Liverpool celebrates Champions League win with bus parade

Liverpool soccer team ride an open top bus during the Champions League Cup Winners Parade through the streets of Liverpool, England, Sunday June 2, 2019. (Barrington Coombs/PA via AP)

LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Hundreds of thousands of fans welcomed Liverpool back to Merseyside as the team paraded its Champions League trophy through the city center on Sunday.

Manager Juergen Klopp and his players flew home to Liverpool John Lennon Airport before boarding an open-top bus emblazoned with the message, "Champions of Europe."

Liverpool soccer team manager Jurgen Klopp, rides an open top bus during the Champions League Cup Winners Parade in Liverpool, England, Sunday June 2, 2019. (Barrington Coombs/PA via AP)

Holding aloft the European Cup, Liverpool's players were met by a sea of red as they embarked on a tour of the city center. Huge crowds of Liverpool fans wearing the team's jersey and flying flags packed out roadsides, chanting and singing in the sunshine.

Fans look on as Liverpool soccer team ride an open top bus during the Champions League Cup Winners Parade through the streets of Liverpool, England, Sunday June 2, 2019. (Barrington Coombs/PA via AP)

Liverpool beat Tottenham 2-0 in the all-English final in Madrid on Saturday.

A spokeswoman for Liverpool City Council estimated half a million fans turned out for the victory parade. Merseyside Police later put the number at closer to 750,000.

Liverpool's Dejan Lovren, left, and Mohamed Salah ride an open top bus during the Champions League Cup Winners Parade in Liverpool, England, Sunday June 2, 2019. (Barrington Coombs/PA via AP)

People crammed the 13-kilometer (8-mile) stretch of the parade route — which took almost 4 hours to cover — some holding inflatable European Cups and letting off smoke canisters.

Liverpool soccer fans line the route for the Champions League Winners Parade in Liverpool, England, Sunday June 2, 2019. (Danny Lawson/PA via AP)

Klopp sat at the back of the bus, occasionally giving the impression of a teacher on a school outing, but he was far from the party pooper, often jumping out of his seat to give a thumbs-up, a wave or a hearty laugh.