Mercury (Hobart)

Red-hot Reds a class above

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LIVERPOOL turned the Premier League title race into a procession this season, but manager Jurgen Klopp expects his champions to face a much tougher fight to retain the trophy next term.

Klopp’s side powered to its first English title for 30 years with a dominant campaign that left their rivals trailing in its wake.

Liverpool wrapped up the silverware with a record seven games remaining and finished the season 18 points ahead of Manchester City.

The Reds’ remarkable run forced City to surrender the title they had won for the past two years, with Pep Guardiola’s team unable to muster the consistenc­y needed to keep pace.

With Liverpool having also won the Champions League in the 2018-19 season and the

Club World Cup in December, some pundits believe the Anfield club is primed for a golden era of dominance.

All of the pieces are in place for Liverpool to win consecutiv­e titles for the first time since 1984, with Klopp signed to a long-term contract and key stars Virgil van Dijk, Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Jordan Henderson all in their primes. Liverpool also has a cadre of emerging youngsters capable of bolstering Klopp’s squad next season.

But the German insists Liverpool will take nothing for granted when the 2020-21 campaign kicks off, because he expects a renewed push from City and stronger challenges from Manchester United and Chelsea.

“Whatever people say, it will not be important for next season because for sure we both have to be ready,” Klopp said.

City clearly has the pedigree to take back the title.

The Sky Blues set a 100point Premier League record total in 2018 that Liverpool was unable to match this season, and pipped Klopp’s men to the title again in 2019.

Guardiola’s side could yet underline its enduring class by ending the campaign as Champions League winners.

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