Season synopsis
Premier League final position: First
Uefa Champions League: Last 16
FA Cup: Fourth round
League Cup: Final, beaten 1-0 by Newcastle United
Of all the outcomes predicted for the first year of Arne Slot’s reign at Anfield, winning the Premier League was well down the list.
Succeeding Jurgen Klopp was viewed as challenge enough and, allowing for the transition, a top-four finish was deemed eminently acceptable.
Fast forward to the end of April and Liverpool had the Premier League title wrapped up with four games to go after a 5-1 thrashing of Tottenham.
The foundations of Slot's quiet Anfield revolution has been grounded in intelligence, humility and devotion to a clarity of purpose. Mohamed Salah's sublime form went some way, too.
Liverpool were the model of consistency under the level-headed Slot. They barely missed a beat in losing just one league game, at home to Nottingham Forest, before April with their early season parsimonious defence marshalled by a back-to-his best Virgil van Dijk.
Others made more than noteworthy contributions, and the reinvention of Ryan Gravenberch may prove to be Slot's lasting legacy.
The awful scenes that marred Liverpool's title celebrations, when a driver rammed his car into a packed crowd, injuring 27, will hopefully not take too much gloss of what was an excellent season.
Best performance of the season
Arsenal 2 Liverpool 2: Liverpool were well into their stride by the time they travelled to North London in late October, but Arsenal had designs of their own on the Premier League title.
The Gunners twice led through Bukayo Saka and Mikel Merino but equalisers from Van Dijk and then Salah ensured a valuable point and preserved a vital lead at the summit. It was the type of gritty result upon which titles are won.
Worst performance of the season
Newcastle 2 Liverpool 1: Slot hardly put a foot wrong in his debut season in England, but his decision to persist with zonal marking in March's League Cup final was painful to watch.
Alexis Mac Allister – all 1.76 metres of him – was given the unenviable task of man-marking Dan Burn, Newcastle's giant 2.01m-tall centre-back, at set pieces and, to put it bluntly, just didn't measure up.
Time and again Newcastle targeted their giant captain. Time and again Burn won the aerial duels uncontested. The only surprise was that it took until the 45th minute for Burn to score.
Thriller of the season
Tottenham 3 Liverpool 6: Liverpool handed out a merciless thrashing to Tottenham Hotspur in front of their own fans in late December.
Liverpool had already had several opportunities before Luis Diaz headed in after 23 minutes, Mac Allister doubling their lead with another header 13 minutes later.
James Maddison gave Spurs hope of an unlikely comeback when he curled home before half time, but that was snuffed out in first-half stoppage time when Salah set up Dominik Szoboszlai for a simple finish.
Salah drew level with Billy Liddell's record of 228 Liverpool goals when he extended Liverpool's advantage from close range after 54 minutes, then went into fourth place in the club's all-time list of scorers on his own when Szoboszlai repaid the first-half compliment to play the Egyptian in for his second.
Dejan Kulusevski scored for the fifth successive game with 18 minutes left, while another from Dominic Solanke threatened to give the scoreline an unrealistic appearance until Diaz swooped for his second and Liverpool's sixth.
Player of the season
Mohamed Salah: For a significant chunk of 2024/25, Salah was quite simply the best player on the planet. His numbers are always worth highlighting: 29 Premier League goals, 18 assists (34 and 23 in 52 appearances across competitions).
It wasn't that Salah was imperial; he was unplayable. Few left-backs will have had a good night's sleep before or after facing the Egyptian, and if he doesn't go on to win the Ballon d'Or this year, then he never will.
No doubt there was some gamesmanship on his part during protracted contract negotiations, but Liverpool blinked first and Salah got what he wanted. After this season, it's hard to argue against it.
Goal of the season
You can take your pick from a plethora of Salah strikes, with the Egyptian's trademark cut in from the right and curl into the top corner with his left a feature throughout the campaign.
But for sheer brute force and strength of will, it has to be Mac Allister's long-range strike in a losing effort to Fulham. The Argentine picked up the ball 10 yards inside Fulham's half, held off one challenge before unleashing an unstoppable drive that sailed straight into the top corner.
