rare slip-ups from Slot's team.
It was feared the club's players would need time to adapt to the methods of Slot but the former Feyenoord boss has sailed serenely through the season despite relentless speculation over the futures of three of his biggest stars — Salah, captain Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Both Salah and Van Dijk have now signed two-year extensions, though England defender Alexander-Arnold is believed likely to be on the verge of a move to Real Madrid.
'A lot of emotions before the game, during the whole week, but we got the job done and we are truly deserved champions of England,' said Van Dijk.
'The most beautiful club in the world and I think we deserve all of this.'
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7NEWS
5 hours ago
- 7NEWS
Private message uncovers Ange Postecoglou's touching words to Tottenham star Yves Bissouma
Tottenham star Yves Bissouma has shared a touching message exchange with Ange Postecoglou after the manager's shock axing as Spurs boss. The Aussie manager was sacked last Friday, sparking outrage as the soccer world digested the news that a man who had ended his club's long search for silverware had been shown the door a fortnight later. A host of Spurs players paid tribute to their manager with social media posts, but Bissouma went a step further in revealing the messages. The exchange showed just how close Postecoglou was with his players and the impact he had on them. 'Hi Biss. Sorry I missed your call,' Postecoglou's message began. 'I am very proud of you. It was an honour to share a dressing room with you and appreciate how much you believed in what we were trying to achieve. 'I wish you only the best for the future. I will always be following. Much love from my family to yours.' Bissouma, who appeared to have Postecoglou saved in his phone as 'Big Ange', shared his reply. 'Thank you gaffer and thank you really much for everything you did for me on and off the pitch, I'll always be grateful,' he wrote. 'The way you believed me and trusted me was incredible, I gonna miss you but it's football life. I think you know what I'm thinking about you already so I just wishing you all the best for the future and may God protect you and you gamily. Big Boss love.' It was the latest in a string of tributes to the much-loved manager. 'believed in yourself, and us, since day one and never wavered for a second. Even when others did,' wrote captain Son Heung-min on Instagram. 'You knew what we were capable of all along. You did it your way. And your way brought this club the best night it's had in decades. We will have those memories for life. 'It's been an incredible privilege to learn from your leadership up close, I am a better player and a better person because of you. 'Ange Postecoglou, you are a Tottenham Hotspur legend forever. Thank you, mate.' Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario, Postecoglou's first signing, said: 'You are not only a top manager, you are an incredible person to work for, a real leader, a mentor, and someone I'll always look up to. 'What we achieved together will stay in the history books. Wishing you nothing but success as I know you will go on to achieve more and more. Thank you, Boss.' Signed last summer, striker Dominic Solanke said: 'Thank you for bringing me to this wonderful club, thank you for bringing us a wonderful trophy. '(I) won't ever forget the convo we had before I signed and we achieved a dream!' Right-back Pedro Porro wrote: 'I'll always be grateful for the way you led us, defended us, and kept us going through all the highs and lows. Above everything, you gave us one of the greatest moments in the club's history and for that, you'll always be celebrated.' The Tottenham Hotspur Supporters' Trust thanked Postecoglou for an 'amazing night' in Bilbao but acknowledged league results were a 'long way short' of expectation. 'Our concern now is that it appears we will have yet another change of direction and that this is something that is becoming a habit since we said goodbye to Mauricio Pochettino in 2019,' a THST statement read. 'We can only hope that the right decision has been made and that the new manager is fully supported by the board and everyone at the club to build on the cup success that Ange has lain.' England manager Thomas Tuchel, himself sacked by Chelsea a year after winning the Champions League in 2021, said: 'It just shows you that it is not only about titles, you can survive seasons without titles if your connection, the support and the belief and the trust between the coach and the club is strong then you can overcome seasons without titles. 'If there is slight disbelief, if there are concerns, if the trust is not there anymore, obviously then it is sometimes not even enough to win a trophy after so many years.' Tuchel also paid tribute to Postecoglou: 'I have biggest respect for him. He's a huge character, he brought a trophy, he said he will deliver in the second year and he did,' he said. 'But this is part of the job, we are responsible for the results and we are responsible for the development of the team so, whether we like it or not, sometimes it is us who has to take the full responsibility.' Soccer pundits came out backing the Australian coach, and laying into Tottenham's decision. Alan Shearer, the former England and Newcastle striker, posted on X: 'What a stupid game football is!!!!' Another former England forward, Chris Sutton, said: 'To get someone in who wins them silverware, then straightaway get rid of him, that sums up modern football, doesn't it? It's absolute bonkers.' Tottenham supporters went online in their droves, mainly to vent their fury at the club' decision. One posted to Sky Sports: 'That night in Bilbao earned Ange the right to continue it next season. Gutted.' Tottenham fan Alfie Watts, who won BBC's Race Across the World in 2024, said: 'I'm fuming. I can't really get my head around it. I think it's a baffling decision.'
