Liverpool ready to challenge for the title

IN 25 of the previous 27 years, Liverpool would be coming into the new season as the Premier League champions.

But their total of 97 points, with just one defeat, was good enough only for second place behind Manchester City.

That disappointment was outweighed by their victory in the Champions League the following month, but manager Juergen Klopp knows his team will have to improve again if they are to win the title for the first time since 1990.

“After a season, after a break, first and foremost you have to try to reach a level of last year again if it was a good one – and it was a good one,” Klopp said.

“It’s not PlayStation where you can make the next skill or whatever. We have to bring people together, players together and do the same things in the right moment and stuff like this. This is always very important.

“A lot of things depend on confidence, stuff like this, where you can get this from, results. Improvement, being consistent, doing the same again would be improvement as well on the highest level, of course.”

Liverpool were edged out by City last weekend in the Community Shield at Wembley, losing on penalties after the match had finished 1-1 after 90 minutes.

But the manner of their secondhalf performance, when they created numerous chances to win, suggests they are in good form as they prepare for tomorrow’s seasonopener at home to Norwich City.

Bookmakers make Klopp’s side the most likely challengers to City but Klopp said the title race could be more open than last season.

“If you are around City or level with them then you must be really good,” he said.

“I see all the other four teams and Everton looks really ambitious, bringing in lots of players.

“So many things can happen. I would like to say again that it is us and City – but this time us on top. But we cannot know.”

Dealing with the success of their Champions League win will also be a new situation for Liverpool’s players.

Until 1990, Liverpool had dominated English football for most of the previous two decades, winning the title 11 times in 18 seasons.

Their runners-up finish last season was the third time they have been second in the Premier League in the past decade.

The club’s fans are desperate for that title drought to end but Klopp said history must serve as a positive, not a negative.

“When we said we have to get rid of the backpack of the history of the club, (it is so that) we can make a step in the right direction.

“We have to make sure that our own history – even though it’s a good one – doesn’t keep us in that moment. That’s very important, but we will do that.”

If Liverpool are to be successful this season, they will do so with almost the same squad that went so close last time out.

While other sides have strengthened with big money signings, Klopp has made small investments in some young players and a second goalkeeper, after the departure of Simon Mignolet.

But in Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino, they have the most prolific forward line in the league and fullback Andy Robertson believes the squad is good enough to go close again.

“Everyone wants new players coming in and sometimes it’s not possible,” Robertson said.

“We have a very good squad. We don’t want to be a team that ‘only’ won the Champions League.

“We want to leave a legacy and win more trophies.

“We can only do that by having the same application and mentality as we did last season.”