Liverpool title celebrations echo across Anfield after 35-year wait | OneFootball

Liverpool’s great day 35 years in the making as Anfield salutes new champions

Legacy, leadership and Liverpool’s perfect celebration

The skies above Anfield may have been grey, but the occasion was lit with the unmistakable hue of triumph. It had taken 35 years and 24 days, generations of heartbreak, false dawns, and unfulfilled promise, but finally the wait ended. Liverpool were once again crowned champions of England in front of their own people, in their own cathedral of football, and with a team forged in steel and spirit.

There was symbolism in every corner of this great day. The Premier League trophy was handed over by Alan Hansen, the last Liverpool captain to lift a top-flight title before Sunday, to Virgil van Dijk, the club’s modern-day general at the back. Hansen, so often the personification of composure, looked visibly moved. Van Dijk, always poised, allowed himself a kiss of the silver before thrusting it towards the heavens, red confetti cascading as the Kop roared in celebration.

“It felt amazing,” said Van Dijk. “You guys deserve it. We deserve it as well. We love you guys. I’m so proud of the boys. Let’s enjoy the biggest party ever.”

Slot’s impact and Klopp’s embrace

This was not just a coronation, it was a passing of the torch. Jurgen Klopp returned for the first time since his emotional departure a year ago, taking his place in the directors’ box with a wide grin and misty eyes. As he applauded the team he once sculpted, the man now carrying the baton stepped into the light.

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Arne Slot. The name reverberated around Anfield. Few could have imagined this level of dominance so soon after Klopp’s departure, but Slot’s side have finished ten points clear at the top — a margin that flatters the chasing pack more than it diminishes Liverpool’s consistency.

“Arne deserves so much credit. He’s an extraordinary coach,” said chairman Tom Werner. “He inherited a good team and got the best out of them. He’s authentic. He never tries to be somebody else.”

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Slot has not replaced Klopp by replicating him. He has done so by knowing where to add, when to tweak, and, crucially, when to trust. Liverpool’s football has been relentless but elegant, ruthless but intelligent. The Dutchman’s fingerprints are already on this team’s identity.

Tributes, tears and a final farewell

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s name was not on the scoresheet, but his presence was one of the most emotional threads woven through the day. Talk of his move to Real Madrid had dominated headlines in recent weeks, and the murmur of discontent had begun to turn sour when he was booed against Arsenal. Not on this day. Here, there was understanding, warmth, and a profound sense of gratitude.

“I didn’t know what to expect stepping out at Anfield after what happened a few weeks ago,” he told Sky Sports. “To get the reception I got means more than anything. I’ve played hundreds of games for the club but I’ve never felt so loved and cared for as today.”

He wept as he came on. The Kop serenaded him with the Steven Gerrard song, a poignant echo of another local lad who carried the burden of expectation with pride and grace. This was the send-off he earned through two decades of commitment. And in return, he gave everything. The ovation he received will echo far longer than his contract saga.

Klopp’s presence only amplified the emotional weight. He had told supporters days earlier, “This isn’t us. He gave absolutely everything.” Slot echoed that sentiment in his programme notes, urging fans to come together. “Nothing can be allowed to get in the way. Whatever might divide us can wait for another day.”

Salah’s sparkle and Liverpool’s statement

Mohamed Salah, who will return next season with renewed hunger, ensured Liverpool did not end the campaign with a defeat. His strike late on salvaged a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace after Ismaila Sarr’s opener, and brought his league tally to 29 goals and 18 assists — enough for the Golden Boot and Playmaker award.

In typical Salah fashion, he made history. He became the first Liverpool player to start every league game in a season, and matched the record of 47 goal involvements in a Premier League campaign. He now shares that feat with Alan Shearer and Andy Cole.

The result barely registered on a day where the performance mattered less than the occasion. Ryan Gravenberch’s red card for a professional foul was a minor blemish. This was a celebration in motion, not a tactical review.

The mosaic in the Sir Kenny Dalglish Stand read ‘Campione 20’, a nod to Liverpool’s 20th league title, equalling Manchester United’s total. A banner on the Kop proclaimed: “A team that plays the Liverpool Way and wins the championship in May.” It was a reminder that style and substance are not mutually exclusive — they can be shared and worn like a badge.

Foundations for another era

Fenway Sports Group’s hierarchy, including Werner, John W Henry and Mike Gordon, looked on with satisfaction. Behind them, Michael Edwards and Richard Hughes, key architects of Liverpool’s recruitment reboot, stayed in the background but their influence was evident. The appointment of Slot, the early move for Jeremie Frimpong and negotiations with Florian Wirtz suggest a club refusing to rest on its laurels.

“There will be no standing still,” Werner confirmed. “We’ll go again. We owe it to all our supporters.”

This was a celebration built on legacy and leadership. Hansen to Van Dijk, Klopp to Slot. A club once haunted by the weight of 35 years has learned how to win again, and how to keep moving.

The parade on Monday will be another great day, another chapter added to Liverpool’s rich history. And as the red smoke drifts through the city’s streets, the message will be clear: this is only the beginning.