Liverpool's players finally got their hands on the Premier League trophy on Wednesday in a muted presentation ceremony in front of an empty Kop after a thrilling 5-3 victory over Chelsea in their last home game of the season.
The club's first English title for 30 years had been sealed almost a month ago with seven games remaining, following a three-month stoppage because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kenny Dalglish, the last Liverpool manager to deliver the title, presented the medals wearing a red face mask before handing the trophy to captain Jordan Henderson who raised it to the night sky as fireworks and tickertape filled the air.
Sadly, because of the pandemic that interrupted Liverpool's charge to the title, the fans missed out on what would have been a momentous night at Anfield stadium.
Merseyside police had issued a 48-hour dispersal order to stop fans gathering in large numbers across the city, as they did when the title was won on June 25 when nearest rivals Manchester City were beaten by Chelsea.
Many did gather outside, however, letting off flares and fireworks.
Despite the sanitised ceremony in the 53,000-seater stadium, Liverpool's players did their best to fill the void, belting out a rendition of the club's anthem "You'll Never Walk Alone" along with manager Juergen Klopp and his staff.
"If you don't see that we do it for you I can't help you," Klopp said when asked for his message to the fans.
"You made us happy, we all should celebrate at home. Prepare for a party and when this virus has gone we will have a party."
Liverpool chief executive Peter Moore said the players and fans will "come together to celebrate" when the time is right.
"It's been an amazing season," Henderson told former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher at pitchside.
"It's been a journey, a process, and every single player has been part of it."
A trophy presentation without fans was always going to feel a little flat, although the real fireworks have been provided over a sensational season by a superb Liverpool side.
Liverpool missed out by a point last year to Manchester City despite losing only one game.
Although they won the Champions League title last June, the English crown is what the red half of Merseyside has craved for three decades.
During that time they have watched arch-rivals Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City dominate the league.
The manner in which Liverpool took it back suggests it will not be a one-off.
"This won't be the last one for this team," former Liverpool midfielder Graeme Souness said. "This club is geared to be a very successful football club, this is Liverpool back to where they were 30 or 40 years ago.
"They will be challenging for this and the Champions League for the next decade."
Reuters
Thu Jul 23 2020
Liverpool's Alisson, Firmino and Fabinho celebrate with the trophy after winning the Premier League Pool, Anfield, Liverpool, Britain, July 22, 2020 - Pool via REUTERS/Laurence Griffiths
Wai Ching muncul juara Kejohanan Larian Menara Dunia di Taipei 101
Atlet berusia 30 tahun itu merangkul kejuaraan itu dengan masa keseluruhan 18 minit dan 36.62 saat.
Pendekatan holistik perlu bagi reformasi pembangunan TVET
Malaysia memerlukan satu pendekatan holistik bagi mereformasikan pembangunan ekosistem Pendidikan dan Latihan Teknikal dan Vokasional (TVET) sedia ada.
Piala Uber: Tuan rumah China bertemu Indonesia pada final
Tuan rumah China akan bertemu Indonesia bagi menentukan Juara Piala Uber selepas menewaskan Jepun 3-0.
PRK Kuala Kubu Baharu: 17 NGO India umum sokong calon PH
Sebanyak 17 badan bukan kerajaan (NGO) yang mewakili kaum India di Kuala Kubu Baharu (KKB) menyatakan sokongan kepada calon Pakatan Harapan (PH) Pang Sock Tao.
Selesai di Kedah, PM meriahkan pula Rumah Terbuka Aidilfitri di Pulau Pinang
Sejurus selesai Majlis Sambutan Aidilfitri MADANI peringkat Kedah di Jitra, Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim terus bergegas ke Pulau Pinang bagi menghadiri Rumah Terbuka Aidilfitri Persatuan K
Berbeza pandangan bukan penghalang perkukuh kerjasama kerajaan negeri, Persekutuan - PM
Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim berharap perbezaan pandangan tidak menjadi penghalang dalam usaha untuk terus memperkukuh kerjasama antara Kerajaan Persekutuan dan Kerajaan Negeri Kedah demi
Nurul Izzah terus cemerlang, Muhammad Ridwan kalahkan abang
Nurul Izzah tidak berdepan masalah untuk mengungguli saingan final dengan mengetepikan cabaran dua rakan senegara.
Kementerian Kesihatan cadang wujud tiga lagi Wellness Hub di Sabah
Kementerian Kesihatan bercadang untuk mewujudkan tiga lagi Wellness Hub di Sabah bagi mendorong amalan kualiti hidup sihat dalam kalangan penduduk di negeri itu.
Kaedah nyamuk berwolbachia atasi masalah kes denggi di N.Sembilan
Kumulatif kes denggi di Negeri Sembilan merekodkan peningkatan kepada 2,824 kes hingga Minggu Epidemiologi ke-17 (ME17) tahun ini berbanding 1,032 kes bagi tempoh yang sama tahun lepas.
Hajiji mahu Jabatan Perhutanan Sabah tingkat kutipan hasil hutan
Ketua Menteri Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor mahu Jabatan Perhutanan Sabah (JPS) meningkatkan kutipan hasil hutan untuk mencapai sasaran RM165 juta yang ditetapkan pada tahun ini.
EPL: Mauricio Pochettino pimpin Chelsea benam Spurs
Satu gol pada setiap separuh masa daripada Trevoh Chalobah dan Nicolas Jackson memberikan The Blues kemenangan yang tidak ternilai.
EPL: Kai Havertz pastikan Arsenal menang bergaya tewaskan Chelsea
Kemenangan itu meletakkan Arsenal tiga mata di hadapan Liverpool yang kini berada di tangga kedua dengan bermain lebih satu perlawanan.
Piala FA Inggeris: Status Erling Haaland masih tanda tanya
Pep Guardiola mendedahkan bahawa pemain berusia 23 tahun itu meminta untuk dikeluarkan tanpa memberi alasan yang kukuh.
Pertelingkahan Jackson-Madueke bayangi empat gol Palmer buat Chelsea
Dua pemain Chelsea terlibat dalam pertengkaran fizikal mengenai siapa yang harus bertanggungjawab mengambil sepakan penalti.
Pemain Chelsea masih belum cukup matang - Mauricio Pochettino
"Menonton bola sepak pada usia 52 tahun, anda perlu mengenal pasti dengan cepat sekiranya pasukan itu bersedia untuk bersaing ataupun sebaliknya."
Cole Palmer buat peminat Man United bersahur dengan air mata
United mendahului 3-2 dan kelihatan bakal bawa pulang tiga mata namun Noni Madueke dijatuhkan Diogo Dalot pada minit ketujuh masa tambahan.
'Kami harap penyokong berada di belakang kami'
Pengendali kelahiran Argentina itu bergelut membina asas kukuh skuad Chelsea mewah, namun berada di tangga ke-11 dalam EPL.
Liverpool julang trofi pertama musim ini
Jaringan tuggal Virgil van Dijk pada babak kedua masa tambahan sudah memadai untuk The Reds mencipta rekod kejuaraan kali ke-10.
Chelsea intai kejutan ke atas Liverpool di Wembley
Misi Pochettino masih jauh dengan Chelsea di tempat ke-10 Liga Perdana Inggeris, 25 mata di belakang Liverpool.
EPL: Rodri selamatkan maruah Manchester City ikat Chelsea
Raheem Sterling menjaringkan gol ke atas bekas kelabnya untuk Chelsea mendahului pada tiga minit terakhir babak pertama.