Reds sea of joy
750,000 fans throng streets to hail SIXTH European Cup victory
LIVERPOOL became a sea of red yesterday as 750,000 jubilant football fans cheered the Champions League winners home.
Crowds, up to 20 deep, proudly flew flags as they greeted the triumphant players, who edged through the city on open-top buses.
The heroic stars, who were 2-0 winners over Spurs in the Madrid final on Saturday, jumped up and down, singing “championes, championes”, as fans let off red smoke bombs.
Players wore Liverpool shirts with Champions of Europe on the back above the number six – marking the number of times the Reds have lifted Europe’s most prestigious club trophy.
During the celebrations defender Joe Gomez said: “I think this is the bit the boys are probably buzzing off most. This is what we do it for, to share it with our supporters.”
Manager Jurgen Klopp, grinning widely, held the trophy aloft.
He said: “I’ve cried a little bit. When you see how much it means to people.
“It’s intense, unbelievably emotional.”
Midfielder Gini Wijnaldum added: “It’s phenomenal, can you see how many people have come to see the bus tour? It’s more than I expected, you see grandmas, grandpas, babies, all ages.” Before the triumphant parade, two fire engines created a water arch at Liverpool John Lennon airport to greet the players’ jet, which arrived “with one extra piece of luggage”.
Klopp and captain Jordan Henderson carried the cup down the steps of the plane after what the German called the “best night of our professional lives”.
Joyous Henderson, who was snapped resting his feet on the famous trophy, said after landing: “Sometimes dreams can come true... It’s the best moment of my life. This is what I’ve dreamed of since I was a kid.” Goal scorer Mo Salah, pictured hugging the trophy on the flight, tweeted: “Believe, work hard, and it’ll happen.” Earlier he said: “I sacrificed a lot in my career – especially to go from my village to Cairo to play football.
“To be an Egyptian at this level is unbelievable for me.”
Defender Trent Alexander-Arnold said: “I’m just a normal lad from Liverpool whose dream has just come true.”
After the game goalkeeper Alisson Becker sent a video of himself biting on his winners’ medal to his pregnant wife and child. While Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain led the dressing room celebrations in Madrid after hugging and kissing his girlfriend, Little Mix singer Perrie Edwards, on the pitch.
In a video from his hotel bed the next day, defender Dejan Lovren said: “I feel bad because I didn’t sleep but amazing because we won.”
He was not the only one, the final whistle signalled the start of huge parties in Madrid and Liverpool.
At 6am yesterday some euphoric fans were still dancing and singing in the streets of the Spanish capital.
Others were sleeping it off in doorways, alleys and on bar chairs. Dean