It was past midnight when a bleary-eyed Jurgen Klopp finally arrived for a press conference ostensibly held so that journalists might hear his thoughts on Liverpool’s win over Chelsea.
Two hours had elapsed since the full-time whistle, and the club’s head of press had spent much of that time ushering the German through a flurry of post-match broadcast interviews.
Only after those commitments had been fulfilled was Klopp allowed to leave the pitch with his players and the Premier League trophy in order to get the party started.
And so dragging him away from several hard-earned beers and the raucous atmosphere brewing in the home dressing room at Anfield proved particularly tricky.
This is a manager who, among the countless other qualities on which his successful career has been built, knows exactly how to celebrate the wins.
He is also meticulous about the personalities he surrounds himself with, and so it was no surprise to see his players and staff loving every moment, too.
Despite having previously earned a reputation for being boring, James Milner is one of those big characters the manager loves, and proved as much with a typically dry observation amid the celebrations.
As the players awaited the presentation, the Yorkshireman was heard to say: "First time I've ever wanted a red ribbon. It’s always been [Manchester] United in red before. W******.”
Even the trophy lift itself offered up evidence of the unique team spirit Klopp has fostered, with Jordan Henderson at pains to ensure that January signing Takumi Minamino was fully involved.
The captain could have been forgiven had he been wrapped up in a hugely significant personal milestone, but his first thought was about a new teammate who is still ingratiating himself to the squad.
Of course, those who wanted their solitary moments to reflect on a mammoth achievement were given the space to do so
Virgil van Dijk spent some time calling friends and family from the Anfield pitch, while teenager Curtis Jones - who qualified for a winner’s medal by making his fifth appearance of the season here - emerged from the tunnel for some selfies with his medal.
Perhaps most noteworthy of all was the five-minute period Divock Origi spent studying Anfield’s empty seats as he stood alone in the centre circle.
Should the Belgian decide to call time on his Reds career this summer, he will leave as a legend.
A late U-turn from the local Safety Advisory Group meant that the players’ families were also allowed to be part of a historic night.
