Liverpool end drought, win 1st league title in 30 years

A three-decade wait delayed further by a postponed coronation has finally reached its conclusion.

Liverpool captured their first top-flight English title in 30 years Thursday, securing maiden Premier League honors for a club rich in distinguished domestic and continental triumphs. It's the club's 19th top-flight title, and with seven matches still to play, it's the earliest any team has ever won the Premier League crown.

Fittingly, Chelsea were the ones to help end Liverpool's drought, as a 2-1 win over Manchester City at Stamford Bridge confirmed - finally - that the Reds can't be caught atop the table by Pep Guardiola's side.

Images of Steven Gerrard's slip, Demba Ba's finish, and Jose Mourinho's theatrical touchline display are forever seared in the annals of Liverpool lore and the memories of their supporters. The late-season defeat to Chelsea at Anfield and the flirtation with top-flight honors in 2014 only added to the anticipation of this season's inevitable crowning.

Liverpool came up two points short of Manchester City that year, but this season, it was anything but dramatic.

With seven matches remaining for both sides, Liverpool boast an insurmountable 23-point advantage over City amid a record-smashing campaign. The Reds remain on pace to break City's record of 100 points from the 2017-18 campaign and the 18-point margin of victory from the same term.

Perhaps it's also fitting that a dominant title-winning pursuit short on suspense and delayed by a three-month hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic was sealed in such an anti-climactic fashion Thursday in west London, with Liverpool players watching from home.

A second-half penalty from Willian gave Chelsea the victory that mathematically secured the title for Liverpool. A lovely Kevin De Bruyne free-kick had canceled out Christian Pulisic's opener, giving City some hope that they could grab another goal and extend Liverpool's wait.

But Willian's spot kick, awarded after a VAR check for a blatant handball by Fernandinho, ensured the Reds and their fans could finally celebrate.

Jurgen Klopp's charges reached the brink of a long-awaited Premier title with characteristic panache in trouncing Crystal Palace 4-0 on their return to Anfield on Wednesday.

Next up for Liverpool is a trip to the Etihad Stadium next Thursday to face City, with the possibility of receiving the traditional Guard of Honor from the side that has won the previous two Premier League titles.