In the 1989/90 season, the Reds finished the league nine points clear of Aston Villa under the tutorship of Kenny Dalglish, losing only one match throughout the season.
That was a historic season for the Merseyside and it marked the last time they would lift the league ware in a long time.
The 30 years barren run ended on Thursday in a style a bit similar to the 1989/90 season. Liverpool were crowned English champions after a spectacular season that has seen them record just one loss after 31 games. Thanks to Jurgen Klopp’s genius, the Reds have finally found their place at home.
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When Liverpool reached 61 points from their first 21 games, they became the first team in Europe’s top five leagues to set that record. They went on to extend the record, wining their next six matches to keep the points at 79 from 27 games, until the underdog Watford ended their unbeaten run dream.
It was part of last season’s consistency that saw them clinched the champions League against all odds, making an unbelievable comeback against the Spanish side Barcelona, in an Anfield thriller that saw the English side overturn a 3 0 first leg loss.
Liverpool has been consistent in their quest to fulfill the dream of fans who have waited for years to celebrate a domestic trophy. Though the Mersey side has had a glorious outing in Europe, the joy was incomplete without a domestic ware to brag about. Trolls hold that against them.
The sky turned red in England on Thursday night as expected, as the premiership trophy went to a new ground. Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Leicester City have all been on the list of winners over this period that Liverpool was playing a spectator.
Man City’s dominance in England has ended, putting Pep Guardiola’s tactics in check and ushering in a new era of rivalry and reign. Liverpool are champions, and the fans have set the sky of Anfield red with fireworks. Though the moment has been anticipated, it has come through parches and thorns, making it more glamorous.
Season after season since 1990, that Liverpool has come close to winning the league, a mishap, players injury, referees decision etc. ended it abruptly. Liverpool is the only team to lose just one game in a season and yet failed to win the league.
Thus, not even COVID-19 could stop the celebration. Joyous fans troop en masse to Anfield, defying social distancing and coronavirus to sing their You Will Never Walk Alone anthem. You can’t blame them, they waited 30 years for it, and thus, it’s a lifetime experience. Coronavirus had denied them the chance to watch the league winning match in the stadium; it wouldn’t deny them the chance to celebrate it.
It has been a moment defined by a collection of moments filled with disappointments and painful memories, not one defined by Man City’s 1-2 defeat to Chelsea. So the Reds have decades of events, defined by moments still fresh in their memories to celebrate in one defining moment.
An emotional Kenny Dalglish, while relishing the joys of the moment said it has been a long painful wait.
“I think back then if you’d have said it would take 30 years you’d have been arrested and sectioned, but sometimes things happen.”
He didn’t fail to acknowledge the genius of Klopp, the German import who came in 2015 to change the 30 years history.
“The last two years since Jurgen Klopp came in, it has been very positive all the way. He’s been fantastic and he epitomizes everything that Liverpool stands for. He respects everyone at the club.
“it’s not just a one-off as last year they came within a point of it and won the European Cup and a World Club Cup too, so onwards and upwards and I think there will be plenty more days to look to as Jurgen is there.
“It takes a fantastic dressing room to win things. You don’t win anything with division, it takes solidarity, and Liverpool from top to bottom have been together,” he said.
Klopp couldn’t hold his tears as he expresses that this moment has been all he wanted all along. Not even winning the Champions League matters more than breaking the jinx.
“It’s the best thing I can imagine and more than I could have ever dreamed. I have no words, it’s unbelievable. It’s much more than I ever thought would be possible, becoming champion with this club is absolutely incredible,” he said.
He thanked the fans and acknowledged their tenacious spirit which has spurred the entire team to their best.