Liverpool trophy lift was everything I dreamt of - but most exciting moment could come soon
Advertisement
The scenes at Anfield and across the city streets were special for Liverpool supporters, who finally got to see their team lift the Premier League title in person.
In this week's fan jury, our writers look back at some of the key moments in a glorious campaign and what it felt like to experience the trophy lift in person at Anfield.
READ MORE: Darwin Nunez sends four-word Liverpool message as transfer uncertainty continues
READ MORE: Florian Wirtz has made the right decision choosing Liverpool - Supporters will fall in love
James Noble
Within a weekend in which Liverpool's strength of spirit again came to the fore, Sunday fulfilled dreams. Virgil van Dijk lifting the Premier League trophy at a full Anfield was a moment 35 years in the making.
Advertisement
Alan Hansen fittingly presenting the trophy, and the presence of so many other legendary figures, reinforced the day's eternal nature. Preceded by that classy double guard of honour, the draw with Crystal Palace neatly reflected key components of the Reds' campaign, too.
I'll almost always start a season believing that Liverpool can win the league, but I can't say I expected 2024/25 to produce a title. Third place felt a reasonable expectation.
Arne Slot soon had optimism on the up as he took the reins from Jürgen Klopp with assurance and positivity. Evolution offered continuity and freshness, with Ryan Gravenberch a serene revelation in his new No.6 role.
Liverpool moved with efficient consistency as Arsenal and Manchester City stumbled.
Advertisement
The statement Old Trafford triumph. The strong response to the Nottingham Forest defeat. The comeback win against Brighton. Darwin Nunez's late double at Brentford. The five league games, and 11 points, in 15 February days.
So many crucial foundations for the subsequently blissful spring days. That Tottenham game, that final whistle – spine-tingling.
A season dreamed of for so long. The most exciting part may yet be what it leads to.
Rhys Buchanan
It's been a beautiful yet strange last month or so with all of the peril removed from our collective shoulders.
Following the explosive celebrations at Spurs in April, the party has rolled up and down the country, culminating in the joyous scenes we saw inside the ground and around the city across the weekend.
Advertisement
All of our expectations for this campaign were always tempered and realistic in the wake of Klopp's departure, though I think even early on in the season, Slot's clinical and calm presence did shift them slightly.
The manager made a lot of tough decisions early on and constantly tweaked the formula to win us games. He certainly laid down some early statements as well, even his discontent with the Forest defeat showed just how high his expectations for this team were.
I also think the leaders within our squad Virgil, Salah and even the likes of Robertson can take credit for just how smooth this transition has been.
I could barely see the trophy lift through the flames, red smoke and confetti from my seat in the lower Anfield Road on Sunday, but it was absolutely everything I'd dreamt of for a lifetime and more.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Taylor Swift to 'take the high road' over Denise Welch jibes
Taylor Swift plans to 'take the high road' after being slammed by ex-boyfriend Matt Healy's mother Denise Welch. The 35-year-old superstar and the 36-year-old 1975 frontman briefly dated following her split from actor Joe Alwyn, in April 2023 and Taylor went on to reference their relationship in her album The Tortured Poets Department. During a recent appearance on Watch What Happens Live, Matt's mother Denise insisted it was unfair that Matt couldn't talk about the relationship. She said: 'Obviously, on pain of death can I talk about that episode, but being her mother-in-law is a role that I am glad I lost. 'Not that I have anything against [Taylor] at all! It was just – it was tricky. 'Listen, you're not allowed to say anything, and then she [Taylor] writes a whole album about it.' However, Taylor – who has been happily dating NFL star Travis Kelce for the past few years - plans to ignore Denise's jibes. A source told 'It's a bit obnoxious in Taylor's eyes, but she has to take the high road. 'If there was anything that would be in a future song of Taylor's – if she were ever to respond – she would respond that way. But as of right now, she might just let it slide. She is not going to let Denise ruin her day. 'Taylor respected Denise and will continue to do so, as this will go away very quickly. 'But if Denise continues to talk about it and bash Taylor, then Taylor would say something. The ball is still in Denise's court to see if she wants to continue the narrative she brought upon herself.'
Yahoo
2 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Liverpool commission permanent Diogo Jota tribute at Anfield
Liverpool have commissioned a sculpture to be made in honour of Diogo Jota outside Anfield after the thousands of floral tributes to their No.20 were gradually removed in recent days. And the Reds players were wear a specially-designed patch with 'Diogo J 20' stitched on in honour of their team-mate across the two games in the Far East, starting with AC Milan at the Kai Tak Stadium on Saturday evening (12.30pm UK time). A floral tribute will also be laid before kick-off at the pre-season games in Hong Kong, Tokyo and Anfield. Jota and his younger brother, Andre Silva, were involved in a fatal car crash in north-west Spain earlier this month as the Portugal international attempted to make his way back to Merseyside for the start of pre-season training. READ MORE: Eddie Howe speaks out on Alexander Isak future as Newcastle striker eyes Liverpool move READ MORE: Liverpool role reversed after Alexander Isak's latest move in transfer chase The club have since retired the popular Portuguese's No.20 squad number across all levels and have now announced a number of further tributes for a player who joined from Wolves in September 2020. Floral tributes that were left outside Anfield following the passing of the striker will now be composted and used in flower beds across all club sites, including Anfield, the AXA Training Centre and AXA Melwood Training Centre. The remaining artefacts are set to be recycled by a specialist company and used to help create a permanent memorial for Jota, that will become a future focal point of remembrance at Anfield. The design itself remains the subject of dialogue. In the meantime, a temporary area of reflection has been created outside the ground itself so people can continue to pay their respects. Any supporters paying to have Jota's name on their shirts will see their payment donated to the LFC Foundation and when the club's new Adidas kits are launched on August 1, Reds players will display their own tribute with a specially made 'Forever 20' emblem printed into their shirts and stadium jackets, which will remain in place for the season. The LFC Foundation has also committed to creating a grassroots football programme in Diogo's name, while a special fan mosaic and a minute of silence is being planned for the first game of the Premier League season, against Bournemouth at Anfield on Friday August 15.
