And so, after a 90-minute hiatus as the game with Crystal Palace played out, the Liverpool title celebrations continue. Virgil van Dijk has lifted the trophy, and the novelty isn’t going to wear off just yet.
It was, as perhaps should have been expected given it was far from the main event at Anfield, a poor performance on the pitch from Liverpool. Mohamed Salah’s goal aside, not much went right.
Absolutely no one will care, though, given the scenes at the final whistle — 35 years in the making. It wasn’t as dream-like as when the league title was clinched against Spurs, and nor did the match itself do anything to tee up the events that followed, but it will have its own special part of history.
In truth, for most of the game, those in the crowd were groaning at misplaced passes, and when Ryan Gravenberch was sent off, it felt unlikely that Arne Slot's side would level, even if Salah had other ideas and did make it 1-1.
Crystal Palace, buoyed by winning the FA Cup a week ago and in a celebratory mood itself, did well, and had Ismaila Sarr's goal been the winner, the host couldn't have complained.
That, though, simply wasn't what the afternoon was all about. Van Dijk had spoken weeks ago about being unable to wait for this moment: lifting the Premier League trophy inside a packed stadium. And when it came, he made sure to savor it.
Liverpool fans celebrate winning the Premier League outside Anfield stadium after their their match v Crystal Palace on the last day of the Premier League season today
Liverpool fans celebrate winning the Premier League outside Anfield stadium after their their match v Crystal Palace on the last day of the Premier League season today (Image: Liverpool Echo)
"I can picture it and it will be a very emotional day," Van Dijk told reporters including from Liverpool.com at Stamford Bridge. "My family will be there, my mum, my wife, my kids.
"Hopefully [it will be] even better than what we had after the Champions League final. I already encouraged everyone to wear red in the last game and keep doing that for the rest of the season because everyone saw how amazing it was."
The Dutchman and the rest of his teammates will likely carry on the party until they meet up tomorrow for the title parade. And from there, the celebrations will continue.
On the pitch, Trent Alexander-Arnold was afforded a warm reception — fans went out of their way to clap, not boo, as both Slot and Jurgen Klopp had requested — and Kostas Tsimikas and Alisson Becker bounced around with the trophy. Even the more reluctant dancers, like Tyler Morton, were coaxed forward.
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The home crowd was frustrated for a time, but when Salah scored, it was as if those inside knew that was the instigator for the celebrations to properly resume. The stadium came alive in a way that only Anfield can, and Liverpool fans and players drank it in.
"Let's have the best weekend of our lives... so far," Klopp said in a message to fans on Friday. "Loads of great weekends will follow with this wonderful team and this great club."
While more will follow, the first — or at least the first in a long time — is often the most memorable.
You can expect plenty more jubilation in the next 24 hours. Liverpool has won the league, Van Dijk has lifted the trophy, and now it's on to the parade. This is indeed the weekend of all weekends for Liverpool fans — and it’s only just begun.