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| Image Source: LFC Twitter Handle |
“This was built on Kenny’s soul
and Steven’s legs “, remarked Jurgen Klopp on Sky after Willian’s goal, this
time, won the league for Liverpool Football Club. That is why Liverpool are
Champions of England. Time and again, Managers have come and gone who, on that
unbearable weight of expectation, tried to sway the team away from the city and
its character. Then comes a guy who was not from around here, not only stamps
his own character on the team but also embodies everything the club and the
city stands for. A hard working and passionate set of people who lives and dies
by their football club, both sets of colours included. In the modern era it is
such a refreshing thing to say that the manager is the best signing the club
has made. This was no 198-million-pound signing that was going to change the footballing
world. It was an affable German (if ever there was one) who simply asked the fans
to believe and pleaded for time to improve. He then set out to do that one
giant step at a time. Doing it the right way is one thing. It needs a much bigger
term to define what Jurgen Klopp has built at Liverpool. It was methodical, it
was ruthless at times and the progress was there to see every step of the way. A
cup final here, a big win there, there was hope again for the faithful. Then
one night in Kiev changed the footballing world on its head. A Sergio Ramos
wrestling match for a final and a supposedly concussed but still worthless otherwise
disaster of a goalkeeping performance later, Klopp manages to see the golden
sky at the end of the storm. Alisson Becker’s world record move for a goalkeeper
becomes the final piece in the jigsaw that was solved for the most part by the
then world record move for a defender by Virgil Van Dijk. Then the 40 point
swing happens and here we are, notwithstanding the worst pandemic the world has
ever seen in a while and all the calls by a certain Null and Void FC, the holy
grail that the club could only smell but never touch it is theirs with a 23
point lead with 7 games still to play. No team can ever manage 100 points in a
season they said. Here we are after the most heroic of failures at 97 points, at
the cusp of a 107-point season. When you haven’t won the league in 30 years,
may be this is how you do it. Not scramble over the line but smash it over the
park. From doubters to believers to Champions of Europe to Champions of the
World to the Champions of England. Liverpool Football Club. Take a bow!
What amazes about this club is
how you cannot pick an individual player or a moment as the reason why
Liverpool were crowned champions. There is no Aguerooooooh moment, no Vardy
party, no signing just for the sake of winning a title for the season as Van
Persie’s and no 30-goal striker to define a season. But perhaps the most
definitive reason for Liverpool’s title charge was embodied by the captain
himself. A scrappy 2-1 win against Spurs and you could see how visibly angry he
was at the final whistle barking at his teammates and acknowledging to his
gaffer how terrible that performance was, not minding taking this into the
dressing room. That was the level demanded by the men in charge and for the
most part you can’t define who was in charge either. What a redemption story
his has been! On the cusp of joining Fulham as a bit part to bring in Clint
Dempsey (That’s right!), to succeeding Steven Gerrard as Captain (That’s
right!), his has been a true warrior’s story of blood, sweat and tears. Redemption
is a dish best served with trophies. Four in a year should do it doesn’t it?!
Henderson, Milner, Van Dijk, Wijnaldum, Lallana, Alisson were all leaders on
and off the pitch which explains being mentality monsters came easy for this lot.
In an era of over exposed youngsters and twitter feuds and late-night pubs and
disciplinary actions, you could not hear a peep about these fellas. There were
no shenanigans. Just professionals going about their business. The only other
manager who made this sort of environment possible won 13 titles. Le Professeur
never regained it after the Vieira era. This is just old school football where the
club comes first, and its manager is the final authority on anything and
everything.
The gaffer’s penchant not to tinker
too much with the first team and a refusal to indulge in individual brilliance
means the entirety of that lot takes the plaudits for ribbons turning red on
the trophy. Because for Sadio Mane and Mo Salah, there is their conductor in chief
Roberto Firmino. For all the accolades the full backs would rightfully receive
for their assists and creativity there are the nuclear-powered work horses of
the much-maligned midfield. And then there are the Van Dijk and Alisson who have
Joel Matip and later Joe Gomez to thank for keeping their lofty standards alive.
The bench came good too with Origi, Lallana and Adrian with the most noticeable
contributions. So, who is the hero then? Oh, there is that booming laugh from
the side lines. That’s who!
For all the records that were and
going to be broken during the season, can this side be cast among the greatest
of the division? Most certainly not! Because for all the accolades, this team has
still only won as many titles as Blackburn Rovers and Leicester City. Yes, this
team is certainly is the finished product right now. So much so that they could
afford to lose a player as talented and as keen as Timo Werner to their direct
rivals and still do not see a par competition next season than currently
dethroned champions of England. A forced 100-day break to the much travelled, much
accomplished but a much weary team of the past year can now take it easy. Aim to
break City 100, bed in the likes of Neco Williams, Curtis Jones, Ki Jana Hover,
Harvey Elliot and Takumi Minanino and another freshen up time of a month later,
they should be raring to go again without too much of an addition to their well
settled squad. But until they at least do an Arsenal, Chelsea or Manchester
City, they would simply be a one season wonder. May be Michael Edward can
provide the swoop of the century and bring in Kevin De Bruyne if Manchester
City loses in the Court of Arbitration. Then Liverpool can close their eyes and
quadruple their way into history. I am just thinking out loud. But then, WE
JUST WON THE LEAGUE! Give us that much! And, the gaffer just made us believe,
made us dream, made us Champions. So what do we know!
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