Liverpool lift Premier League trophy at empty Anfield following huge win over Chelsea
Liverpool lifted the Premier League trophy for the first time in 30 years after prevailing in an eight-goal classic against Chelsea.
Liverpool demonstrated why they are worthy champions, playing with wonderful adrenaline and commitment to attack before Jordan Henderson headed up to pick up the Premier League trophy.
There were some wobbly moments at the back, especially when the outstanding Christian Pulisic came on in the second half to make Chelsea believe they could recover and take the point required for Champions League qualification. But Liverpool deservedly held on, and the cameras were soon turning towards a smiling Henderson waiting for that special moment.
Before collecting the trophy after the game, Henderson had watched from the smart seats, nursing his knee injury, but admiring the ruthless football of the team he has captained so inspirationally this season. Liverpool certainly played like true champions, scoring magnificent goals through Naby Keita, a strike from 20 yards, and then an even better goal, a curling 30-yard free kick from Trent Alexander-Arnold. Georginio Wijnaldum then added a third, exploiting poor Chelsea defending. And that was just the first half.
They were finishes worthy of a full house, not an empty stadium. About 150 fans greeted the champions outside the ground when they arrived.
They have waited 30 years. They have also endured the longest season. It was almost 11 months ago that Liverpool’s season started with the UEFA Super Cup final penalties victory over Chelsea and this campaign has gone into the most extraordinary extra time. Yet this was the night, the moment when the trophy finally reappeared at Anfield, with six red ribbons applied before kick-off, awaiting Henderson’s touch.
Shortly before 8pm, a flurry of fireworks pierced the quiet, signalling the presence of some Liverpool fans in neighbouring streets. Shortly after 8pm, Chelsea players headed out, preparing a guard of honour. Behind them, Liverpool players emerged from their dressing room, and gathered under the “This Is Anfield” proclamation.
Written on the wall, a yard from where Andy Robertson and Keita stood, was Bill Shankly’s famous explanation of the sign’s significance: “It is there to remind our lads who they’re playing for, and to remind the opposition who they’re playing against.” Klopp, a master motivator like Shankly, has restored that powerful identity and his players soon confirmed that.
Liverpool took the lead just before the first-half drinks break and, for all the quality of Keita’s shot, Chelsea had only themselves to blame. Cesar Azpilicueta wafted a clearance into traffic, Willian tried to dribble back towards goal, and was immediately ambushed by Keita and Wijnaldum.
The ball span free, Keita took a touch, and then sent it flying from the edge of the penalty area past Kepa Arrizabalaga.
It was a goal fit to put before a king. Among the small throng scattered around the main stand was Sir Kenny Dalglish, sitting opposite the towering stand now named after him in celebration of his service to the club and containing that long banner proclaiming “Liverpool FC Champions Again”. How fitting that Dalglish should be involved in the medals presentation, having come on as a substitute when Liverpool last received the league trophy 30 years and two months ago.
It was Dalglish who brought Henderson to Anfield in 2011, setting the Wearsider off on that journey that led this morning (AEDT) to the Kop, to the temporary stand in the stand that has a permanent place in Liverpool hearts. The Kop was bedecked with banners celebrating their beloved team, including a recent addition, “The Unbearables”, a name Chelsea fans, among them, gave to them.
Other professions of Kopite love declared “Liverpool FC – support and believe” and “What we achieve in life echoes in eternity”. Everything echoes behind closed doors, although there was plenty of noise in the technical areas, when Andre Marriner punished Mateo Kovacic for a challenge on Sadio Mane when he targeted the ball, but caught the Senegalese with his follow-through. Lampard was aggrieved, and exchanged words with Klopp’s assistant, Pep Lijnders.
Lampard’s mood darkened even further when Alexander-Arnold ran up and swept the ball around a leaping wall of Reece James, Marcos Alonso, Olivier Giroud and Mason Mount, and into the net. Arrizabalaga did not even move.
Some of the greats of Liverpool’s title-winning history looked on, the illustrious likes of Graeme Souness, John Barnes and Ian Rush. They were treated to a third when Giroud’s weak header out from Robertson’s corner was driven home by Wijnaldum. Chelsea responded seconds before the interval, Alonso helping on Mount’s cross, Willian being athletically denied by Alisson but Giroud pouncing from close range. Chelsea have so much attacking talent coming in, Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner, and probably Kai Havertz, but they urgently require defensive reinforcements.
Liverpool restored their three-goal advantage nine minutes after the restart, and it came from another reminder of the dexterous delivery of Alexander-Arnold. His driven cross dropped over Chelsea’s header, giving Roberto Firmino a straightforward headed finish for his first league goal of the season here.
That really seemed it: the champions rampant, Chelsea second best. But Lampard’s side responded, helped by his changes just before the hour when Tammy Abraham, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Christian Pulisic came on for Giroud, Mount and Willian.
Within three minutes, Chelsea were back in it, chasing the draw that would guarantee their Champions League place. Pulisic was immense, dribbling in from the left, and setting up Abraham to make it 4-2.
Chelsea’s response was magnificent. Fireworks continued to light the sky over Anfield. Pulisic continued to illuminate events inside. When Hudson-Odoi crossed from the right, Pulisic chested the ball down, turned and with Alexander-Arnold hesitating, the American rammed his shot past Alisson.
Still the rockets shook the sky, still the smell of cordite drifted into Anfield, still Chelsea sensed a point that had seemed unlikely after 43 minutes. Yet Liverpool simply stepped up a gear with seven minutes remaining, showing their class on the counter.
Robertson’s commitment this season has been unstinting, his hunger for forays upfield matching his defensive expertise, and here he took off, covering 50 yards swiftly before crossing for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to make it 5-3.
The excitement had clearly built outside the ground, and more fans headed towards Anfield, and police put into place a dispersal zone “following increased numbers of people gathering near to the ground tonight”, Merseyside Police announced. “Please don’t put yourselves and others at risk, the best view of the trophy presentation will be on the TV.”
The Times
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