Liverpool

Liverpool and Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara reportedly came to terms on a £20 million deal Thursday. 

According to ESPN's Mark Ogden, Liverpool beat out Manchester United to land Thiago's services. The Spain international, whose Bayern contract was set to expire next year, has reportedly agreed to a four-year contract with Liverpool.

Ogden noted that Liverpool's fee to Bayern could rise to £25 million if Liverpool win the Premier League or Champions League title during Thiago's tenure.

Per Ogden, Bayern manager Hans-Dieter Flick said the following about Thiago's move: "I can only congratulate [Liverpool manager Jurgen] Klopp. He not only gets a top player, but also a great person. Today, we are all very sad, and it was emotional."

Klopp was reportedly prevented from making any moves previously due to Liverpool's financial situation because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but now that the club has relented, he has landed a respected veteran that he has long coveted.

The 29-year-old has played for both Barcelona and Bayern, winning a total of two UEFA Champions Leagues and nine league titles.

Thiago made 235 career appearances for Bayern, assisting 37 goals and scoring 31.

Thiago is now set to join a Liverpool club coming off a dominant season in 2019-20. Liverpool's 99 points left them 18 points clear of second-place Manchester City, giving the Reds their first ever Premier League title.

Now, with an experienced player like Thiago in the fold, Liverpool could repeat as champions for the first time since winning three First Division titles in a row from 1982-84.

Ki-Jana Hoever is still looking for his breakthrough with Liverpool's first team, but the 18-year-old remains one of the Premier League champion's brightest young talents. 

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp called him "a wonderful kid and a sensational young player" in an interview with the club's official site last August.

As the Reds continue to bask in their league title, Hoever stopped by with B/R for an AMA session to answer a number of pressing questions.

The following is the full transcript from the AMA session.

            

Rhettro: What is it like playing for one of the best managers in the world such as Klopp?

It's an honor to be around him so early on in my career. You learn so much from him and he's looking at the game differently than most players and managers. I can learn so much and I'm just trying to save it all in my head!!

            

Hale1021: What is the best advice Klopp have given to you?

I think it's just when I made my debut "Do what you do in training and enjoy the moment." I did that in that game, but in all situations, I think of that moment. "Play how you train, no pressure, you'll be fine."

             

LukaForMvp77: How does it feel learning from some of the world's best players/coaches?

I'm really blessed that I can learn from them every day. It's harder for other boys my age who don't have that privilege. I've already noticed that I'm a better player being around them.

             

GottaBe: Favourite Klopp story?

I've gotten a few Klopp hugs, so each one of those is probably my favorite story.

             

Cuckiefinster: What does Klopp eat for breakfast?

To be honest, I don't know. He's the first one at Melwood. When I'm eating he's already in his office. We get omelettes a lot, so he's probably an omelette guy.

            

Shyam1: Who at the club has made the biggest impact on your life?

Virgil is one of them, of course it's easier with him. All of the lads are helping me and Pep Lijnders is also Dutch, so I can also speak to him.

            

RealMemeMan: Who's your favourite Dutch player of all time?

All time? There were a lot of good Dutch players. I watched more skills of players, like Ronaldinho. But now as I think about it, it's my teammate Virgil van Dijk.

             

BigChungus134: Who's your best friends on the team?

Sepp (van den Berg). Curtis Jones and then Virgil and WIjnaldum. Origi speaks Dutch too. So we're all pretty close.

              

Jnelson34: What is it like learning from Virgil everyday?

It's the same for me…a privilege. I'm blessed to be able to do that everyday. Virgil is the best defender in the world today. He's amazing with the ball. He speaks Dutch to me in training and I can understand things even better. I go to him after training and ask questions and he is willing to answer all my questions.

            

Adama_traore21: What did it feel like to win the Champions League?

I didn't *really* win it, so I can't say. I did get to travel to madrid and everything happened so quick in my first year. I didn't expect the CL win and it was amazing ot be around the club and the boys for that moment. I'll never forget it.

             

LANDEN1107: Would you rather win a World Cup or 3 Champions Leagues?

Probably a world cup. Winning for your country is just something different. The CL is a dream for every young player, but the World Cup is just different and you only get it once every four years. It's a harder trophy to acquire.

            

Madridynadamas77: Could you ever see yourself at a different club? *cough Real Madrid cough*

I'm very happy at Liverpool

              

Bht27: If you HAD to play for another Premier League team, which would you choose?

I'm happy at Liverpool. I can't say there's any other club I'd rather play at. Before joining Liverpool I just like watch the PL for the competition, but my love is for Liverpool now.

              

RufusPufus: Do you see yourself as a CB or a RB? 

I see myself as a right back at the moment. I'm a right back that can play center back. I'm not physically ready to player center back for a whole season. Maybe when I'm 25 I might be ready, but as I right back I like the attacking aspect. I have a vision in my game like Trent, where I can put people away. I think I can be somebody who sets up and assists other players.

             

ModricHazard: Who makes your best ever starting XI?

