Liverpool wins English Premier League for the first time in club’s history

Liverpool has had to wait longer than anyone could have predicted, but the club can once again call itself the best in England.

There have been years in the wilderness, a few near-misses and, just when Jurgen Klopp and his men were six points from securing the club’s first league title in 30 years, a global pandemic brought this season’s procession to a halt.

But the return of football in England earlier this month after a 100-day absence revived a title bid which was only put in doubt when the season was put on pause.

After Liverpool’s impressive 4-0 win over Crystal Palace on Wednesday, Manchester City needed to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Thursday to delay the coronation. But the defending champion’s failure to claim three points — City was beaten 2-1 in London — ended the wait. Pep Guardiola’s team must now pass on the crown.

Liverpool, a team which had previously won 18 league titles but none since 1990, has now won the English Premier League for the first time, taking it to within one title of equaling Manchester United’s record of 20 first division titles.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Klopp described winning the title as “absolutely incredible.”

“I have no words. It’s unbelievable. Much more than I ever thought would be possible,” he said. “Becoming champions with this club is absolutely incredible. It is an incredible achievement of my players … and a pure joy for me to coach them.”

Though lockdown restrictions are easing in England, Liverpool fans will not be able to celebrate as they had envisioned a few months ago. Who knows when it will be safe to hold a parade through the city?

A number of supporters gathered outside Anfield to rejoice in their team’s historic achievement, while the squad itself were together to enjoy the moment the final whistle blew in Stanford Bridge.

But the more subdued celebrations do not mask the enormity of the feat.

What Klopp and his team have achieved is remarkable. Defeated just once, Liverpool has been the dominant team of the season. The Merseysiders lead second-place City by 23 points and, by the end of the campaign, could amass a record points total of 107. No team has won the title with seven games to spare.

When Klopp joined the club in October 2015, Liverpool was 10th in the table, struggling to score goals and had collected 12 points from eight games. There were wealthier teams, better teams, in the EPL. Thoughts of winning another league title seemed fanciful.

“We have to change from doubters to believers,” said Klopp in his first interview as Liverpool boss. It was a statement which raised eyebrows, but one which also energized the club’s enormous fanbase. Few could have imagined, however, the progress the club would make under the charismatic German.

There have been expensive signings; record fees for a goalkeeper and a defender, but even before those purchases were made, Klopp’s tactics had resulted in progress. Now, no team in the country plays with such intensity and energy. It has the best defense in the league, a hypnotic forward triumvirate and a tireless midfield.

In every season but his first, the manager has steered his team into the Champions League, reaching the final twice, and every player under his tutelage has improved, from academy graduates such as Trent Alexander-Arnold, to more surprising signings like Mo Salah and Andy Robertson. There have been few flops.

And, finally, after three failures in cup finals, Liverpool won its first silverware under Klopp last season, when the team beat Tottenham in the Champions League final.

It was a victory which strengthened the fans’ faith in the team, easing concerns that this was a squad of nearly-men, as Liverpool had also that season narrowly missed out on the title by a point, despite accumulating a club record total of 97.

Since that summer night in Madrid, the team has gone on to win the Club World Cup, the UEFA Super Cup and now the most coveted trophy of all.

That Liverpool would bounce back from last season’s agony to win the title the following season in such ruthless fashion is testimony to the team Klopp has built. But, as the man himself once said, the players he has assembled are “mentality monsters.”

Klopp has earned the right to be regarded among the finest managers in this storied club’s history. It is not without reason that many liken him to Bill Shankly, the former manager who rebuilt the club in the 1960s and laid the foundations for what became a footballing dynasty in the following two decades.

“He’s been fantastic and epitomizes everything the club stands for,” Kenny Dalglish, the last manager to guide Liverpool to the title, told BT Sport after a Christian Pulisic strike and a Willian penalty had secured victory for Chelsea.

“It’s not just a one-off because last year they came within a point. Onwards and upwards and, I think, we’ve a lot more happy days to look forward to as long as Jurgen is there.”

Liverpool is a club which has enjoyed much success, but nothing in its glorious past quite compares to the exceptional season this outstanding team has produced.