Party time at Anfield as Liverpool wins record-equaling 20th title

Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai celebrates with teammates after winning the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Tottenham

Liverpool 5, Tottenham 1

A selfie with Mohamed Salah. An impromptu sing-along with Arne Slot. Fireworks and flares.

It was party time at Anfield as Liverpool sealed the Premier League title in style.

The 5-1 rout of Tottenham was almost a side issue as a record-equaling 20th English league championship was confirmed yesterday [Macau time] — matching the achievement of Liverpool’s great rival Manchester United.

“Everyone was sitting on the bus saying there is no way we are going to lose the game,” said Slot, standing in the middle of the field after being dowsed in champagne by his players.

Fans had turned up long before kickoff, lining the streets around the stadium in anticipation of a title celebration. And despite going behind to an early goal from Dominic Solanke, Liverpool didn’t let them down — racing to a 3-1 lead by halftime to effectively ensure there would be no further delay to a title victory that has looked likely for much of the season.

“You see so many fans already outside in red early on and you just want to get the job done,” captain Virgil van Dijk said, adding “it was incredible to be part of.”

The smell of sulfur filled the air early in the day as red smoke canisters were let off outside the famous stadium that has been home to so many championship-winning Liverpool teams. Flags were hung from nearby houses.

Inside the ground, giant banners floated across the stands, celebrating icons past and present.

Slot has joined that list of club greats in only his first season after replacing Jurgen Klopp.

He also joins a select group of managers by winning the title in his first year in the Premier League — following Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti, Manuel Pellegrini and Antonio Conte.

He has managed it with plenty to spare, with Liverpool 15 points ahead of second-placed Arsenal with four rounds of the season to go.

“It’s a big job and the manager did it in his own way together with his staff,” Van Dijk said. “He definitely deserves a lot of credit for that.”

Slot is also the first Dutch coach to win the Premier League.

“It’s always special to win something. It’s even more special if you’re the first one, and even more special at a club where it’s not common that you win the league every year,” said Slot, who paid tribute to his predecessor by singing Klopp’s name to fans after the final whistle.

Klopp had led Liverpool to a full set of trophies in more than eight years in charge, including the Champions League and that long-awaited Premier League. Few could have expected Slot to have such an instant impact in his first year.

“For them to trust me to be in this position, maybe now everybody says ‘That makes complete sense,’” he said. “But the moment they signed me, maybe not everyone was as convinced as everyone is now.

“So, that tells you also what a special club this is that they don’t always go for the maybe the most simple or obvious choice – they make the choice that they think is best for the club.”

City manager Pep Guardiola was quick to congratulate Slot on a “well deserved” victory.

This was Liverpool’s second title in five years. JAMES ROBSON, LIVERPOOL, MDT/AP