Liverpool’s Premier League title win will remain special for more than just footballing reasons for supporter Joel Richards.As far as wake-up calls go, the one that I received on an otherwise mundane Monday morning in August 2024 will live with me forever.Having already stirred thanks to my wife’s toilet trip, I soon enough needed a visit of my own. But as I stumbled out of our bedroom and onto the landing, there she stood almost motionless, and in my bleary-eyed state I could just about see what she stared at in utter disbelief.My sleep-filled eyes were drawn to the object that she held and as I came to my senses, the word ‘pregnant’ stared straight back at me.Right away, I knew we were so lucky to be blessed with the greatest gift that you could receive in life, and as far as wake-up calls go, I couldn’t have asked for anything better. New beginningsNew beginnings were not just on the agenda in the Richards household.At the AXA Training Centre, a new man was in the Liverpool hot seat following the shock departure of the seemingly irreplaceable Jurgen Klopp.At first glance, the name Arne Slot didn’t exactly set the pulses racing when he appeared as the anointed successor to the Anfield throne.Although he came with a respectable resume at Feyenoord, there was plenty of reasonable doubt abounding that queried whether he could continue the fine work that Klopp had crafted over an unforgettable nine-year period.Fears were far from allayed after a summer transfer window that saw just one new arrival, Federico Chiesa.In certain sections of the fanbase, questions were already being asked of newly installed sporting director Richard Hughes, and that’s before even mentioning the ongoing contract sagas of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Virgil Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah. A promising startAs 2024/25 got underway with a visit to newly promoted Ipswich, such issues didn’t prove to be a distraction. A comprehensive 3-0 win at Old Trafford alerted the rest of England that this was to be no painful transition.However, a new era doesn’t come without the odd bump in the road, and Arne Slot’s would arrive in a 1-0 defeat at home to Nottingham Forest, which gave an untimely reality check just as the going got good.As October began with victories, a more important date for the diary took precedence.Much like my team’s seemingly smooth ride in the early throes of its new chapter, Mrs Richards’ pregnancy had encountered few bumps apart from the one that now ballooned from her belly.The 12-week scan threw up no unwanted surprises, and already dreams began to form of the possible scenario of a newborn baby and a league title double, or maybe even Slot winning the lot, or was that too much to ask for?Of course, there was still a long way to go on both fronts, but the possibilities appeared endless in both life and football – what a place to find yourself in.Yes, tougher challenges lay ahead on both fronts; increasing tiredness and discomfort for my wife. As for the other love of my life, the fixture list appeared to get tougher just as the clocks went back – and it was here we were told that the real test began.However, the critics would be answered emphatically as the Reds secured top spot both at home and abroad. The Reds are the real dealA narrow 2-1 win over Chelsea was followed by a hard-fought 2-2 draw at Arsenal, which maintained momentum before perhaps the most pivotal day in the Premier League season a week later.After Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat away to Newcastle in the early kick-off, Pep Guardiola’s side succumbed to a 2-1 reversal against Bournemouth.As Man City toiled at the Vitality Stadium, Liverpool encountered their own struggles against another south coast side in the form of Brighton.A half-time deficit left Anfield anxious, but a rousing second-half comeback would prove to be a momentous afternoon in the title race. Fortunately, I was present to witness the dramatic day in the flesh. As an expat Scouser, visits to Anfield have dwindled in recent years. So, when you’re witness to a pulsating win like Brighton, you are fully entitled to say without a hint of bias that it was a defining day in the title race.A 4-0 hiding of German champions Bayer Leverkusen quickly followed in Europe, as well as a 2-0 triumph over Aston Villa in front of the Kop before a damned international break paused the fun.After normal service resumed, an unnecessarily eventful day on the south coast saw Salah once again ride to the rescue like he did against Brighton, before a pair of blockbuster clashes in L4. Baby appointment and a statement weekAs the Reds prepared to face Real Madrid, another huge date loomed in the expectant parents’ journey for both me and Mrs Richards.Hours before kick-off at Anfield, we were booked in for the 20-week scan and, in what I saw as a good omen for the night, the news that all was well with our growing baby convinced me another memorable affair lay ahead in a week that saw both the reigning European and English champions come to town.Just as new life began to take shape and reached a significant milestone, so too did a campaign that would deliver its highest point to date, as both Carlo Ancelotti and Guardiola’s sides were vanquished 2-0 in front of fervent crowds. Was this all getting a bit too good to be true? Maybe.Once again, mine and Mrs Richards’ timing for baby-related appointments to coincide with Liverpool wins was impeccable, as a 4D scan was the perfect opener to a ‘Super Sunday’ before the 5-0 hammering of West Ham.Eventually, a tricky spell was going to come and the opening weeks of January proved to be the case for Slot and his men.As the season simmered towards boiling point and Mrs Richards’ bump grew ever bigger, a baby moon was called for. Derby draw in DubaiSadly, relaxation was far from my mind as a trip to Dubai coincided with the final-ever Merseyside Derby to be played at Goodison Park.Although the trip was much-needed, if uncomfortable at times for my 31-week pregnant wife, a very late Wednesday night in the UAE saw me live every range of emotion.In a contest that saw Liverpool appear to snatch an unforgettable comeback win, they were denied by a ‘have it’ style thump from James Tarkowski to secure a 2-2 ‘win’ for the boys in blue.In a period that saw Slot’s side play five league games in 15 days, the Reds held their nerve. After Man City were vanquished at the Etihad Stadium, another two-goal success over Newcastle left fans in no doubt that No. 20 was on its way to Anfield.And now you’re gonna believe us…While I didn’t want to tempt fate, my dreams were slowly becoming reality. The only question that I started to ask now was what would come first, baby Richards’ arrival or Liverpool’s coronation as champions?What wouldn’t happen, however, was further silverware being added, as the Reds exited the FA Cup and Champions League, as well as losing the League Cup final.Thankfully, as April arrived, mother and child remained in fine health in the final weeks of the pregnancy journey. Everything appeared to come to a head, both in life and football, as spring sprung.That said, a 3-2 defeat away to Fulham and a nervy 2-1 win at home to West Ham shredded nerves once again. However, courtesy of more dropped points from Arsenal in previous weeks, the promised land was in sight and a baby-title double was still on the cards before the month was out.After the due date on Easter weekend passed without any movement, the 1-0 victory over Leicester was watched with nerves, as well as the possibility that baby Richards might begin their arrival into this world.Eventually, that came in the early hours of Friday, April 25.Shortly before 3am, my daughter Cecilia was born and the greatest moment of my life took place. I couldn’t have been prouder of how my wife Lucy coped with everything and my love for my girls knows no bounds.Just over 48 hours later, the next major event of the year was to happen.After getting the ‘OK’ from the hospital, mother and daughter were discharged and we all made our way home just in time for Liverpool to face Tottenham at an expectant Anfield.I always thought my favourite ever memory as a Red would be when I was in Istanbul to see us win our fifth European Cup, but that Sunday afternoon now sits atop my memory bank.With my little family nestled in our apartment, we witnessed an emphatic five-star performance that sealed Premier League glory and immortalised Slot and his charges in the process.As much as I would have loved to have been there in the flesh, the next best place for me was right there with my wife and newborn daughter. Just before the final whistle blew, I cradled Cece in my arms and capped off the best weekend of my life.I’ll even be able to tell her that at the very tender age of nine days old, she made her first TV appearance alongside her old fella on LFC TV after a 3-1 defeat at Chelsea that mattered little in the grand scheme of things.Who knows whether she will grow up to share my love of our football team, but I’ll forever be able to tell her the story of the weekend she was born and the nine months that preceded.