A transcendent triumph

I have never considered myself a passionate Liverpool fan, although my colleagues and friends think otherwise.

The vintage English football club won the Premier League title last night, ending a 30-year wait.

The Reds' first title in the Premier League era was confirmed with a staggering seven games in hand after their nearest challengers and defending champions Manchester City lost to Chelsea 2-1 at Stamford Bridge.

It is a momentous occasion for Liverpool fans across the world, including Bangladesh, to cherish something that they had to wait for such a long time. Although celebrations were mostly confined indoors due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, many Liverpool faithful thronged to Anfield to celebrate the historic success.

The title was irrevocably coming home for Liverpool fans this year under the stewardship of German manager Juergen Klopp, after a near-miss under Brendan Rodgers in the 2013-14 season, when the Reds were leading eventual winners Manchester City by three points going into their crucial home game against Chelsea.  A win would have almost certainly sealed the title, but a famous tumble by Steven Gerrard in that game, which they lost 2-0, dashed their title hopes.

I had the privilege of visiting Liverpool at the time, thanks to a brief tour to Anfield for a select group from across the world by the club's lead sponsor, Standard Chartered Bank, as part of its promotional campaign.

That tour reaffirmed by belief as to why the Merseyside club is considered one of most followed teams in the world. A barefoot walk on the hallowed Anfied turf, a symbol of many successes before the game's commercialisation, is a once in a lifetime experience for any football fan.

A visit to the century-old wooden locker room revealed that it was not just about sticking to tradition, but taking inspiration from legendary coaches such as Bill Shankly, Bob Paisley and Kenny Dalglish. And the enormous Kop end, which was once a grass bank where you never stopped moving and singing, still represents pure adulation for the beautiful game and stands as a symbol of togetherness for a common cause. The Kop end is probably the most hated enclosure for any visiting team.

This generation of football fans probably liked to consider Liverpool as a force to be reckoned with only in the past. But the Premier League title that has followed the UEFA Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup glory under Klopp, who combined resilience with flair, has firmly put Liverpool on course to reviving its lost glory.

And for its loyal fans, who year after year turned up to every game or tuned in on TV with their kids, telling them how successful their beloved team once was is no longer a thing of the past.

Sadly, there are many who are not alive to be part of this success with the younger ones. Al Mussabbir Sadi is one of those Liverpool faithful. It is an understatement to bracket him just a Reds follower. He is probably one of most devout Liverpool fans I have ever come across.

A career journalist and a prolific writer, Sadi was an encyclopaedia of Liverpool. He was one of those who used to sport the famous Liverpool scruff when his team was struggling. He loved to enjoy every Liverpool game with his two beautiful kids. He lost the battle against cancer and died in 2011 at the very young age of 44 while working as the general secretary Bangladesh Football Federation.

He is no longer with us but is probably celebrating his beloved team's success from his heavenly abode. And this Liverpool success is more for those who never resigned. After all, it is all about the ageless message of Liverpool's team song: "You'll Never Walk Alone."