Arne Slot hopes that the supporters will enjoy the final home match against Crystal Palace this coming Sunday. Liverpool will receive the Premier League trophy, something that last happened five years ago under subdued circumstances due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and will also bid farewell to Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Liverpool brought their extraordinary season to a perfect close with a 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace on Sunday, May 25, at Anfield, a match that served not just as the final fixture of the Premier League campaign but as the climax of a 35-year journey.
The club, one of the most storied in football history, had not celebrated a league title with its fans present since 1990, and the atmosphere inside the stadium was nothing short of electric. With goals from Darwin Núñez, Mohamed Salah, and Curtis Jones, the Reds secured a dominant win before lifting the Premier League trophy in front of a euphoric home crowd.
Liverpool had already sealed the title back in April with a commanding 5-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur, a result that mathematically crowned them champions. That day sparked celebrations across the city, but Sunday’s match against Crystal Palace was the emotional peak an occasion to celebrate with the fans inside Anfield, to honor the team’s achievements, and to say farewell to key figures who played a role in this unforgettable campaign.
Manager Arne Slot, in his debut season at the helm, was visibly moved by the experience. Before the game, he spoke of the significance of the occasion, acknowledging the long wait supporters had endured. “This has to be a day everyone enjoys,” Slot said. “The fans have waited 35 years for this moment, and we already set the tone with our performance against Spurs. I’ve never seen anything celebrated so beautifully.” The emotions of the day overwhelmed even the typically composed Dutchman. “I became emotional when I heard the fans singing as we arrived,” he admitted. “Several people told me they’ve been coming to Anfield for decades, but they’ve never experienced a day quite like this. Hopefully we added another beautiful memory for the fans, the staff, the players and for Trent.”
That reference to Trent Alexander-Arnold carried particular weight. The right-back, a product of Liverpool’s famed academy and a player who has long embodied the spirit of the club, is set to leave this summer on a free transfer. His departure has stirred mixed feelings among supporters pride in what he’s accomplished, but frustration at the circumstances of his exit. Slot was candid when asked about Alexander-Arnold’s involvement in the final home match. He declined to confirm whether the defender would play, but shared insight into their conversations. “I wasn’t entirely pleased with his effort on the training pitch, to put it mildly,” Slot said. “I told him he’s a better defender than people give him credit for, but he didn’t show it consistently every match. That part of his game needed improvement. If he focuses on it, very few players will get past him.” Still, Slot made it clear that Alexander-Arnold had earned his place in Liverpool’s history and deserved recognition on this momentous day.
Adding further meaning to the occasion was the return of Jürgen Klopp, the legendary coach who revived Liverpool’s fortunes during his near-decade-long tenure and laid the foundations for the current team. Klopp, who stepped down in 2024, watched proudly from the stands as the club he helped rebuild claimed the Premier League title he himself was denied celebrating with fans due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Slot welcomed Klopp’s presence warmly. “That’s what I’ve heard that’s great,” he said when asked about the German’s return. “I’ve been here for a year now, and I know how difficult it is to win trophies. In cup competitions, you might make it to a final through a lucky draw, penalties, or a couple of draws, but winning a league over 38 matches is much harder especially one as competitive as this. That’s why this is a proud moment for me, the players, and the fans. It will be special.”
And it was. As the final whistle blew, the stadium erupted. Fans sang, embraced, and cried as fireworks lit up the Liverpool sky. Virgil van Dijk, a colossus in defense and now a fitting captain, lifted the Premier League trophy to thunderous applause. Around him stood teammates who had battled through injuries, pressure, and the weight of history to achieve something extraordinary. The players celebrated not just a season, but a legacy. From the early days under Benítez to the near misses with Klopp, and now the triumph under Slot, the road to this title has been long and filled with lessons.
Liverpool’s 3-0 win over Crystal Palace was more than just a scoreline. It was the punctuation mark at the end of a story three and a half decades in the making. The title, the farewell to Trent, the emotional return of Klopp, and the pride in the faces of every supporter at Anfield made it a day that will live forever in the hearts of those who witnessed it. As Arne Slot said in his final remarks, “This is only the beginning. Today, we celebrate. Tomorrow, we build again.”
