Five questions Jurgen Klopp must answer if Liverpool are to win the Premier League title

In fact, it was so long ago the last time Liverpool did lift the title it was still called the First Division – the Premier League didn’t even exist.

To put that in perspective, during that period arch rivals Manchester United have won a grand total of 13 titles.

Liverpool went close with second place finishes in 1990-91 under Kenny Dalglish, 2001-02 under Gerard Houllier, 2008-09 under Rafa Benitez and the painful 2013-14 campaign under Brendan Rodgers, still raw for Reds fans, where Steven Gerrard’s infamous slip saw the title slip away for another year – or more.

Jurgen Klopp has been at the Reds for two and a half seasons but the best he has managed is fourth place in 2016-17 and again last season.

The German has gone big in the transfer market, bringing marquee signings in the shape of the impressive Naby Keita (signed in June 2017 but only just arrived), Fabinho, Xherdan Shaqiri and a much needed goalkeeper, Alisson.

As Alex Rea pointed out in his insightful comment recently, Liverpool are running out of excuses for not winning the league.

But if the Reds are to break their long long drought, here are five questions Jurgen Klopp must answer.

1. What is the mid-field formation?

Even though Klopp has stunned many with his signings in this transfer window, many Reds fans are still gnashing their teeth over the one that got away – Nabil Fekir.

The Lyon captain was supposedly so close to signing that Liverpool had already recorded the promotional video to announce his arrival.

Fekir had been earmarked to play the attacking midfield role vacated by Philippe Coutinho, supplying the dangerous front three of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah.

But without Fekir, who now slots into that role? Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could have fitted but he has now been ruled out for the season with injury.

Adam Lallana is a possibility but is still working his way back from his own injury woes.

Ben Woodburn is perhaps still too young.

Or he could try to re-jig Jordan Henderson, pushing him further forward, or even Daniel Sturridge, pushing him further back.

There is no doubt Klopp has some impressive midfielders at his disposal – Keita, Fabinho, Henderson, James Milner, Lallana, Woodborn (if Klopp decides he is indeed a midfielder), Gini Wijnaldum and even youngster Curtis Jones, who has been outstanding in pre-season games.

But just how the tall German fits them together will play a large part in whether Liverpool are to make a sustained title challenge.

2. Will the leaky defence finally hold?

With the purchase of Brazil No1 Alisson, and the bedding in of centre half Virgil van Dijk, the Reds now finally have the basis of a sturdy defence.

The very impressive Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andrew Robertson slot into the full-back roles – and the self-nominated ‘best defender in the world’ Dejan Lovren partners the big Dutchman in the centre.

But despite his high opinion of himself, as all Reds fans know too well, Lovren is prone to shocking errors.

When Lovren is good he is very very good, but when he is bad he commits howlers.

Van Dijk’s presence seems to have given him some confidence and composure at the back end of last season – and Lovren’s World Cup exploits were impressive – but can the passionate Croat hold it together over an entire campaign?

A few brain explosions in a couple of key matches can be enough to cruel yet another seasom. The jury is out on this one.

3. Does the squad have enough depth?

The Premier League campaign runs over an astonishing 10 months and to be serious title contenders you need to have not just one but two first class XIs.

With the strain of fighting on four fronts, at least at the beginning of the season, you need quality back-up in every position.

Klopp has certainly built some depth – and his squad is light years away from even Brendon Rodgers’ tenure – but is it enough?

A look at a possible First and Second XIs raises some doubts.

Liverpool possible First XI: Alisson; Robertson, Lovren, Van Dijk, Alexander-Arnold; Fabinho, Keita, Henderson; Mane, Firmino, Salah.

Possible Second XI: Karius; Moreno, Matip, Gomez, Clyne; Lallana, Milner, Wijnaldum; Sturridge, Solanke, Shaqiri.

The First XI is impressive but there are not too many Premier League teams who wouldn’t mind a crack at that reserve side.

A few injuries to key players and the Reds cupboard starts to look decidedly bare.

4. Can Salah be a second season wonder?

No one needs to be reminded of Mohamed Salah’s record breaking efforts in 2017-18. But defences will be so much better prepared for the Egyptian’s threat this season.

And as was seen in the Champions League final, an experienced defender may be able to nullify the Salah threat in the most brutally professional manner.

Salah’s shoulder is sure to be tested from the very first match against West Ham on August 12 – as it will be every week until May next year.

The Premier League is littered with one-season wonders and Klopp will have a real challenge to make sure Salah’s name is not added to that list.

Tactically Klopp can assist the Pharaoh King by mixing up his positioning, using him in a different way to last season, perhaps playing more centrally.

This could be key as Salah will be a marked man going into August and if the opposition know where to find him and are prepared, it could spell the Reds downfall.

5. Can they be more efficient against smaller sides?

Liverpool, as we have seen on those European nights, are a big-match team.

With a packed house, in full voice and the stakes high – the Reds are very hard to beat.

But it is the middle of a sleepy Sunday afternoon that is often Liverpool’s undoing.

Time and time again teams came to Anfield last year determined to ‘park the bus’ and time and time again they took home a point on their bus home with them.

Even with the fab four of Salah, Mane, Firmino, Coutinho/Oxlade-Chamberlain, the Reds still could not break teams down – the game often slowing to such an extent that they put themselves and their usually raucous fans to sleep.

If the Reds are to stand any chance of going the distance in 2018/19 – they must become more ruthless against these low-lying clubs and find a way to if not shift the bus, then go around it.