CHAMPAGNE

Reds celebrate their unforgettable title win by uncorking an Anfield special

WELL, they did promise a spectacular.

It had been 30 years and 1,155 games since Liverpool last lifted the title trophy here at Anfield and the absence of fans was not going to spoil the occasion. Well, not completely.

This was a celebration, pure and simple. A celebration of the pyrotechnic talent on show, a celebration of the achievements this truly great Reds side have recorded in this recordbreaking season.

And there were plenty of fireworks, even before that explosive display on the Kop at the end, as Jurgen Klopp’s side delivered on their vow to give those watching at home something to remember this historic night by.

Chelsea had the same thought, making it a goal-fest that had plenty of drama.

Three incredible Liverpool first-half strikes, all of audacious quality, suggested they had saved their best until this last home game of an epic campaign, as a fitting reminder of just why they became champions with a record seven matches to go.

It was almost a competition between Naby Keita, Trent Alexander-arnold and Gini Wijnaldum to see who could produce the most ferocious, crispest, cleanest hit.

And just for the hell of it, Roberto Firmino got his first league goal of the season here. Now that really was special.

To end a drought of three decades in such nerveless fashion – before the jangling nerves of this – suggests this is a team of true champions, who deserve their place alongside the pantheon of those 18 title-winning sides who came before them. The fans deserved to witness that, deserved to be here to pay their own tribute, just as a packed

Anfield did at the end of what at the time seemed to be another routine, triumphant campaign, the fateful 1989-90 season.

A rough calculation suggests almost 25 million supporters have packed into this famous old stadium to watch Liverpool’s quest to deliver another League Championship win since that night on May 1 1990 when Alan Hansen last raised the trophy aloft.

About 25 million faces, filled with expectation, lit with hope, anticipation, but tinged with fear and frustration. And now, finally, when those faces could

FIST CLASS Alexanderarnold after his brilliant free-kick Roberto Firmino heads home and Liverpool are cruising before late fireworks