Liverpool Share Points With Crystal Palace Before Getting Party Started

Touches of class abounded at Anfield. There was the impromptu guard of honour that Liverpool gave ­Crystal ­Palace in recognition of their historic FA Cup win and the tumultuous reception that meant everything to Trent ­Alexander-Arnold as he stepped on to the podium to collect one final medal with his boyhood club. Most ­poignantly and appropriately, there was the sight of Alan Hansen passing the Premier League trophy to Virgil van Dijk. A weight of history passed between two great Liverpool captains as well.

Van Dijk and Hansen, what a central defensive partnership they would have made. The Scot had been the last Liverpool captain to receive a league championship trophy in front of the club’s fans, 35 years and 24 days earlier. How fitting it should be him to give the cherished piece of silverware to Liverpool’s current captain. How good it was to see Hansen too, less than a year after he was in hospital with a serious illness. Jordan ­Henderson was denied that electric moment with supporters by the pandemic in 2020, so too Jürgen Klopp. Both were present to witness Van Dijk and Arne Slot revel in Liverpool’s record-equalling 20th league title in front of the Kop.