The Reds play their first game as Champions in front of fans
Liverpool installed a seismometer — used generally to measure seismic ground movements like earthquakes — into the Main Stand ahead of last Sunday’s event. Thus thanks to the University of Liverpool we know that the title win registered as a 1.74 on the Richter scale, peaking at Alexis Mac Allister’s strike to make it 2-1.
Speaking to Liverpoolfc.com, Ben Edwards, professor of engineering seismology at the University of Liverpool, explained the importance of the data:
Using state-of-the-art, seismic-monitoring equipment – normally deployed in earthquake zones like Chile and Italy – we recorded the incredible energy released both at the surface and below.
Much like natural seismic events, these goals produced bursts of ground-shaking, triggered by the sheer passion of Liverpool fans. Their enthusiasm was literally powerful enough to move the Earth.
We hope this work will inspire young people to engage with science and see Earth science as essential to building a more sustainable future.
It is undeniably cool to have this data, and it shows just how special the historic win was at Anfield last weekend. As many have since experienced, however, the celebrations have not ended.
On Sunday the Reds will get a guard of honor when they rock up to play Chelsea — though there is no guarantee both that it will take place at Chelsea or at any subsequent matches. It is voluntary rather than compulsory, and traditionally occurs the match after the title is clinched. Liverpool’s last title win was behind closed doors, and this is why the guards of honor continued to happen until the season ended: a show of respect in the absence of fans to laud them.
It is therefore uncertain whether any other team will provide this to the Reds, though whether they do or not will hardly matter for a celebrator atmosphere.
As supporters we now have something to experience that will be completely apart from most of our match-going and match-watching memory: we get to cheer on the league champions with very little peril or stress.
Of course, we will watch to watch as many wins as possible from here until the end of the season, as points totals have been and remain a point of pride. It is a rare gift, however, to be able to watch Liverpool play without needing a result.
The celebrations did not end this week, but will instead carry on through the end of the season. Every weekend provides an opportunity to serenade these history-makers, and I’m sure this will be an unreal feeling. Around the holidays we sing:
O come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant
O come ye, O come ye to Anfield
Come and behold them
They’re the Kings of Europe
O come let us adore them
O come let us adore them
O come let us adore them – L I V E R P O O L!
For the first time for many of us, this feeling is to become literal: we go to and switch on the match now just to catch sight of the best team in the land. And after we finish, there will be a parade. Relish this; there’s no guarantee that we get to experience it again.