Liverpool finished the job on the final day of the season as goals from Wijnaldum, Coutinho and Lallana helped seal the Reds’ passage through to the Champions League.
It’s been a rare sighting off-late but come next season, Liverpool will be amidst European elite once again, fittingly enough on the 125th anniversary of the club’s inception.
A nervy afternoon took an edgier turn when news of the scores from Manchester City and Arsenal games began to filter down the stands while the Reds had just been saved off a rather controversial dismissal of a very legitimate penalty claim from Boro.
However, just as Steve Agnew’s side were entering into half time with a shut-out, Georginio Wijnaldum sent an absolute pile-driver of a shot after being sent through by Roberto Firmino.
The goal did well to ease the nerves around Anfield as Klopp’s team entered half-time with a deserved 1-0 lead.
Georginio Wijnaldum continues his record of only scoring in PL home matches. Now has 17 goals in 37 home apps in his PL career #PL #LFC pic.twitter.com/kNw8Dw0jnW
— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) May 21, 2017
WHAM! pic.twitter.com/2FskQmpkCQ
— Georgino Wijnaldum (@WijnaldumLFC) May 21, 2017
Firmino gets an assist on his comeback from injury. This is his quality in receiving the ball with his back turned and launching Wijnaldum.
— Seleção Brasileira (@BrazilStat) May 21, 2017
Liverpool spent big on both Mané and Wijnaldum last summer but both have been such excellent additions.
— Priya Ramesh (@Priya8Ramesh) May 21, 2017
HT: #LFC 1 Boro 0: Huge roar around Anfield as HT whistle blows. Dire first half brought to life by Wijnaldum’s emphatic finish
— James Pearce (@JamesPearceEcho) May 21, 2017
Gini Wijnaldum delivers again. Always manages to score when it matters. Incredible strike by an incredibly underrated player.
— Kloppholic (@Kloppholic) May 21, 2017
WIJNALDUM AT ANFIELD I LOVE HIM AGAIN
— öh yoü beaüty (@natefc) May 21, 2017
Coutinho helped ease the tension further with a scintillating free-kick to double the Reds’ advantage on the evening.
Just how much does Philippe Coutinho deserve to be in the Champions League? He delivers for Liverpool once again when they need him. ?
— Anfield HQ (@AnfieldHQ) May 21, 2017
GOAL! Philippe Coutinho scores a wonderful curling free-kick and Liverpool are edging closer to the Champions League! COME ON REDS!
— Anfield HQ (@AnfieldHQ) May 21, 2017
Coutinho right now. pic.twitter.com/U06oxekseY
— Seleção Brasileira (@BrazilStat) May 21, 2017
Coutinho’s free-kicks ?#LIVMID pic.twitter.com/cb9gHm3tyz
— Premier League (@premierleague) May 21, 2017
Coutinho deserves to be in the Champions League. For all the magic, joy, entertainment and big game goals he has been offering us.
— Seleção Brasileira (@BrazilStat) May 21, 2017
Need a Freekick Goal ?? Call Coutinho !!
2-0 LFC
— – (@yaniu8) May 21, 2017
Coutinho does not do normal. Another outrageously good goal from the Brazilian.
— Kloppholic (@Kloppholic) May 21, 2017
From there on it was only a matter of time before Liverpool began to enjoy their football as they stitched up attractive moves and chances in a bid to pile the misery on championship bound Middlesbrough. And the third eventually did come through Adam Lallana who scored his first goal in 2017 for the Reds.
GOAL!
Liverpool 3-0 Middlesbrough
Adam Lallana slots in for his first goal of 2017.https://t.co/rzAL5Cgpd6#LIVMID pic.twitter.com/bl2Zvl9sz1
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) May 21, 2017
GOAL! Liverpool counter-attack in numbers and after good work from Wijnaldum Adam Lallana skips past the defender and slots it past Guzan!
— Anfield HQ (@AnfieldHQ) May 21, 2017
46 – Wijnaldum’s goal
51 – Coutinho’s free-kick
56 – Lallana makes it 3-0That’s what you call a ‘big 10’. #LFC
— Glenn Price (@GlennPrice94) May 21, 2017
Lallana! It’s 3-0 now, and Liverpool are set to finish in the top four!
Arsenal fans be like pic.twitter.com/smEKT0qd5K
— 101 Great Goals (@101greatgoals) May 21, 2017
Live footage of Lallana’s goal. pic.twitter.com/bKhftY1pME
— JOE.co.uk (@JOE_co_uk) May 21, 2017
Replay of Lallana’s goal, and celebration of the players and Klopp as Liverpool look to seal Champions League football for next season. pic.twitter.com/iPW14UXrf9
— LFC Globe (@LFCGlobe) May 21, 2017
In the end, it was about celebrating the return of Champions League football for the reds as they sealed just their 2nd appearance at the continental spectacle in 7 years.
Job done.
A Champions League qualifier to look forward to next season. ? pic.twitter.com/ApftAz6Fih
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 21, 2017
Liverpool are in the Champions League. ? pic.twitter.com/MRACFrVudC
— JOE.co.uk (@JOE_co_uk) May 21, 2017
FULL-TIME: Liverpool 3-0 Middlesbrough
LIVERPOOL QUALIFY FOR THE CHAMPIONS LEAGUE.https://t.co/rzAL5Cgpd6#LIVMID pic.twitter.com/hR0EwOJQZL
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) May 21, 2017
Today was Liverpool’s 5️⃣0️⃣th win under Jürgen Klopp. ?? pic.twitter.com/PJHSTtyEEO
— Anfield HQ (@AnfieldHQ) May 21, 2017
FULL-TIME Liverpool 3-0 Boro. The Reds confirm a top-four finish thanks to goals from Wijnaldum, Coutinho and Lallana #LIVMID pic.twitter.com/ZAYkVb3OAV
— Premier League (@premierleague) May 21, 2017