Ratings
All marks out of 10.
Manager
Arne Slot – 9.5
An incredible first season ended with a Premier League title, securing Salah’s future, and ensuring Klopp’s name is consigned to the Anfield annals of history.
Goalkeepers
Alisson Becker – 8
Hailed as the best goalkeeper in the world by his manager. Liverpool's last line of defence is Mr Reliable, although the Brazilian missed several games through injury.
Caoimhin Kelleher – 8
Is there a better back-up goalkeeper in England? The Irishman would walk into most teams, but appears content to bide his time behind Alisson.
Defenders
Joe Gomez – 6
Some assured displays before injury curtailed his season.
Virgil van Dijk – 9
The most dominant defender in the division. The Dutchman was back to his bulldozing best and was rewarded with a new two-year contract.
Ibrahima Konate – 7.5
There are few better than Van Dijk to do your apprenticeship under. The Frenchman is physically imposing but lacks his partner's ability to read the game. Still young and will improve.
Jarell Quansah – 5
Was brought off at half time in Slot’s first game of the season at Ipswich which seemed to knock his confidence. Failed to convince when called upon.
Andy Robertson – 7
Some fans believe the Scotland international is past his best. While he may not be the marauder of old, Robertson exemplifies the controlled intensity that was a feature of Slot’s Liverpool this term.
Kostas Tsimikas – 6
Another season in which he was forced to play understudy to Robertson at left-back. The Greek was steady if unspectacular.
Trent Alexander-Arnold – 8
Signed off his career at Liverpool with a second Premier League title. It’s easy to forget just how good he was in the early part of the season. His passing range is nonpareil and the jeers from the Anfield faithful over his impending departure smacked of bitterness at losing such an incredible player.
Conor Bradley – 7.5
A different player to Alexander-Arnold but adds more defensive stability at right-back and doesn’t lack for adventure on forays forward.
Midfielders
Wataru Endo – 7
The most used substitute in the squad but usually only introduced to wind down the clock. The Japanese has one of the highest pass completion rates per minutes in the Premier League. Underrated.
Dominik Szoboszlai – 8
Six league goals doesn’t really tell the story of the Hungarian’s contribution to the Reds’ title-winning campaign. Instrumental to Liverpool’s attacking play and his versatility is a real asset.
Alexis Mac Allister – 8.5
Save for a horror show in the League Cup final, the Argentina international established himself as the team’s midfield metronome.
Curtis Jones – 7
His best season since breaking into the first team. The England international still hasn’t nailed down a regular position but shone when asked to play in a No 10 role.
Harvey Elliott – 6
Working his way back from injury but never more than a back-up player. Did score in the draw against PSG in the Uefa Champions League last-16 first leg.
Ryan Gravenberch – 9
The most improved player in the Premier League by some distance. Underused by Klopp, the Dutchman became the lynchpin of Slot’s team. A superb athlete who has made the holding position his own.
Forwards
Luis Diaz – 7
Offers attacking impetus down Liverpool’s left channel. The Colombian had his best goal return (17 across competitions) since joining from Porto in 2022.
Mohamed Salah – 9
Where do you start? Ended the season as the league’s top scorer, assist maker and best player. And all against the backdrop of his contract saga. Tailed off by season’s end, but the Egyptian’s form up till April was simply sensational.
Darwin Nunez – 6
Loved and appreciated for his tireless work ethic but the brutal fact remains that the Uruguayan is not the elite centre-forward the club covets.
Federico Chiesa – 5
Signed from Juventus last summer, the Italian’s adjustment to life on Merseyside has been hampered by injuries and the blistering form of Salah and Diaz.
Cody Gakpo – 8
Found his feet playing under Slot. Has a more settled position at the tip of Liverpool’s attack and repaid that faith with 18 goals across competitions.
Diogo Jota – 7
Found it hard to dislodge Gakpo after returning from injury midway through the season. Still has plenty to offer.
