It has been a remarkable campaign for Jurgen Klopp's Reds, who have swept aside all before them to win their first championship since 1990
The wait is finally over.
After 30 years, Liverpool can call themselves champions of England.
The Reds’ first top-flight title since 1990 was confirmed on Thursday night after Chelsea defeated 10-man Manchester City.
It has been a remarkable triumph for Jurgen Klopp’s men, amid a remarkable campaign both on and off the field.
Here, Goal takes a look at the 10 games which defined Liverpool’s march to league championship No.19…
Clive BrunskillNewcastle 2-3 Liverpool – Saturday May 2, 2019
For many inside Anfield, the 2019-20 season actually started before the end of the 2018-19 campaign had finished.
Liverpool were embroiled in the tightest, most relentless of title races with Manchester City when they travelled to Newcastle for a Saturday-night fixture.
Three days earlier, they had performed well away at Barcelona in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final, yet lost 3-0. Suddenly, it looked likely that a brilliant season would end in nothing but disappointment.
They laboured at St James’ Park, yet took the lead twice through Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah. But with the Egyptian forced off with concussion, and Salomon Rondon volleying home to bring Newcastle level at 2-2, the problems were mounting.
They found a way to win; substitute Divock Origi heading home an 86th-minute winner to keep them in the hunt. Three days later, they produced the most incredible of comebacks against Barcelona, winning 4-0 at Anfield to book their place in the final.
The message was clear: this team was not prepared to give up. Ever.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesSouthampton 1-2 Liverpool – Saturday August 17, 2019
This was the day Liverpool gained ground on Manchester City, and they never gave it up.
The Reds headed to the south coast with problems. Goalkeeper Alisson Becker had pulled a calf muscle in their win over Norwich on the opening weekend of the season, while newly-signed back-up Adrian had bizarrely hurt his ankle celebrating victory in the UEFA Super Cup in Istanbul in midweek.
Liverpool had been pushed hard in that game by Chelsea – a gruelling encounter eventually decided on penalties – and had to dig deep into their energy reserves for a testing trip to St Mary’s.
They got through, though, with Sadio Mane scoring just before half-time and Roberto Firmino netting after the break. Danny Ings pulled one back after an Adrian error, but they held on.
On the way home, they watched as City drew 2-2 at home to Spurs.
First blood to Liverpool.
Getty ImagesChelsea 1-2 Liverpool – Sunday September 22, 2019
Klopp’s first league win as Liverpool boss came at Stamford Bridge, and the significance of this victory in the capital some four years later should not be downplayed.
The Reds had won their opening five league games of the season, but had been sucker-punched away at Napoli in the Champions League in midweek. Chelsea, meanwhile, were attracting attention after an exciting, attack-minded start to life under new manager Frank Lampard.
Liverpool did the damage in the first half. Trent Alexander-Arnold blasted a free kick into the top corner before Firmino headed home a second after another well-worked set-piece.
The Reds could have extended their lead thereafter, but in the end were forced to hang on following N’Golo Kante’s second-half strike. They did so, maintaining their flawless start to the new season.
Getty ImagesLiverpool 2-1 Leicester – Saturday October 5, 2019
As weekends go, this was a big ‘un.
Four minutes into stoppage time, Liverpool were looking at their first dropped points of the campaign. Leicester, who had started the season well, fought back for what looked a hard-earned draw at Anfield.
Then, Marc Albrighton made an error, clipping Mane in the penalty area. Up stepped James Milner, with nerves of steel. Liverpool won 2-1.
The following day Manchester City hosted Wolves, but were undone by two Adama Traore strikes on the counterattack. Pep Guardiola’s side were suddenly eight points adrift, and it was only October.
They couldn’t, could they?