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Elizabeth Bratton writes about Liverpool's premier league victory: a feat the club has not achieved since 1990. This article follows fans' reactions, Klopp's response, and the unique prizegiving ceremony. The celebrations may have taken place in a near-empty stadium, but they consisted of fireworks, flamboyant light displays, and loud music. Learn more about the efforts of a volunteer group that strove to clear up the city.
On the 25th of June, second place Manchester City lost 2-1 to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. With seven games left to play, and a 23-point advantage, Liverpool could not be caught, and their Premier League victory had been secured.
Despite restrictions on mass gatherings, fans took to the streets to celebrate their first league title in thirty years. Within half an hour of the final whistle being blown in London, over 2000 fans had gathered outside Anfield. Throughout the night, fans began to congregate outside the famous Kop stand, with others climbing on bins and merchandise stalls. The Liver Building also sustained damage after it was hit with fireworks: an incident which the club described as “wholly inappropriate”. However, many fans were seen wearing face masks, and Assistant Chief Constable Rob Carden described the celebrations as “mostly good natured”. Cars were kept out of the crowds, although their horns could be heard across the city.
Speaking live to Sky Sports pundits Kenny Dalglish and Graeme Souness, Klopp cried tears of joy, praising coaching staff and players, while encouraging fans to celebrate in their homes. He dedicated the victory to Dalglish, stating: “To become champions with this club, knowing how much Kenny supported us, this is for you as well, Kenny. You had to wait another 30 years so your club could win it”. He proceeded to recall, “It is quite the achievement of my players; what they have done over the last two years is exceptional. A pure joy for me to coach them”. The manager noted the challenges faced by the “three-month interruption” caused by the coronavirus outbreak, explaining that it was difficult to know how players would perform upon their return. Towards the end of his speech, the German star described himself as feeling “completely overwhelmed”.
However, it was not until Wednesday the 22nd of July that the team could actually lift the trophy. The Reds’ 5-3 win against Chelsea was particularly fitting, having lost only three league matches throughout the thrilling 2019/20 season. An empty stadium did not prevent Klopp from thanking “everybody who made it happen”, as music rang throughout, and confetti sprawled across the pitch. As Anfield has a capacity of over 54,000, it was certainly eerie to witness the team walk out, accompanied only by staff members and, somewhat ironically, “You’ll Never Walk Alone”. Yet, not even a pandemic could completely rule out festivities, as the BBC described the light shows as being of “of rock concert proportions”. The squad, led by captain Jordan Henderson, received the cup on a purpose-built podium., as Dalglish, the last manager to lead the club to premier league victory, handed over both medals and the trophy. The stadium became engulfed in red, as fireworks erupted overhead.
Disputing Matteo Kovacic’s challenge on Sadio Mane, Chelsea boss Frank Lampard reportedly told Klopp to “f*** off”. Only minutes later, Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold secured a second goal, giving the home team a 2-0 lead. Speaking to Sky Sports, Lampard later expressed his disapproval at the hosts’ behaviour, warning they shouldn’t “get too arrogant with it”. However, the two managers did shake hands after the match, with Lampard emphasising that he has “no problem” with Klopp.
Much like in June, Reds fans paraded through the streets of Liverpool - many with children. BBC correspondent Kelly Foran recalled how families were “milling around” until 22:15, when a “flurry of fans” surrounded the grounds. At that point, flares were released, flags were waved, and the crowds began to sing. Police have issued a dispersal order, granting officers the power to ask groups of people to leave, if they are causing disruption. However, this did not seem to be particularly enforced, as crowds remained. Concert square was a particular hotspot, although there were reportedly “no signs of trouble” from the fans dressed in red.
The next day, on the 23rd of July, a group of Liverpool fans launched an effort to clean up the city, in the aftermath of the celebrations. Mark Cowell, who runs mental health support groups, found a group of volunteers to help clear up litter. The mission was organised at 9PM on Wednesday night; the volunteers were joined by club and council staff, who all got to work at 5:30AM the next day. Cowell accepted that such a mess was inevitable, as fans were excited by the monumental moment, and explained: "It's about bringing positive people together and setting an example for the younger generation.”
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