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Planned position of Guardian authors: 2nd (NB: this is not necessarily the prediction of Andy Hunter, but the average of the tricks of our writers)
Position of last season: 2nd
Chances of winning the championship (via Oddschecker): 5-2
In the midst of the delirium of the Liverpool Champions League celebrations in Madrid, Jürgen Klopp received a call from the man who had propelled him to the Premier League title three weeks earlier. "We have promised to fight again next season," Liverpool's manager revealed in an exchange with the magnanimous Pep Guardiola. "We will do everything and see what we get." Liverpool's appetite was boosted by a sixth European crown. They seem to be the only team able to deny Manchester City a Premier League hat trick.
Klopp and Guardiola enter this campaign by coveting above all the price that the other possesses. Liverpool was pretty good last time for being crowned champion in 116 of the previous 119 seasons. Yet even a remarkable 97 points crop was not enough to defeat a flawless national rival. This demoralizing reality could have lingered in this season without the release that happened to Estadio Metropolitano.
Waiting for the champions to stumble in an exciting race proved punitive and futile for Liverpool. It may happen again this season. But Klopp's team, unbeaten at 11.7 mm in the league last season, did not stop John Stones from winning the Etihad Stadium in his only loss, knowing that it is the biggest threat weighs on the dominance of City. They know that they have the talent and depth to meet the challenges. Since June 1st, they also know what the winners are. The return to Barcelona has changed everything for a team that has lost the considerable weight of almost men. The European Champions are more inspiring as they pursue their first league title in 30 years, which is really ridiculous for a club with Anfield's resources.
Liverpool has progressed every season under Klopp, but improving a points record and an ultimate triumph in Madrid represents a formidable challenge for the manager who unified Anfield. In the absence of senior writers at the time of writing this article, he seeks to improve within a relatively young but experienced and balanced team. His list of developing and purchased players and legacy players suggests that this is achievable, but that's not entirely desirable given the lack of coverage for Virgil van Dijk or Andy Robertson.
On and off the field, Liverpool is a well-established unit. The tactical change of 12 months ago is not necessary, given the success of Liverpool's more compact midfielder, the protection that offered the best defense of the Premier League and the overall consistency which resulted. Liverpool conceded 22 league goals and 38 in 53 games in total. No goalkeeper has preserved more clean sheets than Alisson, who kept 21 in his first game in English football, was a stubborn obstacle to Tottenham in the Champions League final and maintained its exceptional form throughout the successful Copa America campaign in Brazil.
The 65 million pound keeper corrected a fundamental weakness of the Liverpool team, as had already done the 75 million pounds of Van Dijk. Together they honored Klopp's patience in the transfer market and rebadured the club's management that the high fees are worth paying for those who have a decisive influence. The lack of results this summer reflects the manager's belief that his team needs to be fine-tuned instead of major surgery, as well as difficulty maintaining Liverpool's level. It's also a byproduct of investing heavily last year, not only in new faces, but in lucrative new contracts for Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, Robertson, Trent Alexander -Arnold and Joe Gomez. Van Dijk wishing to follow suit and extend his career at Anfield, the defensive base of the Klopp team will be ensured for the years to come. Another dividend of internal investment, the triumph of the Champions League and a well-established locker room is the lack of disturbing transfer speculation on Liverpool's leading talent.
Klopp's options are augmented by the availability of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Rhian Brewster and Gomez as a result of long-term injuries. Oxlade-Chamberlain made two brief substitute appearances at the end of last season as he was coming back earlier than expected after a terrible knee injury. Brewster, the 19-year-old striker Klopp appreciates a lot, missed a year of development due to serious knee and ankle problems, while Gomez was left out for four months due to a fracture in leg and an impressive partnership with central defender Van Dijk. The manager also believes that Adam Lallana is a different option, one that he has deployed in a deeper role in the midfield preseason, though the English international must rediscover the regularity at the height of his obvious abilities after two years marked by injuries.
Naby Keïta is another internal candidate who needs to inject more penetration and creativity into Liverpool's midfield. The Guinean international has only made fleeting impressions last season. Injuries and lack of confidence may have cost the summer arrival of £ 52.75 million, and it is expected that it will intensify after a long period of rest.
Brewster looked brisk at the start of the pre-season and Klopp will need him, as the reserve hovering over Liverpool's prospects – or at least their hopes of repeating last year – is the coolness of his important front . Salah, Firmino and Mané entered last season in a few short days after the World Cup. Their efforts this summer finally ended on July 6, 7 and 19 respectively because of the commitments of the Africa Cup of Nations and the Copa America. Mane's participation in Norwich is questioned on the opening day following Senegal's progress towards the final. Klopp gave his players more free time than ever before. He has also been deprived of Xherdan Shaqiri 's injury for most of a difficult pre – season and still has to deal with a delicate balance exercise while facing a heavier workload.
Photography: Martin Rickett / PA
Liverpool's top priority is to end the wait for a 19th league championship, but the season offers plenty of opportunities to win to create a habit. The first match of the Premier League is between the Community Shield against City and the Uefa Super Cup against Chelsea in Turkey. In December, the club participates in the World Cup of Clubs in Qatar and has the chance to win this title for the first time. Klopp will also be asked to take national Cup competitions more seriously, since his regular protests against him are often undermined by his selections. There is also, of course, the Champions League to defend, with the prospect of a final hat trick and a return to Istanbul in front of a Liverpool team that has never lost a knockout draw under Klopp.
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Madrid marked the end of a dreadful quest for silverware for Liverpool and his manager, but also, they are waiting for a start now. As Van Dijk said when savoring his victory over the Spurs in June: "It's only the beginning. It's not like we're leaving. Guardiola had accepted this well before taking his phone.
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