Liverpool's Long-Awaited Title

Liverpool was not a victim of a curse like Benfica with Bela Guttman, but it took three decades for them to reign in England. The last time they did so was in the 1989-1990 season, when Ian Rush, Kenny Dalglish, and Bruce Grobbelaar dominated at Anfield.

Since then, many things have happened in the coastal city of northern England. The most important one probably occurred during that same season when football was overshadowed by one of the greatest tragedies in history. The Hillsborough disaster stained the club's history, and the 96 victims of that day are an eternal memory on one of the facades of Anfield.

That event disrupted Dalglish's fortune as a Liverpool manager, and although many others took charge, none of them were able to reclaim the league. Ronnie Moran, Graeme Souness, Roy Evans, Gerard Houllier, Rafa Benitez, Roy Hodgson, Dalglish in a second spell that was not memorable, and Brendan Rodgers all tried their luck.

Some left great successes, such as Houllier with the famous treble in 2001, consisting of the UEFA Cup, the League Cup, and the FA Cup, and Benitez, who added the fifth European Cup in the miracle of Istanbul.

Others, like Rodgers, fell just short of glory. Perhaps the most painful defeat of all since the 1990 title. Because throughout these thirty years, Liverpool came close to winning the title five times (1991, 2002, 2009, 2014, and 2019), but none were as damaging as the one in 2014.

The team led by Steven Gerrard and Luis Suarez probably deserved that league, which went to the clutches of Manchester City. But the slip by the captain against Chelsea, Demba Ba's goal, Mourinho's tactics, and the collapse against Crystal Palace, squandering a 3-0 lead, dashed Gerrard's worthy title aspirations.

There have been many players who deserved to have won the Premier League dressed in red. Xabi Alonso, Pepe Reina, Javier Mascherano, Jamie Carragher, Fernando Torres, Michael Owen, and Steve McManaman missed out on the prize and will now watch from the sidelines as Jordan Henderson, Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, and Roberto Firmino live their dream.

All guided by the great orchestrator of the change. The signing of Jurgen Klopp as manager has led to this title. His style, his way of dealing with the stars in the dressing room, and the squad planning, without major expenses except for the successes of Virgil Van Dijk and Alisson Becker, have become the pillars of a historic title.

Compared to Arsenal's Invincibles, Liverpool secured the league many months ago, before the coronavirus hit society and the football world. The title has practically been wrapped up since Christmas, maintaining a typical lead of more than 20 points over the closest pursuer, Manchester City.

With this title, a wound is finally healed for Liverpool. Years ago, before Alex Ferguson's triumphant arrival in Manchester, Anfield fans mocked the Red Devils, flaunting their 18 league titles, much more than the seven United had at the time. "Come back when you have 18," Liverpool fans would say. And they did come back, of course they did, with 20 in their pocket.

Now, Liverpool secures their 19th title and can once again hold their heads high, something they typically do in Europe and had become accustomed to hiding in the islands. Liverpool is back, Liverpool reigns once again.

Liverpool finally conquered the thirty-year wait for the league title.