Manager Jürgen Klopp followed by his coaching team and players went up to collect their winners’ medals at the purple podium.
Mohamed Salah was wrapped in an Egypt flag. Trent Alexander-Arnold, the 21-year-old Liverpool-born defender who has never seen Liverpool as English champions, peered down inspecting his medal.
Finally, the trophy was received as fireworks exploded around Anfield, smoke and pyrotechnics filling the emptiness of the arena where Liverpool had just beaten Chelsea 5-3 in a thrilling final — and 18th — home win of the season.
“It would be perfect with the stadium full,” Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp said. “But you cannot change it.”
As his players partied around him on a field covered in confetti, Klopp had a message for the absent supporters.
I don’t know when this bullshit virus is gone,” the German said. “Then we will have a party all together. Make sure you are all ready then.”
The Premier League trophy didn’t even exist when Liverpool was last champion of England in 1990. This new competition was only formed two years later.
But Liverpool’s 19th title was clinched the earliest of any time in English football history stretching back into the 19th century, by winning with seven games to spare.
“The expectation is so high,” Henderson said. “It’s been a process, it’s been a journey. It hasn’t happened overnight.”
Thousands of supporters also celebrated outside Anfield last month when the team’s first top-flight title in 30 years was confirmed and huge numbers gathered at the city’s Pier Head the following night, where police reported violent confrontations.
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