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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Rebecca Koncienzcy & Dan Kay

Liverpool exploded in a sea of red to celebrate Champions League Madrid glory

These extraordinary pictures and video clips show how The Strand turned red to celebrate Liverpool's Champions League triumph one year ago today.

Thousands of fans lined the streets for the Reds' victory parade following their 2-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur in the final in Madrid.

The evening before, Liverpool City Centre rivalled scenes in the Spanish capital as Reds supporters spilled out into the streets singing and waving flags after the side clinches the sixth European Cup.

The party atmosphere temporarily came to a close on the Sunday morning with a massive clean-up operation undertaken to get the city ready for inevitable sea of red at the homecoming parade.

Thousands of jubilant supporters line The Strand in celebration as Liverpool FC players parade the Champions League Trophy (Liverpool Echo/James Maloney)
Thousands of jubilant supporters line The Strand in celebration as Liverpool FC players parade the Champions League Trophy (Liverpool Echo/James Maloney)

Fans starting filling in along the route since early afternoon, many keen to get the best view, but it was The Strand that proved the most popular place to see the Champions of Europe bring home the trophy.

Against the historic backdrop of the world-famous Liver Building, crowds cheered even before the first sight of the red, open-top double-decker.

Thousands of jubilant supporters line The Strand in celebration as Liverpool FC players parade the Champions League Trophy (Liverpool Echo/James Maloney)

As they turned on to the iconic street, the crowds sang You'll Never Walk Alone - the players singing right back at them, pointing to each and every fan, showing them how much they mattered to the team and their victory.

Red smoke flares erupted from the top of the Liver Building sending plumes across the crowds while red fireworks burst up into the blue skies.

Liverpool players and staff on the bus during the Champions League Winners Parade in Liverpool (PA)
Huge crowds of fans cheer the Liverpool FC Champions League victory parade in Liverpool city centre. (Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)

The stunning surroundings made for breath-taking images - taken from the high vantage point of the Hilton Hotel - of the moment the players lifted the trophy for all to see.

Captain Jordan Henderson held on tightly to the trophy while confetti cannons turned everything red as the bus was ushered along passed the families and friends who had turned out to share in the incredible event.

Klopp was visibly overwhelmed by the support, earlier telling LFC TV: “I have cried a little bit.

“When you see how much it means to people.

“You see it in their eyes, how much it means, it’s intense.”

Huge crowds of fans cheer the Liverpool FC Champions League victory parade in Liverpool city centre. (Julian Hamilton/Daily Mirror)

There were emotional moments along the route as fans sang out loud, proudly waving flags and trying to capture their heroes on their phones.

Manager Jurgen Klopp was seen having the time of his life on board the bus of champions. Laughing with his star squad, he could not stop smiling.

Dutch maestro defender Virgil van Dijk was also soaking up the atmosphere right at the front of the bus, spotted spinning his LFC scarf round as fans sang back to him.

Many of the players shared videos from on the bus on their Instagram stories, Alisson captured the view from above while also sharing videos of him and his teammates, Firmino, Salah and Shaqiri.

(Liverpool Echo/James Maloney)

Liverpool owners John W Henry and chairman Tom Werner, who were also on the bus, were stunned at the turnout for the team.

Mayor Joe Anderson estimated 750,000 people had turned out to see the players.

The buses pass the Liver Building during the Champions League Winners Parade in Liverpool. (PA)

The last time Liverpool saw crowds like this was when The Giants visited for the final time in October 2018.

Hundreds of families queued along the entire stretch of the major Liverpool road with the sheer amount of people actually stopping The Giants in their tracks, as they are unable to get through the crowds.

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