Liverpool have been crowned Premier Leaguechampions, ending the club’s 30-year wait for a top-flight title.
The Reds’ top spot finish was confirmed on Thursday evening after second-place Manchester City failed to beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
The result leaves Jurgen Klopp’s men 23 points ahead of Pep Guardiola’s side with just 21 left to play for.
Owner John W 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.’
Klopp broke down in tears as he spoke to Sky Sports in a special championship programme.
He said through tears: ‘I am completely overwhelmed. I never knew it would feel like this. It’s more than I ever dreamed of.
‘It is for you [fans] out there. I hope you stay at home. Celebrate at the front of your house.
‘This is for Kenny – you had to wait. Stevie you too. I know how much this means to everyone.’
It is confirmation of what has been apparent for a long time, given Liverpool’s dominance during the campaign, of which there was further evidence on Wednesday evening when they thrashed Crystal Palace 4-0.
Klopp’s men have lost just once all season – a 3-0 defeat by Watford at Vicarage Road back in February – and have dropped points on only two other occasions during the campaign.
They won each of their opening eight fixtures in the Premier League this term before being held to a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford by rivals Manchester United in October.
After that blip, they embarked on an incredible run that saw them pick up three points in all of their next 18 top-flight fixtures.
The German has transformed the club since leaving Borussia Dortmund to take over and has now ensured legendary status with supporters.
Former Liverpool boss Graeme Souness was full of praise for his old side after the championship was confirmed.
‘They’ve been fabulous, this team. It’s not just about this season. This is a special team,’ he said on Sky Sports.
‘This is a team going forward that will come very, very close to winning it again, and the big one – the European trophy.
‘You can’t say you’re going to dominate. But this is a really, really special team. This is a team no one enjoys playing against. You have to prepare to go to war with them.
‘When you combine that effort with the qualities they have, they’re some team. They’re not a team I would have particularly enjoyed playing against.’
The Reds’ triumph is a monumental moment for the fan-base.
For some of the older members, they had become used to being the dominant force across the 1970s and 1980s.
There was a run in between the 1972-73 and 1990-91 seasons in which Liverpool only failed to finish first or second in the league once; more recent seasons have been tougher.
Despite their dominance in the 1980s, they have surprisingly been without the title for 30 years – a major bug-bear for fans.
In those three decades, the club went on to win three FA Cups, four League Cups, the Champions League twice and a UEFA Cup.
