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On Liverpool:
Make no mistake, this is Jürgen Klopp’s title.
For all their streaks of Cup success, Liverpool were going nowhere fast when he arrived. He’s taken the time – which wouldn’t have been afforded to others – to re-lay the tactical foundations of the first team. +
Make no mistake, this is Jürgen Klopp’s title.
For all their streaks of Cup success, Liverpool were going nowhere fast when he arrived. He’s taken the time – which wouldn’t have been afforded to others – to re-lay the tactical foundations of the first team. +
I suspect the fact that it has taken him this long to produce a title-winning team makes his success feel more authentic. Equally, it’s amusing to see people say that he brought Liverpool’s play in line with their legacy. That’s nonsense. +
Liverpool today play nothing like they did in their successful past. That past was built on success that was designed to be unachievable outside the specific environment and personnel of their football club.
It was a remarkable culture, but its recipe was very closely guarded. +
It was a remarkable culture, but its recipe was very closely guarded. +
The success of Klopp’s Liverpool, by contrast, can be scaled to size. Much like his 2010-2013 Dortmund team, while Klopp is the impetus for this kind of football, it’s almost independent of him (in a good way). +
Despite their limitations, smaller teams, teams in lower leagues, teams in different countries try to play the way Klopp teams play. Something about his football resonates deeply. It looks challenging but achievable.
Above all, it looks desirable in the most wonderful way. +
Above all, it looks desirable in the most wonderful way. +
Odds are that the forces of modern football will mean that Klopp doesn’t hang around long enough leave behind the sustained legacy of achievement of a Shankly or a Paisley.
However, his impact, in a footballing sense, might be just as meaningful in a totally different sense. +
However, his impact, in a footballing sense, might be just as meaningful in a totally different sense. +
With that said, let’s acknowledge that this Liverpool title was a procession. It’s easy to identify the precise moment they won it, too.
It wasn't last night. It was on September 21, the day Manchester City played Watford. +
It wasn't last night. It was on September 21, the day Manchester City played Watford. +
It feels like a strange thing to say about a match that Manchester City won 8-0, but that’s the day they lost the title.
In the early stages of that match, Aymeric Laporte went down with a knee injury, attempting to block a counter-attack. +
In the early stages of that match, Aymeric Laporte went down with a knee injury, attempting to block a counter-attack. +
It was a cynical foul, in line with the finest Guardiola traditions of stopping rival attacks at source, but Laporte went to that well once too often.
He went down hard and, in truth, City’s title challenge never got back up again. +
He went down hard and, in truth, City’s title challenge never got back up again. +
By the time Liverpool played City at Anfield in November, Liverpool were already 11-1-0 for the season.
Liverpool won that night – deservedly so, though perhaps 3-1 flattered them – and they were 9 points clear. +
Liverpool won that night – deservedly so, though perhaps 3-1 flattered them – and they were 9 points clear. +
We’ve seen some genuinely brilliant tactical innovations from Guardiola this season in an attempt to stabilize his defence without his best defender. Sadly, they’re going to be forgotten because Liverpool’s dominance will be imprinted arrestingly on all memories of this season. +
Despite those adjustments, City conceded 16 goals in the 13 games following Anfield, in an 8-2-3 run.
That wouldn’t kill a title challenge in most seasons, but Liverpool won 13 from 13 in that stretch, conceding just five times, while also winning the Club World Cup in Qatar. +
That wouldn’t kill a title challenge in most seasons, but Liverpool won 13 from 13 in that stretch, conceding just five times, while also winning the Club World Cup in Qatar. +
The breathlessness of this pace underlines the broader story in the current Premier League meta:
This Liverpool title, to most eyes, pulls one back on City since the start of the period that these two teams have unquestionably been the two best in the league. +
This Liverpool title, to most eyes, pulls one back on City since the start of the period that these two teams have unquestionably been the two best in the league. +
City ran away with the 2017-18 title, setting many of the single season records that 2019-20 Liverpool have broken or are now chasing.
That title was similar to this one for its suffocating dominance. +
That title was similar to this one for its suffocating dominance. +
It was also similar in another respect: apart from the runner-up, most teams in the league had little idea how they were being beaten.
So if Liverpool do break those 2017-18 records, it’ll be historic, but, it’ll just be a slightly more impressive version of 2017-18 City. +
So if Liverpool do break those 2017-18 records, it’ll be historic, but, it’ll just be a slightly more impressive version of 2017-18 City. +
What lingers, therefore, is the 2018-19 title. It was an incredible title sprint, and replicating it would be nearly impossible.
Some title runs are thrilling because they’re close. Others are thrilling because the teams in the chase are bloody exceptional.
2018-19 was both. +
Some title runs are thrilling because they’re close. Others are thrilling because the teams in the chase are bloody exceptional.
2018-19 was both. +
Liverpool entered the final game needing City to not win to be champions.
Liverpool had the title until minute 38 of their respective matches which kicked off simultaneously, before Laporte (remember him?) gave City a lead that they didn’t relinquish. +
Liverpool had the title until minute 38 of their respective matches which kicked off simultaneously, before Laporte (remember him?) gave City a lead that they didn’t relinquish. +
Liverpool collected twenty-seven points from twenty-seven on the run-in, won thirty out of thirty-eight games, only lost once all season, and still didn’t win the title.
That’s how good 2018-19 City were. +
That’s how good 2018-19 City were. +
So when I see Liverpool fans venting in victory, I imagine it isn’t just the frustration of thirty years without a league title.
There’s some genuine acid in the mix because their absolute best in 2018-19 wasn’t good enough.
This title must feel cathartic. +
There’s some genuine acid in the mix because their absolute best in 2018-19 wasn’t good enough.
This title must feel cathartic. +
And for Klopp in particular, who is now simultaneously an English, European and World champion at club level, the feeling of satisfaction must be extraordinary. +
Klopp’s impact on football in a country other than his own may not have been revolutionary in the way Ferguson’s or Wenger’s was, or even Guardiola’s has been.
But it has been transformative and, in many ways, that's perhaps just as important. +
But it has been transformative and, in many ways, that's perhaps just as important. +
It’s hard to say how motivated Klopp can or will be going forward, but I can’t be alone in feeling glad he’s getting this moment now.
There are few people in football who deserve it more.
There are few people in football who deserve it more.
