JAKARTA - Manchester City's 1-2 defeat to Chelsea on Thursday, June 25 yesterday confirmed Liverpool as the best in England's highest caste competition. This is the Reds' first league title in 30 years
Becoming champions with seven games remaining shows just how dominant Jurgen Klopp's men are. Yes, the German manager is brilliant. Since setting foot at Anfield more than four seasons ago, Klopp has turned the Reds into a terrifying force.
With this near-perfect achievement, a number of Liverpool players are expected to be competing for the best individual award at the end of the season.
But who is Klopp's hero who has had the most impact on the superiority of the Reds? Here, we select players who have become the stars of the Anfield squad.
Virgil van DijkWE'RE PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS !! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/qX7Duxoslm
- Liverpool FC (at 🏠) (@LFC) June 25, 2020
Virgil Van Dijk is the only Liverpool player who has always played this season. The Dutchman has even led Liverpool's clean sheet list in the league 14 times.
Throughout the season, his presence has been the most convincing in the Reds' back line, from his excellent reading of the game to his dominant physique and good technical skills.
Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Bobby Firmino are probably responsible for most of Liverpool's goals. But their goals were nothing without the steadfastness of Van Dijk, whose influence at Anfield continues to amaze.
Trent Alexander-Arnold1 - Virgil van Dijk is the first defender to receive the PFA Players' Player of the Year award since John Terry did so in 2004-05, when he captained Chelsea to the Premier League title. Rock. #PFAAwards #POTY pic.twitter.com/oCjthb3nSL
- OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 28, 2019
The three strengths of the back line and Liverpool's defensive solidity were obtained through large-scale purchases of Alisson and Van Dijk. However, Trent Alexander-Arnold gave them the x-factor. Just turn off Mane, Salah, and Firmino. Trust me, you will get terror from this talented young man.
Deadly from both open play and set piece situations. That is the image of an Alexander-Arnold. The 21-year-old has been the Reds' main creative force this season. He has scored 12 assists for his team.
Jordan Henderson30 - Trent Alexander-Arnold has been directly involved in 30 Premier League goals since his debut in August 2016 (5 goals & 25 assists), at least five more than any other defender in that time. Whip. pic.twitter.com/9Vv82hKeyM
- OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 24, 2020
If Van Dijk is the Rolls Royce at the back and the Mane-Salah-Firmino sports car trio capable of traveling at 0-60mph, Jordan Henderson is the balance of the team. Striking? Not. Very reliable? Right.
Under Klopp, the Reds' winning percentage was almost 13 percent higher when Henderson played. Their only league defeat this season, away to Watford, came without the captain present.
The midfielder has contributed to the attack, providing five assists and scoring three goals this season. But that's not the point. Henderson knows his role and plays it perfectly. He serves as a lieutenant in the field when passing, and presses relentlessly to help break up the opposing team.
After lifting the Champions League trophy last season, he is now captain of Liverpool for domestic wins.
Sadio Mane308 - Jordan Henderson played more Premier League games in this decade than any other player, one ahead of teammate James Milner (307). Leader. # Opta2010s pic.twitter.com/kqzZMRRHY9
- OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 30, 2019
It is often said that the signs of a champion are winning not only when you are playing well, but when victory seems beyond your reach. Sometimes - if not often - Liverpool are against that theory and need a savior. More often than not, the savior is Sadio Mane.
Mane has been Liverpool's most impressive attacking player of the season. His game has now honed to a very high level which has produced 15 goals and seven assists.
Those goals were very important, scoring 18 points in the 2019-20 season. A tally unmatched by anyone in the Premier League. If Liverpool were likely to falter, Mane's goal kept them on track.
Mohamed Salah10 - Sadio Mané's strike against Leicester was his 50th for @LFC in the Premier League, making him the 10th different player to reach that milestone for the club in the competition (more than any other side). Nifty. #OptaPLRefresher pic.twitter.com/ZinxUuiSZG
- OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 10, 2020
It feels incomplete if you don't mention Mohamed Salah's name. Salah's fruitful debut season following his arrival from Rome - scoring 44 goals in all competitions in 2017-18 - boosted his selling point. Even last season, no one was able to score more Premier League goals than the Egyptian's 22 goals.
This season, he returned to be a Liverpool marksman. His total of 21 goals in all competitions means that he averages one goal every 146 minutes. However, Salah is more than just a goal. He has created 49 chances and provided seven assists.
70 - Against Bournemouth, Mohamed Salah scored his 70th goal in his 100th Premier League game for Liverpool - only Alan Shearer (79 with Blackburn) has scored more in his first 100 games for a club in the competition. Deadly. #OptaPLRefresher pic.twitter.com/4h6Tm0Zwvo
- OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) June 17, 2020
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