Four years after their first modern era triumph, Liverpool supporters finally witnessed a trophy lift inside a packed Anfield rather than behind closed doors. When the Kop unfurled a giant banner reading Tell The World We Are Champions Again, the noise was deafening. The Reds had already secured the league on 27 April, yet the presentation on 25 May carried special weight for a fanbase denied communal celebration in 2020 due to pandemic restrictions. The afternoon began with a parade of legends. Sir Kenny Dalglish, Ian Rush, and Steven Gerrard carried the league’s original silverware onto the pitch to form a guard of honour for the current squad. Sky cameras caught Gerrard wiping away a tear as Virgil van Dijk led the players past. Once the whistle blew, Crystal Palace struggled to contain a side determined to party in style. Alexis Mac Allister struck from the penalty spot, Harvey Elliott rifled a second, and Mo Salah added number three with a curling effort that kissed the post. After full time, temporary staging was rolled out in front of the Kop. Van Dijk climbed first, hoisting the trophy aloft while red confetti shot high into the May sky. Team mates danced around him, including Luis Diaz waving a Colombian flag and Darwin Nunez FaceTiming relatives back home. Slot joined last, raising both fists before handing his medal to assistant John Heitinga as a personal tribute. Outside the ground, thousands watched on giant screens along Walton Breck Road. Traffic halted for an impromptu rendition of Allez Allez Allez, with bus drivers and police officers joining the chorus. Local radio reported beer sales in surrounding pubs surpassing any previous match day total, even eclipsing the 2019 Champions League final. The Premier League confirmed viewership of 9.8 million for the ceremony on domestic television, the league’s highest closing day audience since 2012. For Liverpool, the number that mattered most was 20, signifying parity with Manchester United at the summit of English football. Anfield has waited patiently to relive this scene, and the explosion of joy proved well worth the delay.
