UEFA Champions League and Champions League double for Liverpool

It was the kind of memorable weeks that had become so commonplace in Liverpool during their heyday in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

At the time, while the team was virtually untouchable at home and on the mainland, Liverpool would be a challenge for the Coupe du Europe – as it was called at the time. Time – and for the title of champion of England in the last tumultuous days of a season.

A generation, it starts again.

And we feel more and more the feeling that these Reds, although they have no trophy since 2012, could not be better prepared for that.

READ MORE: Spurs through thriller

A double between the Premier League and the Champions League remains a distinct and enticing opportunity for Liverpool after the team reached the semi-finals of the most important European competition by completing a 6-1 victory over the (8-1) against Porto.

The next game of Lionel Messi's team in Barcelona will be played midway between the last four matches of the English Premier League season in Liverpool. Liverpool is currently in first place, two points ahead of Manchester City after playing an extra match.

During the second week of May, Anfield will be the scene of two huge decisive matches for Liverpool: May 7 will be the return leg against Barca, followed five days later by the last match of the Premier League team against Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Emotions are going well no matter what happens in this iconic stadium. But there is no reason for Liverpool to be able to do that and to complete the ultimate double – as did his club debut in 1977 and 1984.

For starters, the team of coach Jurgen Klopp has forgotten how to lose. Their last defeat, in all competitions, was 18 games on January 7 against the Wolves in the FA Cup. A 2-1 defeat four days earlier against Manchester City remains the only defeat in the Liverpool league this season. They have conceded more than one goal in their last 15 games.

Mohamed Salah is back in form, scoring in three of his last four games – including a scorer of the season in last weekend's Chelsea championship win. As the division's top scorer with Sergio Aguero of City on 19 goals, Salah could still retain the gold boot.

There is also the injury situation which is almost cleared up. Versatile defenseman Joe Gomez has returned to the squad as a substitute against Porto for his first appearance since December 5th.

Klopp was confident enough to rotate his lineup for the second leg against Porto, dropping top pick Roberto Firmino and informing midfielders Jordan Henderson – the captain – and Naby Keita on the bench.

There does not seem to be any real threat of burnout after a long season. Liverpool left the League Cup and FA Cup early in the season, lining up weak teams in both cases. Klopp clearly wanted to focus on the two biggest competitions, and he was successful.

Before this big week of May, two league games seem easy on paper – away from penultimate in Cardiff this weekend, then at home against Huddersfield already relegated on April 26. Klopp should be able to make a big turnover for these matches without fear of losing points. Between the Barcelona Games, there is a trip to Newcastle, which is practically immune to relegation.

Liverpool of course needs City to lose or draw at least one of their remaining five games to have a chance to win the championship. Being knocked out of the Champions League – the most agonizing way for Tottenham on Thursday – has reduced City's schedule, it remains to be seen what mental and physical impact this exit has had on their players.

City's next two games are the toughest of the five: at home against Tottenham on Sunday (NZT) and on the outside at Manchester United on Thursday (NZT).

Everything is going in the right direction for Klopp, who sees this season a different aspect for his players. At about the same time last year, Liverpool qualified for the Champions League final, where they lost to Real Madrid, with a profusion of goals but without the control of this season.

Klopp said: "We had to be more mature, you can not ask for it, you have to work on it, the boys are a good old age and they are doing their own experiments, especially in this competition after last season."

Critics said it was the year Klopp won his first trophy in Liverpool.

He could end up with two of them – the two biggest of the lot.