As 500,000 fans flocked to greet the team bus after lifting Champions League title number six, the world came to realise the size of Liverpool football club.
Dominant in the ‘80’s yet dormant in the Premier League era – Liverpool fans finally have something to celebrate after years of false dawns and promises.
A new challenge now beckons for the Reds, one this team is yet to face.
From hunters to now the hunted, Liverpool will be the first team every side in the Premier League and Champions League look for in next season’s draw.
It is the start of a new journey for the club and manager Jurgen Klopp who knows plenty about being on the other side of the fence, having defended his Bundesliga crown with Borussia Dortmund successfully in winning back-to-back titles.
While a Premier League title still eludes the club, they have once again taken their place among Europe’s elite on the back of resilience, class and unbridled passion – the Liverpool way.
Though many feared the Liverpool way would come to mean something else after another heartbreaking Premier League campaign.
Since 2006 Liverpool has come second after leading at Christmas six times and have lost five finals – including two in the Champions League.
Under Jurgen Klopp – who will no doubt have a statue erected down Merseyside – Liverpool have been cunning and classy, just like their manager.
Jose Mourinho may be the special one – but Klopp is the chosen one.
The German has been heralded as the one to reinvigorate the Reds and build a dynasty like that of Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.
It has been a working progress under Klopp – who took over the Reds at a time when they were sitting tenth in the Premier League.
His personality and charisma is what a club the size of Liverpool needed to return to the promise land.
It was Sadio Mane’s quick thinking which earned the Reds an early penalty before Divock Origi sealed the win with a precise finish.
Origi may not have the pedigree or stardom of Liverpool’s other strikers but he will always be remembered as a Kop hero – the one who brought home European Cup number six.
His heroics against Barcelona in the semi-final already saw him earn the praise of a lifetime by the Kop, but the Belgian now becomes an immortal.
Strikers may win you games, but defenders win you championships and this remains the case with Liverpool. Virgil Van Djik – alongside Joel Matip – proved unstoppable on the night, contributing to why neutrals left the match unimpressed.
Harry Kane may not have been at his best, but the Spurs barely gave the Reds too much to worry about, despite dominating possession.
With this triumph now in the history books the Reds will enter the next Premier League season as favourites alongside Manchester City.
Liverpool will not have every Premier League side breathing down their necks, but every top side in Europe as well.
