TITLE WIN WILL MAKE YOU ALL KOP LEGENDS

‘Place in history beckons for stars’

said Hyypia, speaking on behalf of Carlsberg, official beer of Liverpool FC.

“But I promise I won’t miss the party if we become champions next year.”

While Liverpool stretched their lead over Manchester City to eight points going into the international break, Hyypia knows there is a long road ahead.

But he has seen enough already to know Klopp and his players won’t allow their focus to waver.

“It’s a great thing that no one left last summer – they kept all their big players. And, when I see them play, it looks like everyone wants to be there to play for this club and be in this team. “I watch them and it seems they are having fun playing at such an extraordinarily high level – but they are also demanding of each other. That’s why they won’t ease up.

“I saw the episode with Mo Salah and Sadio Mane, but, far from thinking that was damaging to the dressing room spirit, I thought that showed how strong it is.

“It just shows that everyone wants to win together and what a great group Klopp has built with that dynamic.

“It’s always good to have that kind of openness where players can call each other out. That’s part of the culture of winning.

“All successful teams have that desire, which means they demand more from each other.

“I remember some sparks flying between players when I was at Anfield – and that’s only good for the team.”

With Pep Guardiola’s (left) City stars certain to fight until the end, Hyypia believes, if Liverpool triumph, it will make victory even more remarkable.

“If someone creates a great team like City, you can’t stop that,” he said. “We lost one game and City won the title, so you have to hold up your hands as we did all we could to win it.

“They even gave us credit for pushing them to the very end. That’s why, if we win, it’ll be even better as City are just so good .

“To win in an era where your rival is so good merely heightens the achievement.”