Liverpool’s title party and the five-second John W Henry moment | OneFootball

John W Henry, Sunday Celebrations and What Comes Next for Liverpool

Sunday at Anfield: Chaos, unity and unfiltered joy

Few days in modern Liverpool history have resonated quite like that unforgettable Sunday. With the Premier League title secured, the city transformed into a sea of red. And on The Media Matters Podcast from Anfield Index, journalist Lewis Steele captured the full weight of it. “It was absolutely mental,” he said. “I’ve never seen it like that before.”

Speaking to Dave Davis, Steele described the moments leading up to kick-off: “From the second you walked up to the gates or got within a mile of the ground, it was just absolutely mental… red shirts everywhere, smiles on faces.”

The atmosphere wasn’t just celebratory—it was deafening. “Even when [the bus] was around the corner, you could see the red smoke. It was honestly deafening when that bus arrived,” Steele recalled. That bus was met with the kind of reception that defines a footballing culture.

John W Henry’s brief cameo

Amidst the noise, the flags, and the pyro, there was a brief encounter that sparked headlines: John W Henry, the club’s principal owner, made an appearance in the mixed zone. Steele was caught off guard. “He walked towards me… I just said, ‘Congrats, John. You fancy a chat?’ And he said, ‘Uh, no, sorry,’ and just carried on walking.”

That moment, while brief, was symbolic. John W Henry didn’t linger, didn’t take centre stage, but his presence loomed large. It was a reminder that this success came under his ownership—and that the next chapter will be written with him still in the boardroom.

Photo IMAGO

Davis also highlighted the scene: “You were this close to having John W Henry interviewed… Was that the highlight of the day?” It wasn’t, according to Steele, but the near-miss was telling of the media appetite around Liverpool’s ownership, especially on a day of such emotional magnitude.

Post-match scenes that defined a season

Long after the final whistle, Anfield refused to sleep. “It was almost quite scary walking through,” said Steele. “There were so many people, you couldn’t move. Fireworks, pyros, songs—bang, bang, bang.”

There was chaos, yes, but there was also care. “Everyone was being well behaved,” Steele emphasised. “People were hugging each other whether they knew each other or not.”

Photo IMAGO

In a line that encapsulated the night, he added: “It was like everyone was packed in like sardines… like when you’re on a busy train carriage and just stood like that.”

What’s next for Liverpool?

While Sunday was about celebration, eyes have already turned to what comes next for Liverpool. And as Steele noted, John W Henry and the ownership group appear willing to back the new manager, Arne Slot. “There is money to spend and they will spend it,” he confirmed. “FSG are happy to back Slot. Michael Edwards is going to give him the funds he deserves.”

That said, it won’t be reckless. “They will still follow their business model… not suddenly going to be going £150 million here or there.” A busy summer is expected, but it will be calculated.

The question is whether John W Henry and FSG can capitalise on the momentum of Sunday to build a team for sustained success. The fans will expect nothing less.