The Premier League 2019/20 will be remembered for one of the most extraordinary in its illustrious history, and Liverpool secured their first top flight title for 30 years.
The longest ever season fell only a matter of weeks short of spanning across a full calendar year. The season came to the somewhat unnatural conclusion with this generational Liverpool team achieving a landmark triumph.
Jurgen Klopp has been building a squad for this moment since he walked through the door at Anfield. On arrival, he proclaimed he would ‘turn doubters into believers’, and he has certainly achieved that. After the heartbreak of a one-point disadvantage last season, in 2019/20 his side was not for catching.
Liverpool Return to the Top of the Table After Incredible Title Win in 2019/20 Season
Positives in Title Run
Despite faltering their way to the final whistle of the season after their title was confirmed, allowing Manchester City’s centurions to retain their record high points tally, this season was one of unrivalled superiority.
While inconsistency may have reigned supreme in the final seven matches of the 2019/20 campaign, the damage had already been done to the rest of the league.
Liverpool’s Champions League success made it six in Madrid the previous season. As a result, it presented opportunities for more global silverware in the shape of the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup. As was the case throughout the early part of the season, the Reds were imperious in their success. Klopp’s men completed an unprecedented international treble in Qatar.
Negatives
Perhaps most disheartening from the Reds was the defence of their European crown. Their tilt at a seventh Champions League was brought to an end when they were eliminated by a dogged Atletico Madrid side in extra time at the last 16 stage.
With such greatness, it’s difficult to underpin many negatives. The odd underperforming display from squad members has perhaps left a little to be desired. In some cases, it has left questions about the strength in depth outside the first XI.
Domestic cups remain a bone of contention, despite the ridiculous scheduling of the 2019/10 Carabao Cup quarter-final exit. However, it is still another season without a prolonged run at domestic cup glory. Despite that, these were to be a minor blot on an otherwise perfect canvas.
Key Matches for Liverpool
Ask any Liverpool fan to name the matches that were pivotal towards their ultimate procession to their 19th title, they will almost certainly mention Aston Villa away and Manchester City at home at the very least.
Six points clear of City before the match, the Reds had cautiously placed themselves in the driving seat in the first phase of the title race. In what should perhaps have been an easier afternoon’s work, 87 minutes into their trip to Villa Park in early November, Klopp was staring at the possibility of a surprise first defeat.
However, the champions bounced back, first through Andy Robertson at the back post with only minutes remaining, before Sadio Mane headed home the late winner.
Liverpool’s following fixture after the elation of Villa was the first meeting of the main challengers. City headed to Anfield still six points adrift after their own comeback victory the week earlier at home to Southampton. How different things might’ve looked had Robertson and Mane not saved the day at Villa Park.
As it was, roared on by a ferocious Anfield faithful, the Reds never truly looked like losing this one, running out 3-1 winners. In doing so, they opened up a nine-point gap over the main threat to their title.
Liverpool Title Highlights
Aside from the aforementioned moments and matches, it was a season packed full of memorable highlights. None less so perhaps than the Curtis Jones wonder goal, his first for the senior side, to send them through to the fourth round of the FA Cup, at the expense of local rivals Everton no less.
It was another Merseyside Derby that will go down as a highlight from the 2019/20 campaign. Everton were in the final days of a messy Marco Silva reign, while the Reds had Sadio Mane that continued to dominate.
As Klopp’s men headed towards a comeback win over Bournemouth in early March, the victory seemed in doubt when Adrian was left stranded on the edge of his box from a lofted effort, before James Milner raced back and cleared off the line, insignificant it wasn’t, as the Reds went onto claim all three points.
Liverpool Player of the Season
One of the most difficult aspects to choose given the strength throughout in one of the greatest teams in the history of Liverpool, particularly after ending the title drought.
Having already claimed the FWA 2019/20 Player of the Year, Jordan Henderson pips the multiple other contenders. Henderson has been the catalyst behind Klopp’s sides rampant surge towards their destiny, who, without their inspirational leader, often look a shadow of their usual selves.
Now one of the club’s most decorated captain’s in history, joining the likes of Phil Thompson, Graeme Souness, and Alan Hansen, to name but a few, before him. Henderson’s story from almost cast-off to the inspirational leader is one of unprecedented turnaround, driven by passion, perseverance, and an inability to relent. Something that Liverpool’s German manager demands from each and every one of his players, starting with his captain.
Despite the numerous top-level contenders from a Liverpool side far greater than the sum of its parts, many of whom have surpassed the Reds skipper in the tackles, goals, and assists columns. ‘Hendo’ just about takes the crown as the champions best player in 2019/20 – a personal title for the Liverpool skipper.
Transfers
Much has been made of the net spend at Anfield, and rightly so. This campaign was no different. Prior to 2019/20, Klopp saw fit, or at least so we think, to only add a backup keeper in free-agent Adrian and youngsters Harvey Elliot and Sepp van den Berg to his soon to be Premier League winning squad.
In January the Reds took advantage of a generous release clause when bringing Japanese international forward Takumi Minamino to the club. Having scored against Klopp’s men in the Champions League group stages, he arrived with plenty of excitement. However, it hasn’t quite happened for the 25-year-old yet on Merseyside.
It remains to be seen who will be at the home of the champions this summer. As the chasing pack strengthens in an attempt to bridge the gap, Klopp seems on the face of things to be more than satisfied with the players already at his disposal. As Adam Lallana and Dejan Lovren have both departed, we may see replacement squad members, while Klopp added Kostas Tsimikas.
Next Season – Another Title Charge?
After an inordinate mid-season break, the likes of which we have never seen before and will hopefully never see again, next season will be upon us before many have stopped celebrating the last.
The resumption of football may have finally brought about the emergence of Naby Keita as a potential star of next term. The Guinean midfielder who since his arrival on Merseyside has somewhat flattered to deceive, with bright moments in the main overshadowed by injuries and inconsistency, truly shone in the new fanless environment. Reds fans could perhaps look forward to seeing the player an often frugal FSG paid out £60 million to RB Leipzig for.
One thing we can be sure of is the crop of youngsters will play a heightened role next term, the likes of Curtis Jones, Neco Williams, Harvey Elliot, as well as the returning Rhian Brewster will see more first-team action. Perhaps most of all in domestic cup competitions, to begin with, competitions that have been cast aside in previous years under Klopp.
Summary – Liverpool Title Winners
The 2019/20 season will forever be remembered as a season of unbridled for joy for Liverpool, with only minor negatives on the field which in the grand scheme of things pale into insignificance.
Albeit in the most obscure and in many ways heartbreaking circumstances, the euphoria of Jurgen Klopp confirming himself as a Liverpool legend by placing the Reds firmly back on their perch will never be forgotten. Something the faithful will be eternally grateful for, many of whom may have stopped believing prior to the German’s arrival.
With the self-proclaimed ‘normal one’ now immortalised in Liverpool folklore, nobody can question the Liverpool manager’s ability to transform the fortunes, in many ways against the odds.
Liverpool FC, Premier League champions 2019/20 – At the end of a 30-year domestic storm, the Reds finally reached their golden sky and secured the title.
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