Champions or not, ravenous Red focus ensures Liverpool will have more feasts ahead

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  • Jurgen Klopp has led Liverpool to two straight Champions League finals.

    Truth be told, Burnley are equally capable – if not more so on current form – of taking points away from Manchester City on Sunday as Manchester United were in the midweek derby.

    Yet, when the blue half triumphed at Old Trafford, many declared the Premier League title race concluded with the defending champions destined to reign supreme once more.

    It seemed people needed reminding of Liverpool‘s mentality and how they plan to approach the season’s run-in. A resounding 5-0 thrashing of relegated Huddersfield Town on Saturday did precisely that.

    Yes, the level of opposition was modest to put it mildly but the manner of the result fired a warning to Pep Guardiola’s side who led the standings by a single point – there is ZERO margin for error.

    With James Milner the only Liverpool player to have lifted the Premier League trophy, a lack of experience has been cited as an impediment of their title ambitions. However, as wave after wave of attack relentlessly rolled towards the Huddersfield goal at Anfield, the collective hunger and desire of the current contingent was palpable – perhaps negating the necessity of housing more previous winners.

    The Reds tangle with Barcelona in the Champions League semi-finals on Wednesday night whose own title charge has slowed down to a leisurely stroll in recent weeks, affording Ernesto Valverde the luxury of resting key players. Logic would dictate Jurgen Klopp’s troops take their foot off the gas and conserve energy, particularly during the second half on Saturday having secured a 3-0 lead at the break.

    But this Liverpool side does not let up. They have fangs where others only had teeth and there was no mercy in sight for the whimpering Terriers, sent home with their tails between their legs. Such is their rabid hunt for glory that their fierce competitiveness is evident within the team.

    In Sadio Mane (20) and Mohamed Salah (21) – both scoring twice on Saturday – they boast two forwards leading the goal-scoring charts, neck and neck in the race for the Golden Boot. Full-backs Andrew Robertson (11) and Trent-Alexander Arnold (nine) are in the midst of their own personal duel, vying to register more assists than the other.

    Whether or not their unrelenting nature is rewarded this season is uncertain but it does guarantee a sustained challenge for silverware for the foreseeable future. Not only does this squad have a ravenous focus to succeed but its configuration ticks the right boxes as well with most of their first team enjoying their prime years.

    If City do indeed retain the title, they would’ve done so with a Herculean task, one they will struggle to repeat in the following season. Meanwhile, it’s conceivable that the Reds could only go from strength to strength over the next couple of seasons at least.

    Along with Paris Saint-Germain, City’s lavish spending in the transfer market has come under severe scrutiny owing to Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations. As such, it’s widely believed they will be forced to show restraint during this summer’s window.

    Granted, the Citizens already boast perhaps the most complete squad in the England but there’s always room for improvement, especially if they plan to keep Liverpool at bay.

    After losing out to Chelsea for Jorginho last summer, the priority must be to recruit a successor for Fernandinho who turns 34 next week while Benjamin Mendy’s regular injury woes mean another left-back would be ideal. There’s also a case to add a third striker into the mix. Sergio Aguero has performed remarkably but the Argentine has rarely proved capable of lasting an entire season and turns 31 this summer while Gabriel Jesus’ glaring dip in form is cause for concern.

    Liverpool on the other hand have fewer concerns and a greater ability to invest. An upgrade from Daniel Sturridge as deputy or even competition for Roberto Firmino could be considered as could a more accomplished central defensive partner for Virgil van Dijk.

    They may even choose to capitalise on their current standing in Europe by snapping up a future superstar whether that is Jadon Sancho, Joao Felix, Kai Havertz, Matthijs de Ligt or someone else.

    So finely are their fortunes poised at the moment that Liverpool could just as easily end the campaign trophyless or with a historic double.

    Either way, at least their fans are safe in the knowledge that – even in the event of failure – there will be no fading into the abyss, not this time. There are more challenges ahead and more shots at glory.

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