2024 will be a year forever etched into the history books as a big one at Liverpool.
Unfortunately, it will not be in terms of trophies won which the last 12 months are eventually remembered for, but rather for events that happened off the pitch.
May marked the end of the glorious Jurgen Klopp era at Anfield. The legendary German announced his premature departure in January and left five months later.
In the weeks and months in between, Jurgen still left his mark on a number of truly memorable Liverpool games, however, with Arne Slot arriving in June to pick up where Jurgen left off. Between them, they’ve given supporters some great times in 2024. And here are our picks for the five most memorable matches of the year.
5. Liverpool 4-2 Tottenham, May 5th
By the time Klopp’s penultimate home match came around, Liverpool were already well out of the title race.
With the pressure off the Liverpool squad, they put on a show against Tottenham, racing into the lead courtesy of a Mohamed Salah goal after just 16 minutes.
Andy Robertson then added his second goal in as many games before half-time, before Cody Gakpo added a third 10 minutes into the second-half.
Harvey Elliott thought he’d put the gloss on a handsome win with a beautiful curling effort just nine minutes later, but Spurs roared back. Late goals from Richarlison and Son Heung-Min set up a tense finale, but Liverpool held out to pick up an enjoyable win.
4. Arsenal 0-2 Liverpool, January 7th
Back in early January, the Liverpool players and fans were still blissfully unaware of the bombshell Klopp was about to drop on them.
But just over two weeks before Jurgen’s fateful announcement, Liverpool were flying. Still a trip to the Emirates Stadium in the third round of the FA Cup looked like a tall order.
So it proved, with Arsenal throwing just about everything they could at Liverpool in the first-half, but somehow failing to score.
The purple-clad Reds dug in and held on until the 80th minute, though, when centre-back Jakub Kiwior deflected Trent Alexander-Arnold’s free-kick past Aaron Ramsdale. As Arsenal pushed forward, Luis Diaz finished off a counter-attack in style in the 95th minute to send the away support crazy.
3. Liverpool 2-0 Real Madrid, November 27th
Slot’s first entry as Liverpool head coach comes on a famous night at Anfield when the Reds finally banished the ghosts of Real Madrid past.
The European champions came to Merseyside looking to make it eight wins out of nine against Liverpool but Slot’s Reds wouldn’t let it happen.
After an entertaining first-half, Alexis Mac Allister finished wonderfully in front of the Kop on 52 minutes, before a second from Cody Gakpo finished the game with 15 minutes to go.
But away from the goals, the night’s enduring image will remain Caoimhin Kelleher saving a penalty from Real superstar Kylian Mbappe to keep the Reds 1-0 up. Not even a missed spot-kick from Salah could sour the mood.
2. Man United 0-3 Liverpool, September 1st
Another big entry from Slot comes in at number two. The Dutch coach had started brilliantly at Liverpool, winning each of his first two Premier League games in charge.
A trip to Old Trafford is a good test of any Liverpool manager’s mettle, though, and Slot sent out a statement at the home of the Reds’ great rivals.
It was an even start between the two sides, but Diaz soon marked himself out as the difference maker. First, he latched onto a Salah cross to nod Liverpool in-front, then he fabulously swept home after the Egyptian picked him out again. Two goals in seven first-half minutes and United were on the ropes.
Salah got his customary Old Trafford goal to make it three after 56 minutes and only some wasteful finishing preventing Liverpool from winning by more on a great day for Slot.
1. Liverpool 1-0 Chelsea, February 25th
While Slot has enjoyed some mega moments already and 2025 will of course be his year in its entirety, 2024 still belongs to Jurgen.
Klopp has claimed that his final trophy win at Liverpool was his most enjoyable and it’s easy to understand why.
When the Reds headed to Wembley to take on Chelsea in the Carabao Cup final, they were about as depleted as a team can be.
But taking on Mauricio Pochettino’s ‘billion pound bottlejobs,’ Liverpool’s youngsters and back-up players ground out a famous extra-time win. That it was captain Virgil van Dijk who nodded home the winner was the cherry on the icing of a cake which will be enjoyed long into the future.
The best game of a memorable, if emotional year for Liverpool. So, who’s ready for 2025?
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