Yahoo
2 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Women's football is getting younger, but 30-somethings across the globe are proving their worth
Sweden forward Kosovare Asllani made her European Championship debut in 2009 — she was 19 when she started a 3-1 quarterfinal defeat to Norway. Now 35 years old, she is the marquee player of the recently promoted London City Lionesses in the Women's Super League (WSL) and was still forcing her way into Sweden's starting line-up at this summer's Euros. It felt cruelly apt that a 19-year-old played a part in helping end her tournament. England's Michelle Agyemang came off the bench to inspire a comeback from 2-0 down as Asllani and Sweden were sent home, again in the last eight, after a penalty shootout. Continued investment in the women's game has allowed players to find opportunities earlier than ever before — and teenagers are grabbing their chances. Euro 2025 hosts Switzerland had Sydney Schertenleib, 18, and Iman Beney, 19, in their ranks, with 22-year-old Alayah Pilgrim also impressing. Vicky Lopez's stunning Euros debut — she turned 19 today — might have eased Spanish anxiety over the early absence of Aitana Bonmati through illness, while Agyemang's goals have rescued defending champions England from defeat in both their two knockout-phase matches so far. But the veterans are still having their say in Europe — and beyond. Asllani's two goals and three assists in four matches this summer have proved that older players are not just making it into tournament squads to provide emotional support and look after their younger teammates. Cristiana Girelli was masterful for Italy, who reached the semifinals of this competition for the first time since 1997. The 35-year-old Juventus striker combined brilliantly with younger players for two goals in the quarterfinal against Norway and had to be almost dragged off the pitch after picking up an injury against England in the last four. Germany goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger, who should win save of the tournament (if not the year, regardless of gender), is 34 but making her European Championship debut. The same goes for 32-year-old Spanish striker Cristina Martin-Prieto, who made the most of her minutes off the bench with a goal against Portugal in the group stage. And when Wales midfielder and NWSL veteran Jess Fishlock, 38, became the oldest player to score a goal in tournament history, it was also the first by that country's women at a Euros or World Cup. 'It's on another level from 2009 when I played my first tournament,' Asllani said before that loss to England. 'The game is growing all the time. With that visibility the sport is getting now and the recognition, when you watch women's football, you know you want to watch it because it's intense and fun. We don't die!' Looking across the three continental tournaments happening right now — these Euros, the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco, and the Copa America Femenina in Ecuador — throws up no clear throughline approach to assembling a championship-quality squad. So, what is the ideal balance of youthful arrogance and elder wisdom, fresh and fearless legs and those that won't buckle under the pressures of stadium lights and a raucous crowd because they have been there so many times before? France manager Laurent Bonadei skewed his Euros squad toward the youth. He referenced Einstein to justify his decision to leave 35-year-old defender and former captain Wendie Renard out, instead calling up Thiniba Samoura, 14 years her junior, and entrusting the leadership of the back line to 30-year-old Griedge Mbock. But when France failed to exploit their player advantage against Germany in the quarterfinals and a shootout was needed to separate the sides, few could ignore the unspoken question hanging in the air as 21-year-old Alice Sombath stepped up to take her spot kick: could more age, experience and wisdom have come in handy? Morocco have the highest number of players aged 34 and older across the three tournaments with four, and are into their second WAFCON final in a row after a dramatic shootout win against Ghana. They will face nine-time WAFCON champions Nigeria on Saturday, with star striker Ghizlane Chebbak, 34, who has scored four goals in the tournament including a hat-trick against DR Congo, joined by starting goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi (35), Najat Badri (37), and Aziza Rabbah (39) in a squad bidding for their country's first African title in the women's game. Nigeria has only one player on their roster aged 34 or older: backup goalkeeper Tochukwu Oluehi, 38, who has not played a single minute in the finals so far. And in South America, despite the gravitational pull that is 39-year-old Brazil great Marta, Colombia has a core group of three older players. Daniela Montoya (the 34-year-old scored twice in their 8-0 drubbing of Bolivia), Catalina Usme, 35, and 34-year-old Carolina Arias outnumber Brazil's older players. Apart from Marta, Brazil coach Arthur Elias has called up younger players hungry for a bigger spotlight, such as 20-year-old Dudinha (who recently signed with the NWSL's San Diego Wave), Luany, 22, and 19-year-old Jhonson. The two sides went scoreless in their group stage match on Friday, which saw Brazil lose goalkeeper Lorena to a red card in the 24th minute. It didn't offer many additional data points to determine which approach wins out, but it does further thicken the plot — especially with the possibility of seeing this matchup again. The women's game is providing more players the luxury of shorter careers if they choose — higher salaries and greater opportunities for retirement could mean fewer years spent on the pitch. And future stars are knocking. Asllani noted that one of the subtler changes from her first Euros to the present is the post-match jersey swapping — 'We had our names on our shirts, but you couldn't switch shirts,' she said. Now a common ritual, it's also a reminder of how fleeting big-game moments are. The sport's older players won't be around forever, but watching them in action, you would be forgiven for thinking twice about that. This article originally appeared in The Athletic. Italy, Sweden, Brazil, Morocco, Colombia, International Football, NWSL, Women's Soccer, Women's Euros, Copa America 2025 The Athletic Media Company