Arne Slot’s Liverpool are all-but confirmed as the 2024/25 Premier League champions after their Virgil van Dijk-inspired 2-1 win over West Ham United on Sunday – and it’s now been explained how they could win the title this weekend against Leicester City.
In truth, the Dutchman – in his first season in the Anfield dugout – has stormed the English top flight, losing just two games thus far and, should his side win the title, he’ll become just the fifth manager to do so in their maiden term in England.
After Van Dijk rose highest in the West Ham box to secure all three points for the Merseysiders, a day after Arsenal shared the spoils with Brentford in a 1-1 draw, it is now possible for Slot to etch his name in Anfield mythology this weekend at the earliest.
With just six Premier League games left of the 2024/25 campaign, the Reds – who have won England’s top division on 19 different occasions – require just six points to guarantee the title. As a result, they’d be sitting on 82 points and out of reach of Arsenal.
That’s because if Mikel Arteta’s men, whose focus remains on progressing in the Champions League after comfortably beating the reigning European champions Real Madrid 3-0, were to reign supreme in their final six outings, they could only reach the 81-point tally.
Should the Gunners lose their next match against relegation-threatened Ipswich Town, which is scheduled to take place on April 20 at 14:00, and Liverpool triumph over Leicester at 16:30 later that day, the title will be wrapped up for the Reds.
If that were to happen, Liverpool would be basking on 79 points and Arsenal would remain in second place, on 63, and therefore unable to play catch up to Slot’s rampant side, who have won 23 of their 32 outings in the league this term.
In the event that Arsenal beat 18th-placed Ipswich, who are led by Kieran McKenna, and Liverpool win against the Foxes, it would still be mathematically possible for the north Londoners to achieve the unthinkable and end their Premier League drought
2024/25 Premier League Table – as of 14/05/2024
Position
Team
Played
W
D
L
Points
1.
Liverpool
32
23
7
2
76
2.
Arsenal
32
17
12
3
63
3.
Nottingham Forest
32
17
6
9
57
4.
Newcastle Utd
31
17
5
9
56
5.
Manchester City
32
16
7
9
55
6.
Chelsea
32
15
9
8
54
Should the Gunners triumph over McKenna’s men, they will need to avoid the prospect of losing when they enter their all-London fixture with Crystal Palace on April 23. A win would see them close the gap to 10 points at the summit of the top flight.
Even then, should Arsenal win their next two games (Ipswich and Crystal Palace), a win for Liverpool against Tottenham Hotspur on April 27 would confirm their status as Premier League champions, bringing an end to Manchester City’s hot streak.
