Liverpool played out their first game as Premier League champions on Sunday as they headed for a battle at Stamford Bridge.
The Reds have had a week full of celebrations after confirming their league win at Anfield last week.
And, in truth, it showed during the early stages against Chelsea. Liverpool were behind inside three minutes and could easily have conceded again.
Part of the problem for Liverpool was that after Arne Slot changed all three midfielders, the Reds couldn’t get a handle on the middle of the pitch.
Chelsea midfielder Romeo Lavia also played a part in that, the one-time Liverpool target enjoying an excellent day at the office.
Liverpool almost signed Lavia in 2023 before the former Southampton man had a change of heart and joined Chelsea instead. And after Lavia was taken off as a substitute right in front of the Liverpool fans on Sunday, they let him know exactly what he’d missed out on.
Photo by Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Photo by Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images
Liverpool fans let Romeo Lavia have it
Lavia would have been a good signing for Liverpool. However, after missing out on he and now teammate Moises Caicedo, the Reds went out and got Ryan Gravenberch.
It’s fair to say that Liverpool have hardly regretted their decision. Gravenberch has had a brilliant season.
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Nevertheless, Lavia showed on Sunday what he can bring to the party. The Belgian ran the show against Liverpool.
Having helped his team win the game, the 22-year-old may feel he had the last laugh. But as journalist Lewis Steele pointed out on X, Liverpool fans had another point of view and were keen to let Lavia know it.
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“You could have won the league’, sing the Liverpool fans at Romeo Lavia,” Steele reported.
To Lavia’s credit, he returned the chants with a smile and some hand gestures urging supporters to simmer down. All good fun.
Liverpool fans debut new Arne Slot
Despite the loss, Liverpool fans were in a brilliant mood on Sunday. They were determined to enjoy their moment as champions.
And as well as serenading Lavia, supporters also debuted a new song for Arne Slot for the first time on the terraces.
“He won us number 20 and his name is Arne Slot,” has been a favourite of fans during the title celebrations of the past week.
And during the 90 minutes against Chelsea it could be heard time and time again.
They may have lost on the day, but Liverpool supporters still enjoyed their trip to the capital.