FeatureNot Nineteen Forever: The story of an historic day at Anfield as Liverpool become Premier League champions

Kick-off is still hours away but the city is awake and alive and ready. Homes are adorned with flags, the streets of L4 are abuzz and the captain’s words have resonated.

“I would just encourage everyone that comes to Anfield for the remaining games of the season to wear red, come in red or come with all red, make it a red Anfield.”

Your people listened, Virgil.

Thousands upon thousands line Anfield Road to welcome and celebrate the team that will shortly make their dreams – the dream – come true.

Liverpool Football Club will become champions of England for the 20th time. It happens today and this time everyone can be here.

The Courteeners’ aptly titled Not Nineteen Forever plays, and is duly drowned out, as Arne Slot’s squad emerge for their warm-up. The ground is already nearly full and it crackles with an excitement that borders on giddiness.

‘It was always Liverpool’ reads the banner unfurled at the front of the Kop – another nod to the skipper – and You’ll Never Walk Alone is otherworldly. So good, so special, that even some in the away end applaud in appreciation.

People have waited 35 years for this day and it’s not going to pass them by.

The noise level at kick-off is recorded at 95 decibels – the equivalent of being in close proximity to an electric drill – and, with support like this, how could anything go wrong?

Well.

It does, very briefly, as former Red Dominic Solanke heads Tottenham into an early lead.

But Luis Diaz quickly renders that an aberration and, ultimately, a footnote on the day. The Colombian’s equaliser, given after a VAR review, is celebrated accordingly and enjoyed greatly by one of his predecessors in the No.7 shirt: Vladimir Smicer, who is sat in Anfield’s press box.

Minutes later, Alexis Mac Allister blasts Liverpool into the lead and it’s soon 3-1 as Cody Gakpo locates the bottom corner with precision.

“We’re gonna win the Football League again!”

Any remaining scintilla of doubt that today is indeed the day is gone and Anfield flicks through its songbook in acclaim of the players and head coach who have made this happen.

Fittingly, Mohamed Salah gets on the scoresheet and, at 6.24pm, the final whistle blows. It finishes 5-1 and they are champions-elect no more.

A team that plays the Liverpool Way – and wins the championship in April.