The National's Premier League team of the season
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Profile box
Company name: baraka
Started: July 2020
Founders: Feras Jalbout and Kunal Taneja
Based: Dubai and Bahrain
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: $150,000
Current staff: 12
Stage: Pre-seed capital raising of $1 million
Investors: Class 5 Global, FJ Labs, IMO Ventures, The Community Fund, VentureSouq, Fox Ventures, Dr Abdulla Elyas (private investment)
Important questions to consider
1. Where on the plane does my pet travel?
There are different types of travel available for pets:
- Manifest cargo
- Excess luggage in the hold
- Excess luggage in the cabin
Each option is safe. The feasibility of each option is based on the size and breed of your pet, the airline they are traveling on and country they are travelling to.
2. What is the difference between my pet traveling as manifest cargo or as excess luggage?
If traveling as manifest cargo, your pet is traveling in the front hold of the plane and can travel with or without you being on the same plane. The cost of your pets travel is based on volumetric weight, in other words, the size of their travel crate.
If traveling as excess luggage, your pet will be in the rear hold of the plane and must be traveling under the ticket of a human passenger. The cost of your pets travel is based on the actual (combined) weight of your pet in their crate.
3. What happens when my pet arrives in the country they are traveling to?
As soon as the flight arrives, your pet will be taken from the plane straight to the airport terminal.
If your pet is traveling as excess luggage, they will taken to the oversized luggage area in the arrival hall. Once you clear passport control, you will be able to collect them at the same time as your normal luggage. As you exit the airport via the ‘something to declare’ customs channel you will be asked to present your pets travel paperwork to the customs official and / or the vet on duty.
If your pet is traveling as manifest cargo, they will be taken to the Animal Reception Centre. There, their documentation will be reviewed by the staff of the ARC to ensure all is in order. At the same time, relevant customs formalities will be completed by staff based at the arriving airport.
4. How long does the travel paperwork and other travel preparations take?
This depends entirely on the location that your pet is traveling to. Your pet relocation compnay will provide you with an accurate timeline of how long the relevant preparations will take and at what point in the process the various steps must be taken.
In some cases they can get your pet ‘travel ready’ in a few days. In others it can be up to six months or more.
5. What vaccinations does my pet need to travel?
Regardless of where your pet is traveling, they will need certain vaccinations. The exact vaccinations they need are entirely dependent on the location they are traveling to. The one vaccination that is mandatory for every country your pet may travel to is a rabies vaccination.
Other vaccinations may also be necessary. These will be advised to you as relevant. In every situation, it is essential to keep your vaccinations current and to not miss a due date, even by one day. To do so could severely hinder your pets travel plans.
Source: Pawsome Pets UAE
Honeymoonish
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COMPANY PROFILE
Founders: Sebastian Stefan, Sebastian Morar and Claudia Pacurar
Based: Dubai, UAE
Founded: 2014
Number of employees: 36
Sector: Logistics
Raised: $2.5 million
Investors: DP World, Prime Venture Partners and family offices in Saudi Arabia and the UAE
Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone
Rating: 3/5
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
Tips for taking the metro
- set out well ahead of time
- make sure you have at least Dh15 on you Nol card, as there could be big queues for top-up machines
- enter the right cabin. The train may be too busy to move between carriages once you're on
- don't carry too much luggage and tuck it under a seat to make room for fellow passengers
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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RESULT
Leeds United 1 Manchester City 1
Leeds: Rodrigo (59')
Man City: Sterling (17')
Man of the Match: Rodrigo Moreno (Leeds)
Mercedes V250 Avantgarde specs
Engine: 2.0-litre in-line four-cylinder turbo
