But if those final few steps were a carefree glide, the relief pouring down from the stands spoke volumes of a journey which has been long and, at times bumpy.
Thin Lizzy’s ‘The Boys Are Back in Town’ thumped out as the accompaniment after Liverpool’s 3-0 win confirmed they had reached their destination.
Yet it is the strains of Zadoc The Priest and the Champions League anthem that everyone around these parts is looking forward to most after two seasons away.
And with Arsenal bumped from the top four for the first time in 18 years, establishing his side as regular diners at Europe’s top table is manager Jurgen Klopp’s stated goal.
“We had to deliver and we did, but a club like Liverpool has to be in the Champions League,” said Klopp.
“We have worked very hard to [get here] and everything is good, but now we have to build on it.”
Middlesbrough managed to keep their hosts on edge for 45 minutes with some spirited resistance which should bode well for their campaign in the Championship next season.
But after Georginio Wijnaldum finally made a crack in the wall on the stroke of half-time, racing on to a Roberto Firmino pass down the right, taking one touch and smashing an unstoppable shot inside Bard Guzan’s near post, it released such a build-up of tension the already relegated visitors crumbled.
In the second half Liverpool rushed through like pile-drivers, Philippe Coutinho adding a second from a free-kick and Adam Lallana a third.
Things could have been a damned sight trickier for Liverpool had Boro been awarded a penalty halfway through the first period when Arsenal were up against Everton and Manchester City were disappearing over the horizon.
Quite what the outcome would have been then, had Martin Atkinson ruled Patrick Bamford had been wrestled down by Dejan Lovren in the penalty area after 23 minutes, is anybody’s guess.
Klopp certainly thought it was a penalty and the suspicion is that the official, momentarily and crucially unsighted by a Liverpool player when Lovren tugged at the Boro player’s arm, almost certainly would have given at the other end in front of The Kop. It was not, he did not, and Liverpool needed no further invite to build on their luck.
Daniel Sturridge joins Liverpool teammates to model new kit
Fourth place means Liverpool face a two-legged play-off in August yet results elsewhere in Europe this weekend ensured they will be seeded when the five play-off ties are drawn in the opening week of August. That means avoiding qualifiers from La Liga (Sevilla) and Serie A (Roma or Napoli).
Klopp was asked afterwards about the impact of their achievement. “It is a difference of course but it’s a sports thing,” he said.
“Of course there is money but it's the best tournament in Europe and probably the best in the world.
“Liverpool need to be there and consistently. We will be strong and we will fight for it [in the play-offs] and we really want to be there. In the last 10 years we were not part of it too often.”
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Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp celebrates against Middlesbrough
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If the Anfield till will ring to the tune of £40m or more next season, Klopp and his sporting director Michael Edwards suddenly have a significantly more attractive hand to play in the summer transfer market.
Klopp suggested most of that business was done but Champions League qualification means some of those deals can be concluded while he and his side travel to Sydney for a friendly in a whistle-stop three day trip leaving tomorrow and returning Friday.
Following that they will then have a break until pre-season at the start of July where the next steps of the journey start again.