3 Keys to Liverpool’s 20th Premier League Win

There was little doubt in the mind of anyone who’s been following the English Premier League that Liverpool would be crowned champions yesterday. Tottenham Hotspurs drawing first blood with an early goal may have caused a few jitters at Anfield. But that proved an insignificant stutter in what was essentially a rousing pre-coronation festival. Everything eventually clicked into place as Liverpool steamrolled their opponents to get more than the point they needed to snatch Manchester City’s crown. 

What did Liverpool do right this season to stave off last season’s heartbreak? Here’s some insight into the moves the Reds make to guarantee themselves a 20th EPL title.

The Right Man For the Job

Who would step into Jurgen Klopp’s oversized shoes and steer Liverpool to the next level? This was the quandary the Merseyside club faced at the end of last season. It had been a mildly successful season. They finished third, qualifying for the Champions League, and they won the League Cup. Even those modest accomplishments seemed in danger of dwindling when Klopp announced his departure from the club last January. 

Instead of the high-profile manager fans hoped for, the Liverpool bigwigs brought in the little-known Arne Slot. He had steered Feyenoord to the Eredivisie title the previous season, but had no other eye-popping highlights in his resume. But clearly, the club management had seen something special in the 47-year-old. 

Klopp was a big personality who dominated both the dressing room and the stands. Slot was never going to compete with his predecessor in this regard. But perhaps his quiet composure is what the players needed to boost their confidence and fight for the badge. He rarely gets animated on the touchline, even when things aren’t going according to plan on the field. This could be why Liverpool have been able to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat so many times this season.

Versatility

A couple of games into the season, Liverpool established a dominant style of play that their opponents couldn’t live with. And it wasn’t Klopp’s gung-ho brand of football that left his players shattered towards the end of the season. It was an incisive attack, patient possession, and solid defense all rolled into one.  

Luis Diaz, Diogo Jota, and Mohammed Salah press and harass opponents into turnovers, as was so often the case yesterday. Teams that foolishly insist on playing out from the back, like Spurs did, have been ruthlessly punished. But this Liverpool doesn’t press the entire game. They know how to manage games and control possession, waiting for an opportune moment to counter-attack.

And they know how to mix it up in attack too. They are just as effective with short passes through the lines as with raking balls from Virgil Van Dijk.  

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