Gearbox: 7-speed automatic
Power: 211hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 350Nm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.0 l/100 km
Price: Dh235,000
Challenge Cup result:
1. UAE 3 faults
2. Ireland 9 faults
3. Brazil 11 faults
4. Spain 15 faults
5. Great Britain 17 faults
6. New Zealand 20 faults
7. Italy 26 faults
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
ITU Abu Dhabi World Triathlon
PSA DUBAI WORLD SERIES FINALS LINE-UP
Men’s:
Mohamed El Shorbagy (EGY)
Ali Farag (EGY)
Simon Rosner (GER)
Tarek Momen (EGY)
Miguel Angel Rodriguez (COL)
Gregory Gaultier (FRA)
Karim Abdel Gawad (EGY)
Nick Matthew (ENG)
Women's:
Nour El Sherbini (EGY)
Raneem El Welily (EGY)
Nour El Tayeb (EGY)
Laura Massaro (ENG)
Joelle King (NZE)
Camille Serme (FRA)
Nouran Gohar (EGY)
Sarah-Jane Perry (ENG)
HOW%20TO%20ACTIVATE%20THE%20GEMINI%20SHORTCUT%20ON%20CHROME%20CANARY
%3Cp%3E1.%20Go%20to%20%3Cstrong%3Echrome%3A%2F%2Fflags%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E2.%20Find%20and%20enable%20%3Cstrong%3EExpansion%20pack%20for%20the%20Site%20Search%20starter%20pack%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E3.%20Restart%20Chrome%20Canary%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E4.%20Go%20to%20%3Cstrong%3Echrome%3A%2F%2Fsettings%2FsearchEngines%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20in%20the%20address%20bar%20and%20find%20the%20%3Cstrong%3EChat%20with%20Gemini%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20shortcut%20under%20%3Cstrong%3ESite%20Search%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E5.%20Open%20a%20new%20tab%20and%20type%20%40%20to%20see%20the%20Chat%20with%20Gemini%20shortcut%20along%20with%20other%20Omnibox%20shortcuts%20to%20search%20tabs%2C%20history%20and%20bookmarks%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
THE CLOWN OF GAZA
Director: Abdulrahman Sabbah
Starring: Alaa Meqdad
Rating: 4/5
THREE
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Gully Boy
Director: Zoya Akhtar
Producer: Excel Entertainment & Tiger Baby
Cast: Ranveer Singh, Alia Bhatt, Kalki Koechlin, Siddhant Chaturvedi
Rating: 4/5 stars
Types of policy
Term life insurance: this is the cheapest and most-popular form of life cover. You pay a regular monthly premium for a pre-agreed period, typically anything between five and 25 years, or possibly longer. If you die within that time, the policy will pay a cash lump sum, which is typically tax-free even outside the UAE. If you die after the policy ends, you do not get anything in return. There is no cash-in value at any time. Once you stop paying premiums, cover stops.
Whole-of-life insurance: as its name suggests, this type of life cover is designed to run for the rest of your life. You pay regular monthly premiums and in return, get a guaranteed cash lump sum whenever you die. As a result, premiums are typically much higher than one term life insurance, although they do not usually increase with age. In some cases, you have to keep up premiums for as long as you live, although there may be a cut-off period, say, at age 80 but it can go as high as 95. There are penalties if you don’t last the course and you may get a lot less than you paid in.
Critical illness cover: this pays a cash lump sum if you suffer from a serious illness such as cancer, heart disease or stroke. Some policies cover as many as 50 different illnesses, although cancer triggers by far the most claims. The payout is designed to cover major financial responsibilities such as a mortgage or children’s education fees if you fall ill and are unable to work. It is cost effective to combine it with life insurance, with the policy paying out once if you either die or suffer a serious illness.
Income protection: this pays a replacement income if you fall ill and are unable to continue working. On the best policies, this will continue either until you recover, or reach retirement age. Unlike critical illness cover, policies will typically pay out for stress and musculoskeletal problems such as back trouble.
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Results
Women finals: 48kg - Urantsetseg Munkhbat (MGL) bt Distria Krasniqi (KOS); 52kg - Odette Guiffrida (ITA) bt Majlinda Kelmendi (KOS); 57kg - Nora Gjakova (KOS) bt Anastasiia Konkina (Rus)
Men’s finals: 60kg - Amiran Papinashvili (GEO) bt Francisco Garrigos (ESP); 66kg - Vazha Margvelashvili (Geo) bt Yerlan Serikzhanov (KAZ)
