Ian Wright may have wanted Arsenal to win the Premier League title – but he was happy for Liverpool fans
ITV pundit Ian Wright before the UEFA Nations League match between the Republic of Ireland and England.(Image: Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Ian Wright has paid a classy tribute to Liverpool after watching the Reds beat his beloved Arsenal to the Premier League title. Arne Slot’s side sealed their triumph on Sunday with a 5-1 thumping of Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield.
There were emotional scenes inside Liverpool’s stadium following the final whistle as supporters celebrated a title victory they were denied by the COVID pandemic in 2020.
And Wright, who scored 185 goals in 288 games for Arsenal, says he can’t bring himself to be bitter about Liverpool’s victory after seeing the fans’ reaction.
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He also had special praise for the job Slot has done since taking charge last summer, and the way the Liverpool head coach went about paying credit to his predecessor, Jurgen Klopp.
“I’ve always been magnanimous about Liverpool, they way they’ve been playing and the way they started the season. The players are brilliant, ” Wright said.
“I don’t dislike Liverpool. I don’t dislike Slot. I don’t dislike the fans. I dislike the situation because we (Arsenal) haven’t won the league.
“It couldn’t have happened to a nicer team. Especially after they did it without fans in COVID. To see the fans celebrating like that, that was so touching. It was nice. It makes you feel good.”
He added: “Try to get Spurs if you’re trying to win a trophy! All jokes aside, Liverpool have been by far the best and most consistent team in the league.
“Their top man in Salah, was brilliant. Virgil led by example. Gravenberch, the way he came in. Remember Zubimendi and all the talk?
“And when people went on about contracts, even that didn’t derail them. They dealt with that so smoothly. You have to look at FSG and think, ‘how is that happening’, but at the same time, it doesn’t affect the team at all. There’s no noise coming out of that dressing room.
“They stayed focused and got the job done.”
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Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrates scoring his team’s fourth goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Anfield on April 27, 2025 (Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)
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On Slot’s impact, Wright said: “It was very magnanimous of him in his moment of joy, making everyone realise Jurgen Klopp is a massive part of it.
“It’s a new manager, he’s come in, it’s a massive club, nobody has expected him to do what he’s done.
“You look at his players, even them it could be very easy for him to get them out get his players in. He didn’t do that, he tweaked things and the team is even more together.
Wright also praised Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk, who he compared to Hollywood legend Marlon Brando.
He said: “Marlon Brando vibes in how cool, calm, vulnerable and macho he is. It shows what it means to him.
“Since he has come to Liverpool, remember all the talk before about goalkeeper and defence? He’s changed everything. “