Liverpool made easy work of Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield on Sunday to clinch a first title since 2020 and only their second in 35 years.

The Reds, 15 points clear of second-placed Arsenal with four games left, are now level with bitter rivals Manchester United as the joint most successful club in English top-flight history.

The Reds’ last title, five years ago, was slightly anticlimactic as it came during the Covid-19 pandemic, meaning Anfield was nearly empty when the trophy was presented due to restrictions.

Tens of thousands of fans swarmed around Anfield in the build-up to kick-off in anticipation of Liverpool’s coronation, setting off flares in the warm spring sunshine as the home team bus arrived.

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.

Mohamed Salah had an early sighter and Cody Gakpo went close with a spectacular overhead kick but Tottenham briefly threatened to become party poopers when Dominic Solanke powered home a header from a James Maddison corner in the 12th minute.

But Liverpool were level just four minutes later when Luis Diaz converted Dominik Szoboszlai’s cross from close range. The offside flag went up but VAR awarded the goal.

The momentum was now all with Liverpool and the home side took the lead in the 24th minute when Alexis Mac Allister thundered the ball home from the 18-yard line past the flying Guglielmo Vicario.

Now the party was well and truly started and Gakpo made it 3-1, slamming a shot into the bottom corner after Spurs failed to clear.

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou had made eight changes from the team that lost to Nottingham Forest last week as he prioritises the semi-finals of the Europa League and they now had a mountain to climb.

The Liverpool fans — deprived of celebrating the 2020 Premier League trophy due to Covid restrictions, ran through their full repertoire of songs as their team pushed for a fourth goal in the second half.

– Salah selfie –

Top-scorer Salah scored the goal the crowd craved, collecting 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 about 20 minutes to go as the game turned into a procession.

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 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 Manchester 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 their closest challengers but they drew too many games, failing to take advantage of the rare Liverpool slip-ups.

It was feared Liverpool’s players would need time to adapt to the methods of Slot, who replaced Jurgen Klopp last June following the German’s departure after nine trophy-filled years at Anfield.

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.

Real Madrid midfielder Federico Valverde has penned a heartfelt letter to fans following their 3-2 defeat against FC Barcelona in the final of the Copa del Rey.

For a club of Real Madrid’s stature, the 2024/25 season has been deeply disappointing. Entering the campaign as the reigning European and La Liga champions, Los Blancos were knocked out of the UEFA Champions League after a heavy 5-1 quarter-final loss to Arsenal. Now, their Copa del Rey defeat leaves them staring at the possibility of ending the season without a major trophy.

Valverde, often regarded as one of the emotional leaders within the Madrid dressing room, took to Instagram to express his feelings, admitting that he felt he had let the fans down.

https://www.instagram.com/p/DI87pDHo7Qa/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading

“It happened again. And it will surely happen again many more times, because it is the road we are building and it is normal that one falls after so many miles. It makes me sad, it makes me angry, impotent. I feel like I failed you.

“It’s been a difficult year, physically and mentally very tough, but one day I was clear: ‘until my legs don’t give up anymore’. This club doesn’t deserve less.

“We’ll be back, we’ll continue and there I’ll be leaving everything for the respect Madrid deserves, its people and everything that involves playing in the most winning team in history. Thank you,” Valverde wrote.

Unlike the previous two El Clásicos this season—where Barcelona cruised to dominant victories of 4-0 and 5-2 in La Liga and the Supercopa de España respectively—Madrid put up a spirited fight this time. After falling behind to a superb strike by Pedri, Kylian Mbappé responded with a brilliant free-kick to level the game.

Aurelien Tchouameni then headed Madrid into the lead, but Ferran Torres found a way past Thibaut Courtois to send the final into extra time.

There, Jules Koundé sealed Barcelona’s triumph with a crisp shot from outside the box, finding the bottom corner to secure a memorable 3-2 win for the Catalans.

Manchester City will face Crystal Palace in their third successive FA Cup final after cruising to a 2-0 win against Nottingham Forest at Wembley on Sunday.

Pep Guardiola’s side took an early lead through Rico Lewis and Josko Gvardiol’s second-half goal sealed a comfortable semi-final success.

City can look forward to a showdown with Palace at Wembley on May 17 after the Eagles won 3-0 against Aston Villa in the other semi-final on Saturday.

Their 14th FA Cup final appearance gives City a chance to win the competition for the eighth time and the third since Guardiola arrived in 2016.

City lost to Manchester United in last season’s FA Cup final after beating their cross-town rivals in the 2023 showpiece.

Guardiola is hoping to salvage a turbulent season by lifting the FA Cup and qualifying for the Champions League via a top five finish in the Premier League.

City, who sit fourth in the league with four games left, will go into the final as favourites after thrashing Palace 5-2 at the Etihad Stadium earlier in April.

But nothing has come easy for City this season and Guardiola will need no reminding of that after their four-year reign as English champions was officially ended by Liverpool’s win against Tottenham at the exact moment the final whistle blew at Wembley.

Forest, only two points adrift of third-placed Newcastle with a game in hand, have to lick their wounds and focus on their bid to reach the Champions League for the first time since 1980-81.

It was City’s 28th trip to Wembley since it reopened in 2007 and just Forest’s second.

So it was no surprise the Forest hordes who made the trip were far more vocal as kick-off approached, while swathes of empty seats stood out in the City sections.

But it wasn’t long before City’s fans made themselves heard as they stormed into the lead in the second minute.

– Slick City –

Guardiola had claimed this week that City will be much stronger next season because they have finally rediscovered their spirit and passion.

The City boss was encouraged by his players’ wild celebrations of Bernardo Silva’s early goal in a crucial 2-1 win against Villa on Wednesday and once again they made a fast start.

After a probing spell of City passing, Lewis was given far too much space on the edge of the Forest area and he took full advantage with a fierce drive into the bottom corner.

City’s pressing was too intense for Forest to handle and Nico O’Reilly waltzed through the Forest defence for a blast that fizzed just wide.

With Neco Williams suspended and Ola Aina and Ryan Yates injured, Forest boss Nuno Espirito Santo had gambled on 18-year-old Zach Abbott at right-back, while Anthony Elanga was surprisingly left on the bench.

For much of the first half, Nuno’s moves backfired, with Abbott — who had played just 60 minutes this season — repeatedly exposed by City’s attacks and Forest lacking a cutting edge without Elanga.

Forest failed to muster a single shot in the first half and had only one touch inside the City area.

Nuno sent on Elanga at the interval and the winger should have marked his 23rd birthday with a goal when he lashed wide from Callum Hudson-Odoi’s pass.

But City showed the ruthless streak that Forest lacked in the 51st minute.

Matheus Nunes’ effort was pushed away for a corner by Matz Sels and from Omar Marmoush’s set-piece, Gvardiol was left virtually unchallenged as he rose highest to head home.

Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White crashed a volley off the crossbar, then clipped another effort off the post.

Taiwo Awoniyi also hit the woodwork for Forest with a back-heeled flick.

But it was too little, too late as City celebrated a victory that keeps alive their bid to avoid a first trophyless season since 2016-17.