THIS TIME there was no hollow, empty atmosphere. Just the sound of sheer, unbridled joy.
This time Anfield was full to capacity – 62,000 partying and singing their songs of praise when five years earlier the Covid lockdown meant that not one of them could be there to celebrate with their heroes.
Liverpool are the Premier League championsCredit: Getty
Skipper Virgil van Dijk lifted the trophyCredit: Reuters
Arne Slot got his hands on trophy as the party continuedCredit: PA
Trent Alexander-Arnold was cheered by Liverpool fansCredit: Getty
Egyptian King Mo Salah matched a Premier League recordCredit: PA
Virgil van Dijk lifted the trophy, Mo Salah then proudly raised it above his head and even Trent Alexander-Arnold got huge cheers before his departure.
Players lined up in front of the Kop and belted out You’ll Never Walk Alone together in emotional scenes.
Salah told Sky Sports: “It’s incredible. Last time we didn’t have a chance. It’s an incredible feeling in front of the crowd.”
Earlier as Liverpool were held 1-1 by Palace, fans had even laughed when Ismaila Sarr stuck Crystal Palace into the lead after nine minutes.
And Ryan Gravenberch being red carded for a last-man challenge on Daichi Kamada with a quarter of the game to go, few of them gave a hoot.
Although they did very much love the Mo Salah deflected equaliser that gave him yet another record – his 84th minute strike put him level with Alan Shearer and Andy Cole.
They made their mark with 47 goal contributions in a 42-game Premier League season.
Anfield’s Egyptian king, and now the holder of both the Premier League Player of the Year and Football Writers’ Association equivalent, got there in 38.
Last time Liverpool won the title the campaign ended up being played out to the sound of silence.
When their 19th success was confirmed on the night of June 25, 2020 then-boss Jurgen Klopp and his players were allowed to enjoy it only in front of family, a handful of friends and staff.
The seats around them in the main stands as former skipper Jordan Henderson lifted the Prem trophy were adorned with the flags of fans denied the privilege but desperate to somehow make their presence felt.
Yet those emblems could not cover up the coronavirus–enforced eerie vacuum of that half-lit occasion.
Players celebrated in front of the Kop
Liverpool players partied in the dressing room
Klopp and his champs tried to make the best of it that night, after Chelsea had beaten Manchester City 2-1 to ensure Liverpool glory with a Prem record–seven games to spare.
But they were smiling and waving to almost nobody.
Jurgen Klopp stood proud in the stands
Mo Salah was presented with the Golden Boot by legend Ian RushCredit: Getty
Never had such good times seemed so downbeat especially amidst the fears and worries that were gripping the nation.
Nothing could disguise how surreal and strange that moment was, as Klopp, Henderson and the team bellowed in triumph, their shouts echoing around a deserted Anfield.
This time, as Alan Hansen, the last captain to lift the title trophy in front of fans after 1990 First Division glory, waited to present the Prem version to Virgil van Dijk, you could hardly hear yourself speak.
Ironically Palace were the visitors having suffered a 4-0 defeat 24 hours before those sadly muted celebrations after City’s defeat.
But, this time, Oliver Glasner’s players arrived chuffed to bits with themselves too as new FA Cup holders having also reached another historic milestone by racking up the club’s highest total of points in the Prem era.
Very much a coming force, they were intent on spoiling the party.
Mo Salah scored the goal for LiverpoolCredit: Reuters
It was Salah’s 47th goal contribution this seasonCredit: Getty
Within a defence that has been on the beach since clinching the title against Tottenham a month ago, Sarr finished clinically and the travelling support threw their inflatable FA Cup replicas up in the air.
Nobody in red cared that much.
So happy were they that even the second half emergence of Trent Alexander-Arnold as a replacement for Conor Bradley was met mainly with mild applause.
Yet he was booed roundly after replacing him in the 2-2 draw with Arsenal, seen as a deserter because he’s going to Real Madrid.
Nothing, not even defeat, could take away from the vibe and skipper Van Dijk set the tone in his programme note.
He wrote: “Having been denied this in 2020, we all have a duty to make the most of this opportunity, and to make it the most happy and joyful experience possible
“We have to enjoy these moments because these are the things we work for every single day.”
The Dutchman, honoured by the giant mural of his face that now decorates a terrace-end nearby, added: “The idea of being at Anfield and lifting that trophy in front of all our supporters?
“That’s something different. It’s something special.”
And boy did everyone do their duty, the faithful having been filling the streets around Anfield for hours before kick – off.
Unlike five years ago a multitude more of them – maybe up to the same 750,000 who turned out for Liverpool’s open – top bus parade after the 2019 Champions League triumph – will be there tomorrow to laud the Prem champions.
But last time, of course, there was no city–wide street party and no parade.
Of those denied that glory ride, Van Dijk, Andy Robertson, Joe Gomez, Trent Alexander-Arnold, in his farewell game before leaving for Real Madrid, Harvey Elliott, Curtis Jones, and Caoimhin Kelleher remain around to take part in all the fun this time.
Along, of course, Salah, top scorer in the 2019-20 season, top scorer this season too with 29 now, ahead of his team mates like in every one since he arrived from Roma in 2017 for £36.5M.
And watching on, ready to party for real this time too, as well as looking about ten years younger, was Klopp himself who at the end of last season left to be replaced by Arne Slot but whose heart remains at Anfield.
There were fears his decision to walk alone might signal crisis. Last night, amidst all the festivities, that sounded like quite a laugh, too.