“Have you any more ambitions?” Liverpool’s title-winning manager was asked. “Yeah, win it next year,” came the matter-of-fact reply.
The manager was not Jurgen Klopp but Bob Paisley, and it came in a time when Liverpool becoming champions felt altogether more routine.
In contrast, there was the sense they touched heights when recording the long-awaited 19th title. But the danger is that those who climb mountains tumble down the other side.
Fireworks lit up Anfield in June. Paisley’s triumphs brought rather fewer pyrotechnics. The manager himself probably preferred for there to be less fuss. He excelled in winning, year after year.
Before, during and after his reign, Liverpool claimed 11 league titles in 18 years. Now the task is to sustain brilliance for a third consecutive campaign, but that does not mean it is lesser.
The context has changed. Liverpool have posted 97 and 99 points in successive seasons, but no one has ever topped 90 three years in a row. They may have to in order to retain their crown.
If Paisley’s Liverpool took the art of winning to new levels in one respect, Klopp’s side did in another. End-of-season defeats to Manchester City and Arsenal came after the title had been secured. Before then, they had lost two of 70 league matches.
They won the first 26 of 27 last season, giving them 106 points from a possible 108. It was all the more abnormal as Liverpool kept on winning tight games and, apart from at the Etihad Stadium in January 2019, went more than two years without losing one. Their consistency in close matches was remarkable.
Their task now is to do the same with the similar. It is both the same and more difficult, because of the context. Rivals have strengthened and Liverpool, apart from buying back-up left-back Kostas Tsimikas, have not. But for coronavirus, Liverpool would probably have got Timo Werner. Instead, they may face him next Sunday.
Liverpool could have been forgiven for feeling mentally and physically exhausted after their relentless efforts over two seasons. An overworked group need to repeat them for a third. Klopp turned entertainers into the most efficient side in England, with the aid of idiosyncratic tactics.
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Liverpool 2019/20 season ratings
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LIVERPOOL 2019/20 RATINGS: Jurgen Klopp - 9 out of 10: The likeable German deserves huge credit for overseeing the best start to any season by any team and delivered a first league title to Anfield in 30 years. Late goals were a feature of this Reds team often inspired by the manager's substitutions. PA -
GOALKEEPERS: Alisson - 8: A campaign disrupted by injury but the Brazilian kept 10 clean sheets in 20 matches before the coronavirus-enforced shutdown, and another two since the restart. Continues to enhance his reputation as one of the world's best. Getty -
Adrian - 6: The Spaniard endeared himself to the Anfield faithful by saving Tammy Abraham's penalty for Liverpool to lift the Uefa Super Cup in August. Had been a capable deputy for Alisson when called upon before his costly mistake contributed to Liverpool's Champions League last-16 exit to Atletico Madrid in March. Getty -
Caoimhin Kelleher - 6: Young Irishman impressed in the cup competitions, making four appearances pre-lockdown. AFP -
DEFENDERS: Virgil van Dijk - 9: Leads the league in passes to highlight his importance to Liverpool's attacking game but it's Van Dijk's defending that marks him out as a colossus. Few can lay claim to being the undisputed best in their position but there is no better central defender in world football than the Dutchman. EPA -
Dejan Lovren - 6: The Croatian has slipped further down the centre-back pecking order with the emergence of Joe Gomez this season. Getty -
Joe Gomez - 8: Powerful Englishman stepped up to the plate when Joel Matip suffered an injury early in the season. His performances earned him an England call up and it's no exaggeration to say he would have probably gone to this year's European Championship as one of Gareth Southgate's first-choice centre-backs. A big future ahead. Reuters -
Andy Robertson - 8: One of the most accomplished left-backs in world football. An excellent defender who provides attacking impetus down the left-hand flank. Seven assists before lockdown and a crucial late goal in the 2-1 win over Aston Villa in November symbolic of team's never-say-die attitude. Getty -
Joel Matip - 7: Injury and the form of Joe Gomez have limited the Cameroonian to only a handful of appearances. An underrated passer and still one of the club's most astute signings. Reuters -
Trent Alexander-Arnold - 9: Already broken his own assists record for a defender with 16 pre-lockdown. Superb passer and his quality at set-pieces - as seen with his sublime goal in the win against Crystal Palace - is one of Liverpool's most potent weapons. Reuters -
Sepp van den Berg - 5: Dutch defender, 18, is highly thought of at Anfield and impressed during the young side's League Cup run. Getty -
Nathaniel Phillips - 5: The 23-year-old made one FA Cup appearances before being loaned to German club Stuttgart. AFP -
Ki-Jana Hoever - 6: Stylish Dutch defender, 18, became the club's fourth youngest goalscorer when he netted in the League Cup win over MK Dons on September 25, 2019. Getty -
Neco Williams - 5: Faces a tall order trying to dislodge Alexander-Arnold as first choice, but showed neat footwork and comfort on the ball as a replacement in the recent win over Crystal Palace to suggest a bright future. EPA -
Nathaniel Clyne - NA: Once described as a 'machine' by Klopp, the right-back is yet to feature for the Reds this season and is sure to leave in the summer. Reuters -
Curtis Jones - 7: Became Liverpool's youngest ever captain – at 19 years and 5 days – when he captained Liverpool's youngest ever first team side with an average age of 19 years and 102 days to a 1–0 victory over Shrewsbury in the FA Cup replay at Anfield. AP -
