THE BATTLE TO RULE BEGINS HERE!
RIVAL supporters can forget any hopes they may be harbouring that Liverpool will start the new season with a title hangover.
Because experienced stars such as Virgil van Dijk, Jordan Henderson and James Milner just won’t let that happen.
That’s the view of former Reds and England star Peter Crouch, who is adamant his old club’s drop-off after the restart was fully understandable.
Liverpool had only lost one game in 29 prior to the coronavirus-imposed break.
After it, however, they suffered two defeats and drew two games in nine.
But Crouch is convinced that’s only natural after the standards that they set in blowing away all-comers in the first three-quarters of the campaign.
He said: “You have got to remember that they were 20-odd points clear after the season resumed so it’s natural there was a drop-off.
“They hadn’t won the league for 30 years, so there was 100 per cent going to be a drop-off – because they were celebrating, let’s be honest.
“But once the new season starts, they’ve enough big characters in that dressing room – the likes of James Milner, Virgil van Dijk, Jordan Henderson – who will make sure the whole squad is ready to go again.
“So I don’t think Liverpool will carry any kind of hangover into the new season and I’ve no doubt they will be at it.”
Crouch ( r i ght ht ) added: “They were e just unbelievable, every single one of them pulled their weight and they were a j oy to watch.
“They won games es that they maybe weren’t ren’t great in and then they h were incredible in other games.
“I don’t think they’ll win it as easily this season but they have to be favourites.”
Liverpool had just 33 days between their final game of last season and last weekend’s Community Shield, which they lost on penalties to Arsenal after a 1-1 draw in normal time.
And Crouch knows that, after such a quick turnaround, the mental demands on all players are going to be tough this season.
He said: “Mentally, it’s going to be tough for the players, especially with Euro 2021 at the end of it. It’s just constant football.
“So just getting away for a few weeks before is always nice.
“I remember when I played at World Cups, the three weeks off after just flew by and you were back in pre-season training before you knew it, while the rest of the lads had seven weeks.
“Physically the players are in top condition but it’s tough,
‘I don’t think Liverpool will carry any kind of hangover into the new season and I’ve no doubt they will be at it’
mentally, to get your head around getting back into football again.” Bringing in a couple of new signings will reinvigorate squads but Crouch is confident Liverpool’s doesn’t need much tinkering with.
He said: “When you’ve got such a good squad, who won 24 games at home last season and were so far ahead of the rest, you don’t need to be making huge signings.
“You do need to keep improv improving, freshening thi t h i n g s u p, a n d ke keeping people on th their toes, but in t the right way. “They could go for another top midfield player, an and just back-up in ano another striker and in def defence.
“Li “Liverpool don’t need to add too much – it’s everyone else who needs to improve.”