Referee Anthony Taylor’s final whistle sent Liverpool supporters spilling from pubs and fan zones to paint the city red. Within an hour an estimated 200,000 fans gathered along The Strand, waving flags and igniting red smoke flares. Bus drivers leaned on horns in solidarity while Mersey ferries blasted foghorns in a cacophony of celebration. Police praised the good natured crowd; only minor incidents arose as families students and pensioners danced together. Outside St George’s Hall a spontaneous chorus of Allez Allez Allez ran 20 minutes. DJs hauled speakers onto balconies, spinning Gerry and the Pacemakers classics on repeat. Liverpool City Council activated a contingency plan: key roads closed, extra waste crews deployed. By dawn cleanup teams removed 35 tonnes of litter but reported just five arrests. Council leader Liam Robinson called the turnout a testament to unity. Local businesses revelled. A Bold Street bar logged record sales, souvenir stalls shifted 12,000 scarves in 48 hours, and hotels hit 98 percent occupancy amid a surge of visitors from Ireland Scandinavia and North America. The traditional open top bus parade is set for 26 May after the Crystal Palace match. Merseyrail will run extended services and organisers expect crowds rivaling the 750,000 who lined the route in 2019. For now spontaneous street parties underscore a title that united generations in jubilant red. Merseytravel estimated an economic boost of £12 million to the local economy across the celebration weekend, with pubs and restaurants operating extended hours under special licenses. The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra surprised crowds by performing an impromptu brass rendition of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ from an open balcony, a moment widely shared on social media platforms.
