As Liverpool’s season built towards an epic crescendo last season, the disappointment was palpable when the campaign ended on a slightly sour note. Manchester City’s heroic final-day comeback against Aston Villa meant Liverpool were denied the Premier League title, before a limp display against Real Madrid in Paris saw the club lose the Champions League final too.
A domestic cup double was still a fine achievement for Jürgen Klopp’s side, but given the supreme talents of this Liverpool team, you feel they should have more than one Champions League title and one Premier League title to show for their efforts.
Indeed, it feels as though Klopp’s legacy at the club demands that he wins another Premier League before he hangs up his LFC-branded baseball cap. The winning mentality he has instilled at the club has been transformative, taking what was a floundering sporting institution and helping them rise from the ashes in spectacular fashion. But when all’s said and done, it’s trophies that will define his tenure, and the German will no doubt be desperate to add another Premier League trophy to his CV.
The main obstacle to further Premier League success has been Manchester City. In the last four seasons, Liverpool have exceeded 90 points on three occasions but only won the league once, which just goes to show that City are operating on a level that is extremely difficult to match. Pep Guardiola has created a winning machine, and it’s a testament to Klopp’s talents as a coach that Liverpool managed to pip them to the title even once.
The 2022-23 campaign is a fresh opportunity for Liverpool to win a second title under Klopp, but two draws from their opening two games mean they are already playing catch-up somewhat. It will be interesting to see if this team still has the mental strength to produce a similar form to the second half of last season, where they caught up to Manchester City and came so close to pipping them. The Premier League winner betting still gives them a chance.
If there’s one thing that should motivate Liverpool to put in a big effort to secure another Premier League title, it’s that they didn’t get to celebrate their previous success with the club’s supporters. The coronavirus pandemic meant the tail-end of the 2019-20 season was played behind closed doors, with Jordan Henderson lifting the Premier League trophy in an empty Anfield. One can only imagine the raucous scenes if Liverpool were to secure the title in front of a packed house.
Most will agree that Klopp’s influence on Liverpool over the last seven years has transcended mere titles, but there is a sense that the club must capitalise on this period in their history where the stars have aligned and they are a dominant force. You only need to look at the recent decline of Manchester United to understand the cyclical nature of football, and the need to grasp for success as it flies.
When Klopp leaves Liverpool in 2026, he’ll be given a hero’s send-off, but there’s no doubt that both he and his players will be giving it everything to put another Premier League trophy in the cabinet before that day comes around.