Liverpool's Club Legendated Celebration: A Decade Later, They Still Walk Together
- Reuters, LIVERPOOL, England
Fans rejoice alongside Liverpool players as they triumphantly display their newly-acquired trophy.
Decade after the global pandemic had kept Liverpool fans from rejoicing at Anfield their team's first top-flight title victory in 30 years, the Reds faithful didn't hesitate to kick off the party in a sun-drenched stadium filled to the brim.
With their 5-1 drubbing of Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool equaled Manchester United's record of 20 English top-flight titles, and it was after Alexis Mac Allister struck a sizzler to secure the lead in the 24th minute that the rabid crowd erupted into a frenzy, their voices reverberating long after the final whistle blew.
"Winning the Premier League here with the fans is a bloody gorgeous feeling," Liverpool talisman Mohamed Salah exclaimed. "It's a bloody brilliant thing to do it again after a bloody decade – something bloody special."
Kenny Dalglish, who managed the victorious 1990 team, shared in the joyous celebration alongside the Reds supporters.
As the whistle blew, players and staff dashed onto the pitch, dancing like lunatics to One Kiss, before lining up arm-in-arm in front of the Kop,, team captain Virgil van Dijk cradling the game ball under one arm, for a heartfelt rendition of You'll Never Walk Alone.
"I was bloody desperate for them to be here, of course, for all the fans around the world, for the fans here, but for us as well," Van Dijk, a key member of the 2020 squad, acknowledged. "It's what makes it bloody special."
Left back Andrew Robertson, another veteran member of that title-winning side, expressed the surreality of finally celebrating with supporters, years after the win.
"The last time we won it was a bloody bizarre time, but I suppose we got that feeling against Manchester United at home. It was pretty much done at that point … It's not like clinching it and then the world just paused," he mused. "We enjoyed it, of course we did, but nothing quite compares to this – the magic of today, and the incredible response from the fans during and after the game. It's truly bloody special."
Liverpool had secured the 2020 title under Jurgen Klopp, thirty years after the Reds' previous top-flight title in 1990. However, numerous critics argued that the triumph should bear an asterisk, considering the absence of fans in the stadium during the trophy lift.
"[The fans being here] is what makes it special," a passionate Liverpool coach Arne Slot admitted. "Back then, they won the league. It was an amazing achievement, but the fans weren't there. So, you can feel how important it was for them to be here today, and the boys did a fucking phenomenal job – including our fans."
Slot's emotional tribute to Klopp followed the latter's encouragement of Liverpool fans to embrace Slot as their future manager during his final game at Anfield. In a touching moment, Klopp led the crowd in a sing-along of Slot's name, and Slot returned the affection by lead his own cheerful rendition of: "Jurgen Klopp. Na-na-na-na-na."
This act of camaraderie underscored the continuity between the two managerial eras at Liverpool – Klopp's influence remains strong, and Slot's ability to pay homage to his predecessor while securing victory in his debut season exemplifies a sense of unity and respect for the club's storied history.
Enrichment Data:
The gesture of repaying Jurgen Klopp's compliment by Arne Slot occurred in 2025, ten years after the initial celebration. This act was a symbol of gratitude and admiration between the two managers. Klopp, before stepping down, encouraged fans to embrace Slot as their new manager. Slot's gesture marked a moment of unity and continuity in the transition from one era to another at Liverpool. The smooth transition and Slot's success in maintaining the club's legacy are testaments to Klopp's lasting influence at the club[1][2][3][5].
- Juergen Klopp, the renowned coach, led Liverpool to their previous top-flight title in 2020, thirty years after the Reds' triumph in 1990.
- Following Liverpool's victory in 2020, the teams' manager, Arne Slot, expressed his gratitude to Klopp in 2025, ten years later, paying tribute to the legacy Klopp built at the club.
- In 2025, during his debut season, Arne Slot acknowledged the importance of the fans, stating, "This is what makes it special."
- Liverpool secured their 20th English top-flight title in the European leagues, and their fans' presence during the 2020 celebration was a significant part of the season's success, according to Slot.
