**(AP) - Liverpool's players have finally got their hands on the Premier League football trophy, almost a month after winning it to equal Manchester United with 20 English top-flight titles.**
The English top-flight championships started over a century ago and include both the First Division and the Premier League era.
The team won the 2024-2025 competition on April 27 but had to wait a month to receive the trophy after their final game of the season, which ended 1-1 against Crystal Palace on Sunday.
Jurgen Klopp, who left as Liverpool manager at the end of last season, returned to Anfield for its campaign-ending party.
The German was seen clapping and smiling as the team's players, starting with captain Virgil van Dijk, to a backdrop of fireworks and ticker tape, lifted the trophy.
“He left the team in such a good place — disciplined, quality — and that’s what made my life, my job, easier to start,” said Arne Slot, Klopp's successor. "Life as a Premier League manager is never easy because of all the competitors we had, but he couldn’t have left the club in a better place than he did.”
Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is leaving Liverpool to reportedly join Real Madrid, was given a good reception after coming on as a halftime substitute and again when going up to get the trophy. He was jeered by some Liverpool fans at a home match against Arsenal two weeks ago.
Alexander-Arnold was seen wiping away tears as he celebrated with his teammates on Sunday.
“I didn't know what to expect, stepping out at Anfield today after what happened a few weeks ago,” he said, "but I wanted to play for the club one more time. I said that to the manager and he trusted me to go in there at halftime.
“To get the reception I got means more than anything to me ... I have never felt so loved and cared for like I did today."
Alexander-Arnold said it “goes down as the best day for me in my life.”
Liverpool finished the season on 84 points, 10 clear of second-placed Arsenal.
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