MIDFIELDERS: Fabinho - 8: The Brazilian's defensive qualities help make the Liverpool machine work. Showed his development as an all-round player with a delightful chip and a scorching drive in the demolition of Palace. Hard to think Naby Keita was the more celebrated arrival at Anfield two years ago. Reuters -
Georginio Wijnaldum - 7: Another productive campaign from the Dutch international is set to be rewarded with a new contract that will keep him at Anfield until 2024. EPA -
James Milner - 7: Few are more dependable than the versatile Englishman. Used mainly from the bench this season but his energy and experience always add something to the team. Getty -
Naby Keita - 5: The Guinea international has failed to hold down a regular starting place in almost two years at Anfield. Rumours that he will be used as part of a makeweight to bring Alessio Romagnoli to the club from AC Milan in the summer. Getty -
Jordan Henderson - 8: No doubt the Liverpool captain is one of the finest midfielders around now. His drive, passing range and leadership make him one of the most important cogs in Klopp's team. PA -
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain - 7: Emerged from serious injury that wiped out his 2018/19 season with some commanding performances for a demanding manager. Getty -
Adam Lallana - 6: Klopp confirmed the former Southampton winger will leave the club at the end of the season. Mostly cameo appearances were highlighted by a last-gasp equaliser against Manchester United in October to maintain the club's unbeaten start. Getty Images -
Xherdan Shaqiri - 6: Hard to accommodate the Swiss' talents in a team brimming with it in the forward positions. PA -
Harvey Elliott - 6: Highly-skilled winger became the youngest player to start a match at Anfield, at the age of 16 years and 209 days, in the epic 5-5 League Cup draw against Arsenal having already become the club's youngest first-team player in the previous round against MK Dons. Reuters -
FORWARDS: Roberto Firmino - 7: The Brazilian striker's goals return may be down - he is still yet to score at Anfield this term - but his import to Liverpool's attack is not. He still makes the front three work and still the hardest working No 9 in the league. Getty -
Sadio Mane - 9: Fourteen league goals before lockdown and 19 in all competitions after a superb finish against Palace. The Senegalese has overtaken Mohamed Salah as Liverpool's best striker. Has been simply unplayable at times. Getty -
Mohamed Salah - 9: Twenty goals across competitions pre-lockdown represents another impressive return from the Egyptian. His pace and skill are still a nightmare for opposition defences to counter. Even turned provider for his mate Mane in the demolition of Crystal Palace. Getty -
Divock Origi - 6: Scored two goals as Liverpool beat Everton 5–2 in the December's Merseyside derby at Anfield to extend their unbeaten run in league football to 32 matches, which was a club record. Getty -
Takumi Minamino - 5: Anyone would struggle to get in an attacking lineup boasting Firmino, Mane and Salah. The Japanese has been limited mostly to cup matches. Getty -
PLAYERS ON LOAN: Loris Karius - 6: German cut short his two-year loan spell early at Turkish club Besiktas in April after his manager questioned his motivation following a string of poor performances. Has a deal until 2022 at Liverpool and may be retained as Alisson's understudy if Adrian is jettisoned. Getty -
Harry Wilson - 7: The young midfielder has been one of the few shining lights in a struggling Bournemouth team. EPA -
Marko Grujic - 7: Serb has spent the past two seasons at Hertha Berlin and seems his future lies away from Anfield. AFP -
Sheyi Ojo - 5: Winger began his loan spell at Scottish side Rangers under Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard in impressive fashion but petered out before the Scottish league season was called off due to the Covid-19 crisis. Reuters -
Ben Woodburn - 5: Midfielder has spent the season on loan at League One Oxford United. EPA -
Rhian Brewster - 7: Striker, 20, made three first-team appearances for Liverpool before being loaned to Swansea in the second tier in January. Has scored six goals in 12 appearances and will hope to feature more prominently under Klopp in the future. Getty
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Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson have proved the most productive, most creative full-back partnership in Premier League history. It is safe to assume opponents are scheming to reduce the impact of Liverpool’s flyers on either flank.
If Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah’s brilliance in the inside-left and inside-right channels renders each a guarantee of goals, the oddity was that Liverpool had a solitary strike from Roberto Firmino at Anfield in their 99-point campaign.
It offers one potential area for improvement. Maybe a midfield who assumed the role of selfless workers could chip in with more, especially if Naby Keita – the sole major signing of the Klopp era who has not justified his transfer fee – cements a place in the team, yet the ongoing uncertainty about Gini Wijnaldum's future is a cause for unease, especially as it is unrealistic to expect Jordan Henderson to hit such heights again.
There are other concerns. Dejan Lovren’s departure has robbed Liverpool of a fourth centre-back and, immaculate as Virgil van Dijk is and invincible as he seems, both Joe Gomez and Joel Matip can be injury-prone.
Elsewhere, Liverpool are looking to youngsters, in Neco Williams, Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott and Rhian Brewster, to plug the gaps in their squad. Each is hugely talented, but largely untried.
The Liverpool way in Paisley’s glory years was to integrate youngsters from a position of strength. If they are doing so again, winning a title after a second summer of minimal spending would feel a very old-fashioned feat.
