What a season. What a turnaround for Slot’s Liverpool.
Image credit: David McGrady
No Klopp. No big-name summer signings. And a squad many thought was on the decline.
Yet here we are — Liverpool, 2024/25 Premier League champions-in-waiting. Not many saw it coming. In fact, most didn’t.
Arne Slot stepped into the spotlight with giant shoes to fill. Expectations? Third place at best.
The Opta supercomputer gave Liverpool a mere 5.1% chance of lifting the trophy at the season’s start.
City had 82.2%. Arsenal? 12.2%. And pundits like Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher echoed the skepticism.
Fast forward to today, and the Reds are one result away from wrapping up the title — an astonishing turnaround in just one season.
So, What Sparked This Unexpected Rise?
It wasn’t a single magic moment. It was a series of clutch performances, comeback wins, and a bit of fortune with rivals faltering.
Things truly shifted between October and November.
Back-to-back results against Chelsea and Arsenal showed Liverpool could punch with the best.
A dramatic draw at the Emirates, followed by comeback wins against Brighton and Southampton, lit the spark.
One point is all it takes. 😘
— 90min (@90min_Football) April 24, 2025
Liverpool's odds of winning the title before the season were at just 5%…they are now guaranteed to win the league according to Opta. pic.twitter.com/yNstr8Ljm2
Then came November 9. Liverpool beat Aston Villa 2-0. City lost to Brighton. Arsenal dropped points.
The title pendulum swung — Liverpool now had a 53.4% chance, and by December, the lead in both predictions and perception was growing.
A 2-0 statement win over City at Anfield sealed it: Slot’s men were now the team to beat.
Salah Steps Up, Saka Sidelined
A small December blip — draws with Newcastle and Fulham — caused murmurs of doubt.
But Mo Salah silenced the critics with an attacking masterclass: four goals and four assists in three games.
Meanwhile, Arsenal lost Bukayo Saka for four months. That changed everything.
By New Year’s Day, Liverpool had a 91.3% chance of winning it all. The momentum was theirs.
Super Subs & Slot’s Tactical Genius
Slot didn’t just ride Salah’s brilliance — he used the entire squad.
Key goals came from the bench: Diogo Jota, Kostas Tsimikas, Darwin Núñez. A draw at Forest? Fixed by substitutes. A tight one at Brentford? Núñez bagged a late brace.
Even as City and Arsenal stumbled, Liverpool kept finding ways to win — or at least not lose.
Late-Season Wobbles… But Not Enough to Stop Them
A fiery Merseyside derby ended in frustration and a two-match ban for Slot.
There were nervy moments — scraped wins and missed sitters — but no collapse.
Arsenal’s injury pile-up and dropped points meant the title was still firmly Liverpool’s to lose.
And the ultimate statement? A dominant win over Manchester City at the Etihad. As Roy Keane bluntly put it: “They haven’t won it… but they have.”
Champions-Elect
Even a League Cup final loss and European exit didn’t derail the dream.
