Liverpool's 2025: Triumph, tragedy and one significant tantrum
A look back to a year like no other at Anfield, where euphoria and grief were mingled in equal measure
It was the year Liverpool secured a record-equalling 20th league championship, then moved with such aggression in the transfer market that a sustained period of dominance appeared inevitable.
This should have been one of the best years of supporters’ lives, but it has been marred by deeply-upsetting events off the pitch; from the horrific incident at the Premier League title parade through the city where a man — now jailed for 21 years and six months — used his car as a weapon to drive into more than 130 people, to the tragic death of Diogo Jota in July.
Club legend Mohamed Salah also threatened to ruin his legacy with an explosive post-game interview in early December in which he claimed Liverpool had “thrown him under a bus” after he was dropped to the bench following a miserable run of form for the defending champions.
It has, then, been a year, very much of two halves, for Liverpool Football Club, and if there’s any wish for the New Year, it will be for a period of calm.
Best moment
Beating Manchester City 2-0 at their Etihad Stadium in late February was the most impressive result of the year, and at that point, it felt season-defining.
But for collective joy and togetherness, it was the title-clinching 5-1 home win against Tottenham Hotspur two months later. Supporters lined the streets around Anfield hours before kick-off to get the party started, Salah’s second-half selfie goal celebration became iconic, and head coach Arne Slot conducted his post-match broadcast interviews wearing a Liverpool home jersey. For some, it was the greatest football memory of their lives.
Mohamed Salah takes his selfie during the Tottenham game (Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Best non-title moment
Nothing matches the title celebrations, but away from that triumph, a personal highlight was Federico Chiesa’s crucial goal in the 4-2 win against Bournemouth on the opening day of this season.
Liverpool had surrendered a two-goal lead and were on the verge of dropping two points until the Italian popped up with a crucial intervention in the 88th minute. The scenes that followed, where it felt like the entire crowd were singing the (catchy but controversial) Chiesa song, were special. In isolation, it may even have been the most satisfying moment of the season.
Worst moment
The death of the much-loved Jota in a car crash, alongside his brother Andre Silva, just before the start of Liverpool’s pre-season programme left a club, a country and a sport numb with grief.
It turned what should have been a summer of joy into one of mourning, and its effects are still being experienced. Quite how much of an influence Portugal international forward Jota’s passing has had on his team-mates’ efforts to defend their Premier League title is impossible to quantify, but there is no doubt it has been keenly felt.
Through all their pain, Liverpool’s players and staff have reiterated how the focus should always be on Jota’s family. When they think back to 2025, there will only ever be one moment on their mind.
A mural painted in honour of Diogo Jota near Anfield (Clive Mason/Getty Images)
Best player
Dominik Szoboszlai — for his all-action performances and consistency.
The image of the Hungarian midfielder lying on the turf, face down, after the final whistle in that February win at City became iconic, and was a fair reflection of his tireless approach to games.
For a period early in the year, Szoboszlai was playing out of his skin, and when others have dropped off this season, his levels have remained high. The fact he has also been played in multiple positions and never looked out of place highlights his importance to the team. The 25-year-old is a crucial part of Liverpool’s future.
The stat that sums up 2025
It’s not so much a stat, but a scoreline: Liverpool 1-1 Paris Saint-Germain (1-4 after penalties). This was a sickening way for Liverpool to exit the Champions League in a round-of-16 contest that was fit for the competition’s final.
Liverpool had finished top of the new 36-team league stage format and were ‘rewarded’ with PSG, the eventual tournament winners, who had come only 15th over those initial eight matches, losing three of them, as their opening opponents in the knockout stage. That both legs of the March tie were so close as contests showed how strong Liverpool had become at the start of the year and what might have been, had they landed a more favourable draw.
Favourite quote
“We do not just want you (the supporters) to dream, we need you to dream.”
That was Slot, writing in his programme notes for the Newcastle United game on February 26, when Liverpool were still fighting for a unique treble of Premier League, Champions League and Carabao Cup. At that point, it felt like everything was possible and that Slot could do no wrong as he picked holes in opponents at ease and turned the team he’d inherited from Jurgen Klopp the previous summer into a ruthless winning machine.
Most surprising thing that happened
Nothing really surprises us in football anymore, but the manner in which Liverpool’s title defence was extinguished so early this season was a genuine shock. Nobody expected an easy ride with the other championship contenders all strengthening and reshaping, but the general feeling was that Liverpool would be improved too, after significantly upgrading their squad. That couldn’t be further from reality.
It’s still early days for those new arrivals, but so far they’ve struggled to fill the (large) boots of those who left in the summer and the pressure is now on for them to perform.
Which of your club’s players will do best at the World Cup?
It’s most likely to be a Dutchman, given the Netherlands’ large presence within the Liverpool setup.
Perhaps this will be the tournament for Ryan Gravenberch to really make his mark, after failing to play a single minute in the 2024 European Championship as his country got to the semi-finals. Watching Gravenberch shine for Liverpool since makes you wonder why his talent was not recognised sooner at international level.
Ryan Gravenberch will be targeting World Cup success with the Netherlands this summer (Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Player to watch in 2026
This really shouldn’t come as much surprise, given the huge expectations when he arrived, but if momentum builds for Florian Wirtz, he could soon become the star so many have been waiting to see.
There’s no doubting his talent, and we’re now starting to see flashes of his brilliance, especially when he’s playing in tight spaces. Now he just needs goals and assists to back up that hefty £116million ($155m) price tag.
A wish for 2026
Joe Gomez to finally score for Liverpool, more than a decade, and 250 first-team appearances, after joining the club.