The inevitable finally became official on Thursday night as Liverpool clinched the Premier League title 24 hours after their latest fixture.
A 4-0 drubbing of Crystal Palace at Anfield plus Manchester City's failure to beat Chelsea means the Anfield faithful's agonising 30-year wait for another domestic championship is finally at an end.
Liverpool's glorious season has been a collective effort, with a strong spine throughout the team proving crucial to going one better than last season's painful near-miss.
While there are still seven top-flight matches to play for Jurgen Klopp's side this term as they go in search of a record points tally, confirmation of their title triumph provides an opportune moment to assess how each individual player has fared across an unusual 2019-20 season that was halted for three months by the coronavirus pandemic and resumed without fans.
Here, Standard Sport's Liverpool correspondent David Lynch provides his ratings for the campaign as an (almost completed) whole...
Alisson Becker - 9
Has endured something of a stop-start season since sustaining a serious calf injury just over half an hour into Liverpool’s opener against Norwich City, with other niggles and even a one-game suspension also disrupting his flow.
However, the Brazilian has been typically faultless whenever he has played and, remarkably, is on track for a second consecutive Golden Glove award, despite missing so many games.
He could fairly be described as the key man in this year’s success.
Adrian - 7
The Spaniard’s contribution to his team’s Champions League exit should not be allowed to overshadow the major role he has played in bringing the Premier League title to Anfield.
He would not have expected to be thrown into action just days after signing for the club, but performed impressively in the aftermath of Alisson’s Norwich injury and has done well since.
His league record for the season says it all: Played nine, won nine.
Virgil van Dijk - 9
Vincent Kompany recently labelled Van Dijk as the best Premier League defender of all time and, while that particular debate may never be settled, there is no doubting that the Dutchman is at the very least the best in the division at the moment.
Liverpool’s talismanic no4 has been the cornerstone of their defensive excellence this term.
Andy Robertson - 8
More of a direct ball carrier than his team-mate Trent Alexander-Arnold on the opposite flank, Robertson is just as important to Liverpool’s system.
Always available for selection and as an outlet for his colleagues on the left wing, the Scot has been a virtual ever-present during an unforgettable campaign.
Joe Gomez - 8
Began the season behind Joel Matip and Dejan Lovren in the pecking order, but got his chance in December and hasn’t looked back since.
Gomez plays with a maturity that belies his tender years and is sure to be a mainstay for Liverpool in the coming years if he can stay fit.
Joel Matip - 6
Started the campaign as the first-choice partner for Van Dijk but lost his place in October as a result of injury.
Has barely featured since then and will look back on this campaign with a great deal of frustration on a personal level.
He has begun to redefine what it means to be a full-back by, at times, running games from his starting position on the right-hand side of the back four.
Alexander-Arnold has already matched last season’s haul of 12 assists, which was a Premier League record for a defender. He looks set for one of the great Anfield careers, injuries permitting.
Dejan Lovren - 5
Enjoyed a solid run in the team between November and December as injuries at the back mounted, but his performance in Liverpool’s first league defeat of the season at Watford is sure to be the abiding memory for most.
Still, if he leaves Anfield this summer, he will do so with Champions League and Premier League winners' medals in tow - not bad for a player who has always divided opinion.
An essential cog in a midfield that, while not always flashy, has been absolutely vital to what Liverpool have done this season.
Wijnaldum’s intelligence and flexibility remain underrated by outsiders, but his manager knows he can trust him to do any job in the centre of the park. Tying him down to a new deal must be a priority.
Jordan Henderson - 9
The driving force behind Liverpool’s first title win in three decades.
Has not only played his best football in a red shirt this term, but also proven that he has grown into a leader worthy of wearing the captain’s armband he first inherited from Steven Gerrard in 2015.
Sets the standards for a remarkable team.
Fabinho - 6
After establishing himself as a key man en route to Champions League glory last season, Fabinho will be disappointed with the way this campaign has played out.
Missed a lot of football as a result of an ankle injury picked up in November and struggled to get back to his best after returning to action, though he has been much improved since the restart.
Used more sparingly at the start of the season, Oxlade-Chamberlain’s influence has grown as that post-injury rustiness has faded.
Expects more of himself and is capable of providing that but, in truth, this campaign was always going to be about working up fitness for the midfielder.
James Milner - 8
Starts less regularly than he would like but continues to exert a huge influence on the Liverpool dressing room as vice-captain.
His injury-time penalty against Leicester early in the season kept the Reds’ momentum going, and said everything about a player who will never let his team-mates, manager, or the fans down.
Adam Lallana - 5
The Premier League highlight of his final season in a Liverpool shirt came in the form of a late equaliser against Manchester United at Old Trafford back in October.
Has otherwise found his playing time limited.
Naby Keita - 6
Looked ready to announce his arrival as a Liverpool player with a goalscoring spree around the turn of the year, but inevitably failed to build on that as a result of injuries.
Has played a minimal role in the success that has followed his 2018 arrival and will be desperate to stay fit and put that right next year.
Mohamed Salah - 8
We will likely never see a repeat of the 31-goal season that marked the Egyptian’s arrival in the Premier League but a winner’s medal is surely worth more.
Salah’s threat in behind, work-rate, and underappreciated ability as a hold-up man mean he brings so much more to Liverpool than just goals.
That said, he may yet come away with a third straight Golden Boot award.
Sadio Mane - 9
Has taken his performances to new levels this season, venturing at times into ‘unplayable’ territory as the Reds have streaked away at the top of the division.
The Senegalese’s late, late winner at Aston Villa will probably be looked back on one day as the goal that won the Premier League title - and he was certainly a fitting scorer in that case.
Roberto Firmino - 8
Klopp revealed after Firmino’s double in December’s 4-0 thrashing of Leicester that his no9 can occasionally get down on himself for not scoring enough.
But, while it is true that the Brazilian is not the most natural finisher, it would be folly to suggest he is anything but indispensable to Liverpool.
Xherdan Shaqiri - 5
Struggled for regular action in 2018-19 due to the form of the players in front of him, but hasn’t even had the chance to mount a challenge this term as a result of injuries.
The Swiss is expected to depart this summer and will do so disappointed with how his final campaign at Anfield played out.
Divock Origi - 7
Will have hoped for more starts this term after signing a new deal in the aftermath of his Champions League heroics but has been largely restricted to the role of first player off the bench.
Still managed his customary goals against Everton.
Curtis Jones - 6
His biggest contribution to Liverpool’s season came against Everton in the FA Cup, but a maiden league run-out against Bournemouth may prove just as significant for the hugely talented youngster.
Harvey Elliott - 6
Made the first of what is certain to be many Premier League appearances for Liverpool against Sheffield United in January.
Neco Williams - 6
Another youngster who managed to pick up a league debut this season, Williams is ready to back up Alexander-Arnold next year.
Takumi Minamino - 6
Has been restricted in terms of appearances in the league since arriving from RB Salzburg in January. Can be expected to do much more next term after a period of adaptation.
His promise is clear.
