The wait will have been long, thirty years including three months to wonder if the coronavirus was not going to spoil everything, but the Liverpool of Jürgen Klopp reigns again over English football, after the defeat on Thursday 25 June of Manchester City at Chelsea (2-1). “It’s such an important moment, I’m completely overwhelmed”, reacted the coach before dedicating this title to the supporters. “This evening is for you”, he added.
→ READ. For the PSG and Lyon, the puzzle of the recovery
During the night, hundreds of supporters defied the recommendations of the authorities and of Klopp himself to party. Smoke, fireworks, flags, scarves, the whole scarlet red panoply of the LFC supporter was there as people hugged and kissed happily on the street.
????????@JHenderson x @J_Gomez97 x @VirgilvDijk ???? pic.twitter.com/usxUBdlp9c
— Liverpool FC (Premier League Champions ????) (@LFC) June 25, 2020
Victory without audience
“The whole season so far has been incredible”, launched Virgil van Dijk, who arrived on the banks of the Mersey in 2018. “Being part of this group of players and having had this journey since I joined the club, I am really happy with this title. ” Manchester City-Liverpool in a week for the 32e day, will look like passing between two teams that have crushed the championship for two years.
We can always regret that the Reds are sacred without playing and without an audience. But “Honestly, I don’t care”, replied Klopp in anticipation when asked if it would lessen his joy.
Many disappointments
This long-awaited epilogue wipes out three decades of frustration, punctuated by disappointments in 2009, 2014 or even last year, when 97 points were not enough against the Citizens. By the end of winter, the question was no longer if, but when the Liverpool of 2020 joined that of 1990, the last champion.
At the time, the Premier League had not yet been launched and the English championship was not this colossal financial power competition followed all over the world.
Force collective
This year, the Reds crushed the Premier League with an unquenchable thirst for victory that allowed them to often break the toughest locks. Despite a plethora of stars – Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, or the Salah-Firmino-Mané trio – it was their collective strength that impressed, like the club’s slogan: “You’ll never walk alone (You will never walk alone).
Several records fallen along the way bear witness to this undivided domination. Liverpool is, after 31 days, the earliest champion in history, since it took 33 for Manchester United in 2001 and City in 2018. And it’s not over! They can still improve on the 100 points reached by City in 2017/2018 and their difference of 19 points on United, 2nd.
Some shadows on the board
This season, where the Reds also won their first Club World Cup in Qatar in December, will undoubtedly have a good place in their very rich history. Some shadows remain on the board, however.
→ READ. Deconfinement: collective sports will be authorized from Monday
The elimination from the knockout stages in the Champions League, against Atlético Madrid (1-0, 3-2, after extra time), while they were defending champions, was a great disappointment. To a lesser degree, the national cup journeys interrupted in the eighth for the English Cup and in the quarter for the League Cup remain disappointing.
But for the eternal dissatisfied that is Jürgen Klopp, no doubt that these small reserves will be as many sources of motivation to try to bring the Reds even higher next year.
.
