Mohamed Salah had only minutes earlier edged Liverpool ahead when a huge cheer began to emanate from behind Alisson Becker’s goal before swiftly sweeping around the stadium.
Could it really be the case? Could title rivals Manchester City have somehow let slip a 3-2 lead and allowed Steven Gerrard's Aston Villa an equaliser at the Etihad?
The baffled looks from the media in the press box to those nearby supporters desperately seeking affirmation gave them the news they didn’t want to hear.
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It was, indeed, too good to be true, City instead holding on having fought back from falling two goals behind to clinch a fourth title in five seasons.
As ever, it’s the hope that kills you. And what hope Jurgen Klopp and his players have given Liverpool supporters, whittling down City’s lead from 14 points in mid-January to just one, and snaffling both domestic cup competitions along the way.
Any people – and there will be some – who torture themselves by sitting down and circling where the title was lost will be spectacularly missing the point. Only three times in Liverpool’s history have they tallied more than the 92 points they accrued this year, two of which have come during the Klopp era.
The Reds, in truth, couldn’t have done much more, losing just twice in 38 games and ultimately beaten by a team that will be regarded as one of the greatest of all time.
So, too, will this Liverpool vintage, who haven’t quite finished yet with this campaign, the Champions League final against Real Madrid in Paris to come. The quadruple might be over, but a cup treble very much remains a possibility.
Klopp’s side just about got the job done here by coming from behind to win 3-1 against a Wolverhampton Wanderers side who, until going behind to Salah’s strike, were the better team as nerves understandably gripped the Reds.
Wolves fans, again revelling in the perceived misery of the home supporters as they did on the final day in 2019, taunted them towards the end by singing the national anthem. The Kop responded with You’ll Never Walk Alone, a message - to the players, at least - that has rarely felt as resonant this campaign than at that moment.
“Same old story again,” were the lyrics as a version of The Farm’s All Together Now was blasted out after the final whistle.
Given what happened in the Champions League final three years ago after missing out to City for the Premier League title, Liverpool would most certainly take that next week.
