This has been five years in the making – and Jurgen’s Liverpool ain’t going away
To win silverware – a league title in particular – takes a collective effort. It is never, ever about an individual.
That’s why all the Liverpool players deserve the plaudits for what they have achieved in this campaign. To a man, they have been outstanding.
Jurgen Klopp has been working away on trying to achieve success for almost five years. This has not happened overnight.
It has taken patience, intelligence, desire, commitment, skill and unity.
He put in place the front three of Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino, and they have banged in the goals and created chance after chance.
They take a lot of the glory, but every player has played their part.
Trent Alexander-arnold and Andy Robertson are two of the finest full-backs in football. They give you a minimum of eight out of 10 every week, and their link-up play and crosses from wide areas are a joy to watch.
Virgil van Dijk has been a steadying influence at the heart of the defence.
Jurgen knew he was the man to knit it all together, and was patient to get him in from Southampton.
Strikers rarely get past him. He is a towering presence, very powerful, and reads the game so well. There hasn’t always been a settled partner for Virgil. Dejan Lovren has played there many times and is a fine defender, while Joel Matip has also performed to a high standard. But Joe Gomez has really risen to the challenge, and may well have made the position beside Virgil his own for next season.
Strikers would think it’s almost impossible to get past Virgil, so they’d look to exploit the other side. But they will now find the same story with Joe. Nobody will get past him easily. And if any opposition players do get in for a chance inside the box, they then have to try to beat Alisson Becker.
He is an unbelievable goalkeeper. He doesn’t get to see the ball much because of the strength in front of him, but when he does, he is right on it and proves his concentration levels are top-drawer.
That leaves the three places in midfield, and at the heart of it all is the captain, Jordan Henderson.
I was the manager when Jordan came to us from Sunderland, and we knew he had the ability to progress to the very top. He has developed and matured into an excellent footballer and a first-class captain.
He is also a brilliant person.
Fabinho has really found his feet, while Gini Wijnaldum has also been a consistent operator, very intelligent with and without the ball. He is very under-rated.
Then you have others, like James Milner and Alex Oxlade-chamberlain who come in and do their bit regularly. Young Harvey Elliott and Neco Williams came on against Crystal Palace on Wednesday night. Both of them thrived on the opportunity.
The youngsters will be learning from the senior pros every day. That’s the way it should be – and not just on the playing side.
Just as importantly is how you conduct yourself as a person when you represent Liverpool Football Club. You need to be humble, appreciative and gracious. That all helps with your longevity at Anfield.
Collectively, the Liverpool players have been brilliant for more than two years now, and they deserved their moment in midweek.
They clearly enjoyed it – and they ain’t going away.