Liverpool ended last season with 97 points and as champions of Europe. Had Manchester City not got 98, it would have been one of the greatest seasons ever.
Nevertheless, it was proof of remarkable progress under Jurgen Klopp. Virgil van Dijk was PFA Player of the Year, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah two of the division’s three top scorers and the defence, which had been a weakness, the most frugal.
Liverpool have not bought, but they have spent in giving improved contracts to a team whose peak could still be to come. A first league title in three decades remains a priority, but a duel with City promises to run and run.
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Who finishes where in 2019-20?
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20. Sheffield United. Chris Wilder, pictured, has achieved a great deal in getting the Blades up, but staying in the top flight could be a task too far. PA Photo -
19. Brighton & Hove Albion. Graham Potter, pictured, faces a tough ask after taking over as manager from Chris Hughton. Getty -
18. Newcastle United. A tough set of opening home fixtures could be difficult for Steve Bruce, pictured, and his side to recover from. Getty -
17. Norwich City. They need to tighten up defensively but the goals of Teemu Pukki, pictured, can keep them up. Getty -
16. Aston Villa. Jack Grealish, pictured, will have a key role to play in Villa's survival hopes. Getty -
15. Burnley. Sean Dyche's, pictured, team to have a steadier time of things after last season's early struggles. Reuters -
14. Bournemouth. Eddie Howe's side to maintain their attacking ethos though they will help Lloyd Kelly, pictured, can help shore things up at the other end. Getty -
13. Crystal Palace. Once again will be dependent on the goals of Wilfried Zaha, pictured. Reuters -
12. Watford. Concerns over a leaky defence but the quality of Gerard Deulofeu, pictured, should leave them in mid-table. AP Photo -
11. Southampton. Stability should come the Saints way under manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, pictured. PA Photo -
10. Wolverhampton Wanderers. Balancing Europa League with domestic games may prove tough. Will look to more fine form from captain Conor Coady, pictured. Getty -
9. West Ham United. Should be another solid season with the hope Felipe Anderson, pictured, can kick on. Getty -
8. Everton. Bringing in Moise Kean, pictured, is a coup and should help Marco Silva's side continue to progress. Getty -
7. Leicester City. Signing Youri Tielemans, pictured, permanently will boost Leicester's hopes of a real push at the top six. Reuters -
6. Arsenal. Unai Emery will hope the record signing of Nicolas Pepe and the goals of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, pictured, can push them closer to the top four. EPA -
5. Chelsea. New manager Frank Lampard needs big things from Christian Pulisic, pictured, if they are to excel. Reuters -
4. Manchester United. Signings such as Aaron Wan-Bissaka, pictured, will tighten things up and should get United back in top four. Getty -
3. Tottenham Hotspur. Third place again for Spurs, though more is needed from Dele Alli, pictured. Getty -
2. Liverpool. Mohamed Salah, pictured, will be pivotal again but Jurgen Klopp's men to finish behind City again. AFP -
1. Manchester City. Hard to see beyond another title success for Pep Guardiola's, pictured, side. Getty
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Key player: Mohamed Salah
It says something about Salah’s standards that some of his sophomore year on Merseyside felt underwhelming and yet he finished with a share of the Golden Boot and by scoring in the Champions League final. But if he could get back to the 44-goal form of his debut campaign, Liverpool would be still more potent.
Signing to watch: Harvey Elliott
Though probably not this season. The youngest player in Premier League history, a midfielder signed from Fulham, is one for the future. So is another teenage arrival, Sepp van den Berg. But Liverpool have not made any senior signings so far. Elliott made his Fulham debut at just 15.
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Harvey Elliott, 16, signs and makes Liverpool debut
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Liverpool completed the signing of 16-year-old winger Harvey Elliott, centre, from Fulham and then manager Jurgen Klopp put him on with 15 minutes to go of their 3-0 friendly defeat against Napoli. Reuters -
Liverpool's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in action with Napoli's Simone Verdi at Murrayfield in Edinburgh, Scotland on Sundya. Napoli ran out 3-0 winners in the pre-season friendly. Reuters -
Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet during the warm-up before the match. Reuters -
Liverpool fans before the match. Reuters -
Liverpool completed the signing of 16-year-old winger Harvey Elliott, centre, from Fulham and then manager Jurgen Klopp put him on with 15 minutes to go of their 3-0 friendly defeat against Napoli. Reuters -
Liverpool's Virgil van Dijk shouts instructions during the game. Reuters -
Napoli manager Carlo Ancelotti observes from the sidelines. Reuters -
Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp laughs on the sidelines. Reuters -
Liverpool's Adam Lallana, left, in action with Napoli's Piotr Zielinski. Reuters -
Lorenzo Insigne, left, scores Napoli's first goal. Reuters -
Napoli's Lorenzo Insigne celebrates. Reuters -
Napoli's Arkadiusz Milik celebrates scoring their second goal. Reuters -
Napoli's Arkadiusz Milik, right, in action. Reuters -
Napoli's Amin Younes scores their third goal. Reuters -
Napoli's Vlad Chiriches in action with Liverpool's Divock Origi. Reuters -
Napoli's Vlad Chiriches in action with Liverpool's Divock Origi. Reuters -
Liverpool's Rhian Brewster in action with Napoli's Vlad Chiriches. Reuters -
Napoli's Dries Mertens in action with Liverpool's Jordan Henderson. Reuters -
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp applauds supporters after the match . Reuters -
Liverpool players applaud the fans after the match. Reuters
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Talking point: How do Liverpool get better?
The orthodox approach is to buy, but Liverpool have not done that. But as they only dropped 17 points last season, only six against teams outside the top six and only four at home, there is limited scope for improvement.
Perhaps the midfield offers scope: Fabinho took time to adjust last season, Naby Keita should provide more penetration than he did in his debut campaign and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is fit again.
Even with James Milner’s penalty-taking, Liverpool only got 12 league goals from their midfielders last time around. More would reduce the burden on the forwards.
