"Onwards and upwards,I think they have a lot more happy days to look forward to now."

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic forcing a three-month suspension of the season and delaying Liverpool's coronation,they have won the title with a record seven games to spare.

They eclipsed the record jointly held by Manchester United (2000-01) and Manchester City (2017-18),who sealed their respective titles with five games left.

Had it not been for the unprecedented stoppage Liverpool were on course to smash the record for the earliest league title. Instead they are now the first team to lift the coveted trophy as late as June.

Liverpool ended last season with nine consecutive league wins and,after claiming the Champions League,began the new campaign in relentless fashion to leave all of their rivals trailing in their wake.

With 28 wins and just one defeat in 31 games,Liverpool have set a record-breaking pace and were 25 points clear in February - the biggest lead in Premier League history.

When they beat West Ham United that month it was their 18th successive top-flight win,matching Manchester City's record,before their hopes of an unbeaten season were dashed by a 3-0 defeat at Watford,a result that was merely a blip.

Leading the charge has been Mohamed Salah,the Egyptian forward who is the first Liverpool player to score 20 goals in all competitions in three consecutive seasons since Michael Owen at the start of the millennium.

Salah scored twice on Wednesday as Liverpool thrashed Crystal Palace 4-0 at Anfield,a result that meant City had to beat Chelsea to delay the inevitable for a while longer.

City were the first team to breach the 100-point barrier in the Premier League two seasons ago but Liverpool are on course to shatter that mark,as well as records for most points at home (55) and most wins in a season (32).

Elsewhere on Thursday Arsenal bounced back from successive losses to beat 10-man Southampton 2-0 while Burnley kept touch with the top half of the table after their 1-0 win over Watford.

Reuters