Liverpool have secured the club’s first top-flight English league title since 1990, marking a 19th league success in their history and a first in the Premier League era.
The Reds were confirmed as Premier League champions after Chelsea ended Man City’s title hopes by defeating them 2-1 at Stamford Bridge.
Jurgen Klopp’s side have been the dominant force throughout the 2019/20 campaign, winning 27 of their 29 league games to pull 25 points clear at the top of the table prior to the season being suspended due to the coronavirus crisis.
A 0-0 draw at Everton on Sunday meant they could not win the league against Palace on Wednesday night, but they hammered the Eagles 4-0 to set up the triumph.
The success pulls the Reds to within one title of Manchester United’s record haul of 20, and marks the end of a 30-year quest to get back to a status they regularly enjoyed in the 1970s and 80s.
Klopp’s side came within a whisker of winning the title last season, picking up 97 points from their 38 games only to be pipped to the trophy by Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, who ended on 98.
They were able to put their disappointment to one side and pick up the club’s sixth European Cup when they beat Tottenham in the Champions League final, and they took that form into a remarkably consistent Premier League season.
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Soccer Football – Premier League – Liverpool fans celebrate winning the Premier League – Liverpool, Britain – June 25, 2020 Liverpool fans celebrate winning the Premier League outside Anfield after Chelsea won their match against Manchester City REUTERS/Phil Noble
Liverpool won all of their first eight matches of the 2019/20 league campaign – including against Arsenal and Chelsea – to take an early lead, before dropping their first points of the campaign in a 1-1 draw at Manchester United in October.
However, any notion that that draw would begin a dip in form was proved spectacularly wrong as the Reds remarkably won their next 18 league fixtures to take a stranglehold on the top spot of the division.
That run included a notable late victory at Aston Villa, a 3-1 win at home to title rivals Manchester City, wins against rivals Everton and Manchester United and perhaps their best performance of the season in a 4-0 win at Leicester on Boxing Day.
The chance to complete an unbeaten season evaporated in a 3-0 defeat at Watford in late February, and after the coronavirus crisis forced the Reds to wait three months for the season to get back up and running again, they have now secured the trophy they have prized above all others for 30 years.
Liverpool fans let off flares outside Anfield after their title triumph had been confirmed.
Kenny Dalglish, the last manager to lift a league title with Liverpool, showed his emotion as he celebrated from home draped in a club scarf.
“Certainly since Jurgen’s come in, its been very positive. He’s been fantastic and he epitomises everything Liverpool Football Club stands for,” said Dalglish, who masterminded three league titles as Liverpool boss.
“It’s onwards and upwards. I think he will go on and win more.”
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher tweeted: “Jurgen Klopp LFC legend,” while Michael Owen said: “Congratulations LFC What an unbelievable season and the best team by a mile!”
Several of Liverpool’s players had gathered at a house to watch the match unfold, including Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Alisson and Roberto Firmino, with raucous scenes at the final whistle.
Liverpool owner John Henry tweeted: “This was a season for the ages and for the faithful of Liverpool Football Club.
“It has been an incredible year of magnificent achievement culminating tonight in capturing the Premier League title.
“The world has watched the fierce determination of this club on the field for every single match – the preparation, the resolve and the talent of those who put together perhaps the greatest league performance ever in any country’s history.
“It is said, ‘We are Liverpool.’ You, the supporters are Liverpool in every sense and you continue to drive the club forward – a historic club making history once again.”
