Liverpool celebrated lifting the English Premier League trophy for the first time in 30 years in style as the new Premier League champions defeated Chelsea in an eight-goal thriller at Anfield.
Captain Jordan Henderson – currently out injured – hoisted the trophy aloft on a special podium built on the Kop after Jurgen Klopp’s side completed a third unbeaten Premier League season at Anfield and set a club record 31 league wins in the process.
Chelsea, needed a point from the game to secure a place in the top four but the Blues must now avoid defeat in their final game at home to Wolves on Sunday to confirm a place in next season’s Champions League.
Naby Keita broke the deadlock with a fierce 25-yard drive, and the Reds added further goals before the interval through Trent Alexander-Arnold’s sumptuous free-kick and Gini Wijnaldum’s close-range strike.
Olivier Giroud pulled one back for Chelsea on the stroke of half-time but Roberto Firmino headed in his first Premier League home goal of the season from Alexander-Arnold’s cross to seemingly snuff out the Blues’ hopes of staging a comeback.
Chelsea substitute Christian Pulisic then had a galvanising impact as he sparked a Chelsea fightback, weaving through the Liverpool rearguard to set up a goal for Tammy Abraham and then scoring another himself on the turn as the Blues threatened a dramatic comeback.
The champions pressed forward again, however, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain slammed home the fifth from Andy Robertson’s cross with six minutes left.
It was a fitting way for Liverpool to round off another unbeaten league season at Anfield and the perfect set-up for their title presentation celebrations.
