Ange Postecoglou ‘blown away’ in Liverpool humiliation

Liverpool are champions again after putting Ange Postecoglou’s Spurs to the sword in extraordinary scenes on and off the field.

Liverpool are champions again after sealing a record-equalling 20th English top-flight crown with a 5-1 demolition of Tottenham at Anfield on Monday morning (AEST).

Liverpool were all class as they put Ange Postecoglou’s team to the sword 5-1 as an epic party erupted inside the stadium and outside it.

While Liverpool manager Arne Slot was being celebrated as a miracle worker, Postecoglou was being spoken about as a dead man walking.

Slot’s men stormed back after conceding a surprise early goal to dominate the match, feeding off the crackling energy from the 60,000-plus crowd.

Liverpool, who can no longer be caught by second-placed Arsenal, are now level with bitter rivals Manchester United as the joint-most successful club in English top-flight history.

It is just their second title of the Premier League era and the first they have celebrated in front of fans since 1990 — their 2020 triumph came at a near-empty stadium due to Covid restrictions.

Mohamed Salah of Liverpool takes a selfie with the fan. Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images.

Slot, who is in his first season in English football, said he had built on solid foundations left by Jurgen Klopp, who departed last year after a successful nine-year reign.

“Almost the whole season we were on the top of the league and had a team that could win it,” he told Sky Sports.

“We know how tough the Premier League is, but we always had the belief we could win it.

“The work Jurgen (Klopp) and (assistant) Pep (Lijnders) left, the culture, work-rate, quality, was outstanding. We started (the season) really well and maybe it helped that (Manchester) City had a difficult spell that they have not had in five years.

“When the season started we would have been happy with top four. But I don’t think that is fair on the players as they are much better than that and they have shown it this season.”

Liverpool supporters celebrate outside of Anfield. AP Photo/Jon Super.

Slot’s men started on the front foot at an expectant Anfield after a stirring rendition of club anthem “You’ll Never Walk Alone” in the warm spring sunshine, but they were rocked by an early goal from Tottenham’s Dominic Solanke.

However, Liverpool barely blinked and roared back with a Luis Diaz tap-in and a screamer from Alexis Mac Allister.

Now the party was well and truly started and Cody Gakpo made it 3-1, slamming a shot into the bottom corner after a much-changed Spurs team failed to clear.

The Liverpool fans ran through their full repertoire of songs as their team pushed for a fourth goal in the second half.

Ange Postecoglou watched the party unfold. Photo: AP, John Super.

Top-scorer Mohamed Salah scored the goal the crowd craved, collecting Dominik Szoboszlai’s pass before cutting in and blasting his shot into the bottom corner.

He celebrated by grabbing a fan’s phone before taking a selfie in front of the Kop.

Deafening cheers of “We’re going to win the league” and “We shall not be moved” rang out.

Liverpool had a fifth when Spurs defender Destiny Udogie poked the ball past his own goalkeeper from close range with 21 minutes to go.

As the game went into added time the club’s anthem rang out again as scarfs were held aloft and the final whistle elicited a thunderous roar.

The win leaves Liverpool on 82 points, 15 clear of nearest challengers Arsenal with just four games remaining.

Tottenham are a miserable 16th in the Premier League table after their 19th defeat of the season, putting manager Postecoglou under enormous pressure.

The former Socceroos coach said after the game his team had been “blown away”.

Virgil van Dijk of Liverpool leads the celebrations. Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images.

However, he also openly admitted he had fielded an understrength team in order to keep some players fresh for their Europa League semi-final first leg.

“Credit to Liverpool,” Postecoglou said after the match.

“They’re worthy champions – they’ve been outstanding all year. It was really hard for us. They proved to be too good.

“We were going to face a highly motivated team and so it proved. We started the game OK and tried to make it as hard as possible. We’re making a lot of changes to our team on a weekly basis. It’s affecting our fluency and consistency, and we’re paying the price for that.

“In the first half, what was really disappointing was the manner in which we conceded the goals. I thought we were actually well in the game and had our moments going forward. Once they went in front it was really difficult, with the crowd behind them, to get back into the game.

“In the games we’ve been blown away by Liverpool, we’ve been fairly depleted. We’ve obviously rested a few, which I think we needed. The lads who played have come through OK, which is what we needed.”

Dead man walking. Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images.

Tens of thousands of fans swarmed around Anfield in the build-up to kick-off in anticipation of Liverpool’s coronation, setting off flares as the home team bus arrived.

Flags and scarves saying “Liverpool 20-time Champions” were on sale from stalls outside the ground.

At the start of the campaign, Pep Guardiola’s City were favourites to extend their dynastic Premier League reign and make it five titles in a row but their form collapsed.

Arsenal emerged as Liverpool’s closest challengers but they drew too many games, failing to take advantage of the rare slip-ups from Slot’s team.

It was feared the club’s players would need time to adapt to the methods of Slot but the former Feyenoord boss has sailed serenely through the season despite relentless speculation over the futures of three of his biggest stars — Salah, captain Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Both Salah and Van Dijk have now signed two-year extensions, though England defender Alexander-Arnold is believed likely to be on the verge of a move to Real Madrid.

“A lot of emotions before the game, during the whole week, but we got the job done and we are truly deserved champions of England,” said Van Dijk.

“The most beautiful club in the world and I think we deserve all of this.”

— with AFP

Originally published as Ange Postecoglou ‘blown away’ in Liverpool humiliation