<p>LIVERPOOL, England &mdash; No trophy to celebrate this year but clinching Champions League qualification proved a welcome consolation prize for Liverpool.</p>
<p>Fans were allowed back into Anfield for the first time in 2021 in time to see Sadio Mane’s double clinch a final-day 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace on Sunday.</p>
<p>After winning the Premier League trophy last season — to end a 30-year English title drought — celebrating third place might seem underwhelming. Especially when the team was top the last time fans were allowed briefly back onto the Kop in December.</p>
<p>But when Liverpool was beaten at an empty Anfield 77 days ago by Fulham, the champions dropped to eighth place, four points from fourth. </p>
<p>Even with key players still injured — notably center back Virgil van Dijk — Jürgen Klopp masterminded a recovery to ensure the comedown from the title last July wasn’t quite as crushing by securing a return to the Champions League. </p>
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