A sea of red flooded the streets of Liverpool, a joyous, singing, celebrating tide.
The Premier League trophy, decorated with red and white ribbons, was being paraded on an open-top bus.
For the first time in years, the title belonged to Anfield.
Hundreds of miles away, in a quiet, modern office overlooking the club's training ground, Liverpool's new manager, Arne Slot, watched the celebration on a large screen, a look of deep, profound satisfaction on his face.
The first part of the plan was complete.
But he was a man who was always looking ahead, always thinking about the next step, the next evolution.
"Incredible, isn't it?" his assistant, Pep Lijnders, said, standing beside him with a cup of tea in his hand.
"The energy of this club, this city... it's like nothing else."
"It is," Slot agreed, his eyes still fixed on the screen.
