BY STEVE MITCHELL

LIVERPOOL CROWNED CHAMPIONS AFTER EMPHATIC WIN OVER VILLA:

The worst kept secret in football was finally revealed on Tuesday night when Liverpool were crowned First Division champions, following a 3-0 win over Aston Villa at a packed out Anfield. It was also an emotional night for manager Bob Paisley, who was celebrating 40 years at the Merseyside club.

Tuesdayâ€™s win displayed all the qualities that have made the Reds the best team in England by a country mile, the only surprise is that it took until the third last match of the campaign to clinch the championship and credit must go to both West Bromwich Albion and Nottingham Forest, who have kept the title race going when it looked as though it would be done and dusted by Easter.

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For the record, Alan Kennedy and Kenny Dalglish had the champagne corks popping by half-time, Terry McDermott putting the icing on the cake in the second period as The Kop saluted their heroes, refusing to go home until Paisley had appeared on the pitch. The boss explained after the game that this was, â€œThe finest, most sustained and consistent of the seven championships that he has been involved with, having been at Anfield since the late 30â€™sâ€.

He continued by claiming that; â€œThis is the playersâ€™ night of glory, they won the championship, let them take the glory.â€ A fitting tribute from one of the most decent human beings ever associated with the game.

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The 1970s have been a halcyon period for Liverpool; four championships and never finishing out of the top two since 1973; they have already smashed their record points tally for a season and they still have two games to play, away at Middlesbrough and Leeds United. This squad looks set to create an all-time defensive record and an all-time goals difference record â€“ an astonishing achievement.

When Liverpool were eliminated from the European Cup by Nottingham Forest, the side that had also taken their domestic crown, many observers thought that a permanent shift in power was on the cards. As the players celebrated this latest triumph, the fans sang; â€œForest, youâ€™re not champions anymore.â€ This was a memorable night on Merseyside and the way this Liverpool team has performed, there should be many more to come.

Liverpool: Clemence, Neal, Thompson, Hansen, Kennedy (A), Case, McDermott, Souness, Kennedy (R), Dalglish, Johnson, Sub; Heighway

Aston Villa: Rimmer, Gidman, Gregory, McNaught, Gibson, Swain, Cowans, Mortimer, Cropley (Linton 56 mins), Evans, Deehan.

Referee: N.J. Ashley

FIRST DIVISION ROUND-UP:

West Bromwich Albion and Nottingham Forest will fight it out for runners-up spot, after both picked up important wins this week. Albion are currently one point ahead of the dethroned champions, but have played a game more.

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Ally Brown was on target at The Hawthorns on Tuesday, as Albion saw off Southampton whilst Forest eased to a 3-1 win against Manchester City at the City Ground; Garry Birtles, Ian Bowyer and Tony Woodcock got the home sideâ€™s goals and they even scored the visitors consolation, thanks to an own-goal from Larry Lloyd.

West Brom travel to Villa Park tomorrow, before heading to the capital on Monday to face Tottenham Hotspur. Forest meanwhile, go to Leeds on Tuesday before the two teams face each other in the final game of the season at the City Ground on May 18.

Manchester United warmed up for Saturdayâ€™s FA Cup Final with a 3-2 home win over Wolves on Monday. Steve Coppell (2) and Andy Ritchie were on target for Dave Sextonâ€™s side, John Richards and an own-goal from United keeper Gary Bailey, making it a nervous finale at Old Trafford.

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Two of the three relegated sides, Queens Park Rangers and Birmingham City, met at Loftus Road in front of just over 9,000 spectators. The visitors ran out 3-1 winners thanks to goals from Alan Buckley (2) and Trevor Dark; Glenn Roeder grabbing Rangersâ€™ consolation.

Finally, Tottenham Hotspur beat Bolton Wanderers 3-1 at Burnden Park thanks to goals from Mark Falco, James Holmes and an own-goal from Trotters defender Sam Allardyce. Frank Worthington got the home sideâ€™s consolation.

RESULTS:

MONDAY MAY 7:

Manchester United 3-2 Wolves (Ritchie, Coppell 2; Bailey o.g, Richards)

Q.P.R. 1-3 Birmingham City (Roeder; Buckley 2, Dark)

TUESDAY MAY 8:

Bolton Wanderers 1-3 Tottenham Hotspur (Worthington; Falco, Allardyce o.g, Holmes)

Liverpool 3-0 Aston Villa (Kennedy A, Dalglish, McDermott)

W.B.A 1-0 Southampton (Brown A) (FULL MATCH PROGRAME BELOW)

WEDNESDAY MAY 9:

Nottingham Forest 3-1 Manchester City (Birtles, Bowyer, Woodcock; Lloyd o.g)

League Division One table after close of play on 10 May 1979

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Liverpool	40	28	8	4	81	16	65	64
2	West Bromwich Albion	39	23	11	5	71	33	38	57
3	Nottingham Forest	40	19	18	3	58	25	33	56
4	Everton	42	17	17	8	52	40	12	51
5	Leeds United	40	18	14	8	69	47	22	50
6	Arsenal	41	17	13	11	60	47	13	47
7	Ipswich Town	41	19	9	13	59	49	10	47
8	Aston Villa	40	14	16	10	56	46	10	44
9	Manchester United	41	15	14	12	59	62	-3	44
10	Coventry City	42	14	16	12	58	68	-10	44
11	Middlesbrough	41	15	10	16	57	49	8	40
12	Bristol City	42	15	10	17	47	51	-4	40
13	Southampton	42	12	16	14	47	53	-6	40
14	Manchester City	41	13	13	15	56	53	3	39
15	Tottenham Hotspur	41	12	15	14	47	61	-14	39
16	Norwich City	42	7	23	12	51	57	-6	37
17	Bolton Wanderers	42	12	11	19	54	75	-21	35
18	Wolverhampton Wanderers	42	13	8	21	44	68	-24	34
19	Derby County	42	10	11	21	44	71	-27	31
20	Queens Park Rangers	41	6	13	22	45	69	-24	25
21	Birmingham City	42	6	10	26	37	64	-27	22
22	Chelsea	40	5	8	27	42	90	-48	18