Liverpool’s away form proved costly when their Premier League challenge fell apart in 2023/24 but it was a very different story under Arne Slot
When Liverpool beat struggling Sheffield United 3-1 at Anfield on April 4, 2024, Jurgen Klopp’s side moved two points clear of second-placed Arsenal and three ahead of reigning champions Man City in third with eight games left to play. The title-race was in their hands.
At the time, they had only lost two games in the Premier League all season, and had drawn a further seven times from their opening 30 matches. With Klopp’s departure at the end of the campaign, supporters were daring to dream of giving the long-serving German the perfect send-off.
But what followed was a deflating collapse. They surrendered top spot the following weekend after drawing 2-2 away at Manchester United.
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They then dropped to third after suffering a shock 1-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace next time out.
With a Merseyside derby defeat at Everton and away draws with West Ham United and Aston Villa still to come, Liverpool ultimately limped over the line in third place – finishing nine points behind champions Man City and seven off runners-up Arsenal.
Slow starts and injuries were ultimately blamed for why the Reds fell short. Often falling behind in matches, there were only so many times they could pull off a hearty comeback.
Meanwhile, with their injury list climbing as high as 13 senior players at one point, it inevitably took its toll on Klopp’s squad. When the walking wounded returned, they were not up to scratch – yet those that had been available were burnt out after having no choice but to pick up the slack during lengthy enforced absences elsewhere.
While they were unable to offer the fairy-tale ending for Klopp, his Liverpool ultimately had nothing left to give.
But there was another overlooked reason behind why they fell short, which became clear when looking at their season as a whole – their away form.
The Reds won 15 of their 19 matches at Anfield, with the aforementioned loss to Palace their only defeat in front of their home fans. Picking up 48 points out of a maximum of 57, they finished the campaign with the best home record in the Premier League.
While Man City went unbeaten at the Etihad, they recorded 47 points. Meanwhile, Arsenal also picked up 47 points themselves at the Emirates.
Evidently, where they fell short then came on the road. While Man City and Arsenal won 14 and 13 of their matches on their travels, losing three times apiece, Liverpool won nine times.
And while Klopp’s men also suffered three defeats, a further seven draws proved costly.
Losing away at Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Everton, they also dropped points at Chelsea, Brighton & Hove Albion, Luton Town, Man City, Manchester United, West Ham United and Aston Villa.
Picking up 82 points in total, that would have been enough to win the title in some years during the Premier League era. But having twice missed out by a solitary point to Man City despite picking up 97 and 92 points, Klopp’s men were well-aware of how decisive such small margins can be.
Fortunately for the Reds, it has been a different story under Arne Slot. While Man City and Arsenal have admittedly fallen below their previous standards, Liverpool are still in a league of their own at the top of the table.
After beating Tottenham to clinch the title, they had won 14 and lost only one of their 17 home matches to date. Meanwhile, on the road, they also only suffered one defeat as they won 11 of their 17 away games so far.
Picking up 44 points at Anfield and 38 points away from home, none of their rivals came close.
At one point they had even looked like going the campaign unbeaten on the road, only to fall short at Fulham when losing 3-2 on a below-par day during the run-in at the start of April.
The only other sides to take points off Slot’s men in front of their own supporters were Arsenal, Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, Everton and Aston Villa.
It certainly proved to be an upturn in results for the Reds, with it understandable why you might have to settle for a share of the spoils in a Merseyside derby or away at Champions League hopefuls.
But so many times Liverpool headed out on their travels with supporters anticipating a difficult day, only for Slot’s men to record a statement victory.
In only his second away match in the Premier League, his side dismantled Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford – only five months on from it being the stage for when the wheels started to come off during their previous title-challenge.
They clinched narrow 2-1 and 1-0 victories away at Wolverhampton Wanderers and Crystal Palace before having to come from behind to win 3-2 at Southampton. It was rarely easy, but they were getting the job done.
Liverpool thrashed Tottenham Hotspur 6-3 in North London just before Christmas as they put in one of their performances of the season. In truth, the scoreline should have read far more emphatically.
They thrashed West Ham United 5-0 in the London Stadium in their final outing of 2024, before sending out further statements away at Brentford and AFC Bournemouth in January.
Supporters anticipated dropped points, but Darwin Nunez’s stoppage-time brace against the Bees and Mohamed Salah’s own brace against the Cherries resulted in memorable 2-0 victories.
And then there was their first victory at the Etihad in the Premier League since 2015 as Slot’s side beat reigning champions Man City 2-0 to send out another impressive statement.
Meanwhile, Trent Alexander-Arnold’s late winner away at Leicester City in mid-April left Liverpool on the cusp of glory, needing just one more positive result to clinch the title.
But even when held, they had still fought back to earn a share of the spoils in difficult circumstances.
They twice trailed away at Arsenal in late-October, only to leave North London with a late 2-2 draw. While they surrendered top spot to Man City that day after being held by the Gunners, it marked the last time in the campaign they were not first in the table in the greatest sign of their dominance.
Newcastle United twice led in their 3-3 draw at St. James’ Park too, while they also came from behind to earn a share of the spoils at Everton.
Despite not being at their best, there was still an air of frustration as stoppage-time equalisers denied the Reds victory on both occasions.
There was also frustration when being held by Aston Villa despite coming from behind too, as Darwin Nunez was cursed for missing an open goal in a 2-2 draw at Villa Park.
But now in the cold light of day with the title won, these were valuable points achieved against the odds.
And having initially fallen behind against Nottingham Forest early on at the City Ground in mid-January – against the only side to beat them in the Premier League until the start of April – Diogo Jota’s equaliser earned another valuable point against a side challenging for Champions League qualification against the odds – with the strength of Nuno Espirito Santo’s side long having become clear.
Liverpool have been criticised at times during the 2024/25 season for not being the prettiest or most exciting watch, with it undeniable that they have not been at their best during the run-in prior to their emphatic title-clinching thrashing of Spurs. But they have been resilient and effective, with the majority of their most-cherished results ultimately coming on the road.
Anfield might have been denied many emphatic schoolings of opponents – Spurs aside – but victories away at the likes of Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Man City were some of the highlights of the season and will not be forgotten by travelling supporters.
Of course, losing on the road had proven to be the rarest of feelings for Slot even before he succeeded Klopp at Liverpool.
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The Dutchman had gone unbeaten on the road in 2024 across 24 matches in all competitions for both the Reds and former club Feyenoord, while he had only lost once on the road in the Eredivisie in 2023/24. League champions in 2022/23, it came also when losing once away from De Kuip.
With last season’s away league defeat coming at FC Twente on October 29, 2023, Slot went a remarkable 525 days between league losses on the road before Liverpool came undone against Fulham at Craven Cottage – putting together his own 27-game unbeaten run.
By taking such a run into his role with the Reds, he gave their title-hopes a welcome and decisive boost right from the very start.
Now onto Slot’s next unbeaten run, currently standing at just one game on the road after the Reds’ narrow 1-0 victory over Leicester City. But it was the most decisive of course, having left Liverpool on the verge of the title.
Slot’s Reds now boast the blueprint and should they prove to be just as formidable on the road in 2025/26, they will have already given their hopes of defending the Premier League title the healthiest of boosts.
It is one thing winning at Anfield, which has long since been regarded as an almost impenetrable fortress, but it is on the road against the odds where a league title can be won and lost.
This article is also available in the Liverpool ECHO’s special standalone magazine celebrating Liverpool winning their 20th league title. Order your copy online HERE.