News.com.au
9 hours ago
- News.com.au
Tottenham sack second manager in two days as Postecoglou text message surfaces
Who on Earth would want to be employed by Tottenham right now? The north London club announced on Monday the women's team coach Robert Vilahamn has been sacked, only two days after Ange Postecoglou was axed as the boss of their men's team. It comes as Tottenham star Yves Bissouma went public with a private text message exchange he had with Postecoglou — showing how tight the bond was between players and the sacked Australian. Vilahamn departs after Tottenham finished the 2024/25 Women's Super League (WSL) campaign second from bottom having won just five times from 22 league fixtures. Watch the biggest Aussie sports & the best from overseas LIVE on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer. 'There have been some special moments during Robert's tenure, including reaching the FA Cup final for the first time,' Tottenham women managing director Andy Rogers said. 'However, results and performances this season have not been to the level we would expect and now is the right time to make a change. 'We should like to thank Robert for his professionalism and efforts over the past two seasons, and we wish him well for the future.' Vilahamn, 42, took over Tottenham's women's side in July 2023 from Swedish club BK Hacken. In his first season at the helm, Vilahamn led the north London club to a maiden FA Cup final appearance but were beaten 4-0 by Manchester United. He also steered Tottenham to sixth place in the 2023/24 WSL, one place below their best-ever league finish. The 42-year-old's impressive debut campaign earned him a fresh three-year extension last July. However, Vilahamn failed to maintain the momentum as Tottenham slumped to 11th and shipped an alarming 44 goals, with relegated Crystal Palace the only team to have conceded more. With Vilahamn and Postecoglou now gone, it promises to be a summer of upheaval for Tottenham as they look to find suitable replacements for the pair. Postecoglou's axing proved incredibly divisive among the fanbase given he ended the club's agonising 17-year wait for a trophy when he led Tottenham to a 1-0 victory over Manchester United in the Europa League final. Although the Australian delivered silverware, as he always does in his second season, Tottenham finished an embarrassing 17th, their lowest-ever in the Premier League. Despite the result, it emerged over the weekend the club is facing a player revolt with senior players unhappy with the decision to axe the former Socceroos coach. Postecoglou's dismissal leaves the club searching for a fourth new manager in as many years. Brentford boss Thomas Frank remains the favourite to replace Postecoglou and talkSPORT understands the Dane has informed his employers he would like to join Tottenham. The Dane guided the club to a tenth-place finish in 2024/25, and Spurs will have to shell out if they are to secure his services. Frank has a hefty release clause in his current contract, believed to be in the region of £9million. He also has a long-standing relationship with Spurs' technical director Johan Lange. Postecoglou text thread says it all A text exchange with Tottenham star Yves Bissouma has proved just how close the bond was between Postecoglou and his players. The Australian was brutally shown the door by the north London club on Saturday and it sparked a wave of gratitude from his former troops on social media. Captain Heung-Min Son, Richarlison, James Maddison, Pedro Porro, Micky van de Ven and Lucas Bergvall were among the lengthy list to thank Postecoglou for his mentorship in a footballing and life capacity. But Tottenham midfielder Yves Bissouma has gone a step further. The Mali international shared a heartwarming text exchange between himself and Postecoglou to his social media, further highlighting just how close the bond was between the former Celtic boss and his players. In the picture, Postecoglou wrote to Bissouma: 'Hi Biss. Sorry I missed your call. 'I am very proud of you. It was an honour to share a dressing room with you and appreciate how much you believed in what we were trying to achieve. 'I wish you only the best for the future. I will always be following. Much love from my family to yours.' Bissouma replied: 'Thank you gaffer and thank you really much for everything you did for me on and off the pitch, I'll always be grateful. The midfielder was especially thankful for 'the way you believed me and trusted me' as he wished Postecoglou all the best for the future. Bissouma joined Tottenham from Brighton for an initial £25million in June 2022 when Antonio Conte was in charge.
News.com.au
12 hours ago
- News.com.au
Tottenham close in on appointing Thomas Frank as new head coach
Tottenham are closing in on making Brentford boss Thomas Frank their next head coach, the PA news agency understands. Spurs sacked Ange Postecoglou on Friday, despite Europa League success, and quickly set their sights on Frank – who has gained admirers for his work over an impressive seven-year period at the west London club. After positive discussions over the weekend, there is a growing confidence that Frank will be the man to replace Postecoglou, PA understands.