Allison

Trent -  Virgil    Varrane  Robo

Neymar - KDB - Frenkie -Mbappe

            Ronaldo  -  Messi

              

TheBamAdebayo_13: Who was your favourite team growing up?

Ajax. Growing up in Amsterdam, that's the only team to support. I lived close to the stadium and then when I was 8, I joined their academy. It just became my team.

              

Samwheezy: Who is your favourite person to play with in the first team and why?

Everyone is super talented at Liverpool, but if it's just one, I'll pick Bobby Firmino. It's because of the skills he has and he does the unexpected on every play.

              

Lildipper: Who's the hardest player to defend against at Liverpool?

I think it's Bobby or Sadio, I think. In the end, it's probably Bobby. He's a different type of striker and you never know what he's going to do. Sadio is so strong on the ball and so fast, very difficult to defend.

           

Teddy_rudd: Who would you say is the most underrated player on the team?

Gini is still pretty underrated compared to what they see on the outside. I think guys like Milner and Hendo are also really underrated. They are players who don't get the shine they deserve.

Tfahey1214: Who has the better chance of stopping Mane? You or Sepp (van den Berg)?

Of course it's me because I'm more used to playing right back and Sadio is a left winger. It's not that hard...

             

SkoogyDoo26: What's your favourite food?

I eat pasta the most. If I'm on a cheat day, it's fries with mayo. But when I'm in England I eat healthy.

I do not like Nandos. The fries are good with the sauce, but I don't like the chicken and other sides.

              

LFCYNWAREDS: Do you believe a loan to a Championship team is better for your career or do you think staying at the Academy with the occasional first-team games is best?

It's important that I play games on the highest level possible. It's hard to balance a few games at the highest level or a lot of games at a lower level. I have to figure out what's best for me and the right answer will present itself.

            

BenBlackmore: If there was an Amazon doc on Liverpool, which player would be the star?

I think Mo. He's always the star no matter what. He's the Egyptian King. Everything is Mo. When you come out of the stadium, everyone is chanting his name. They come from all around the world to come see him.

              

Voigts: What is the inspiration behind your tattoo sleeve?

I have my mom and dad's names on my hands. I have the three X's of Amsterday. I have my parents birthdays, I have my grandmas day of her passing. I have two playing cards, One K and one H from my initials. I also have FAMILY big on my arm and the rest is just fill in. To be honest I'm done for now. I'm still feeling the PAIN. I'm not in the mood now to stay in the shop for a few hours and feel the pain, but I will finish my right arm in a few years' time.

               

Aali8: What was it like to get your first goal vs. MK Dons?

It was a real nice moment because I never scored for Liverpool even at the academy. I'm a right back who doesn't score a lot. I wasn't able to score during my entire time at the academy so it was a relief that I finally socred. I was just really happy to find the bakc of the net.

              

Jnissenbaum: What are your goals for the upcoming season?

I'd like to play at the highest level possible as many games as possible. I know I'm ready to play men's football. No more youth anymore. I'd like to do the big work now. If I go on loan, 30 games. If I stay at Liverpool, maybe more like 10 games.

                

Silly_Dingus: Would you rather score 20 goals or get 20 assists?

20 goals, but I'm not a striker. I think people would appreciate it more if I scored 20.

              

Bht27: How much do you think your FIFA rating should increase next year? It's 62 right now.

I think it should go to 68 or 70. I just want silver. I'll be happy with silver.

                 

ThoughtfulBudah: If you could play any other professional sport, what would it be?

My dad played American football. He's a fan of the 49ers. I wanted to be a wide receiver but he said I wasn't explosive enough. He named me after Ki-Jana Carter.

Thiago Alcantara to Liverpool has been one of the more confusing transfer rumours of this summer.

It began with stories that he would not sign a new contract at Bayern Munich. It progressed with rumours that he would be looking for a new club, and it peaked when it was revealed Liverpool was his No. 1 destination.

But how has this happened, and what is the reality of the move coming to fruition? 

A potential transfer like this requires a deep dive, so we called upon sources and experts across Germany and England to help understand one of 2020's most fascinating storylines.

It was seven years ago that Thiago was lured to Munich by Pep Guardiola. The coach was a huge admirer of his style of play, and in that summer of 2013, he even went public to state the midfielder would be his only transfer target of the window.

The midfielder cost £21.6 million and proved to be a magnificent signing from Barcelona, making 231 appearances and establishing himself as one of the smartest players in the world.

He had won La Liga twice before arriving in Germany and has won the Bundesliga every season since landing in Munich. Nine league titles in 10 years is pretty good going.

Sources around Bayern are shocked that he suddenly wants to leave. No one saw this coming.

With one year remaining on his current deal, officials at the club had been preparing a new contract for this summer and had not considered that he might leave. Past conversations had led them to believe Thiago was happy with new terms and an extension.

They drew up their offer in May, but Thiago told them he would need some time to think about his options. 

He made them wait for weeks and confusion reigned. Bayern discovered, one month later, that he had been thinking about the idea of a new challenge in England.

On our B/R Football Ranks podcast, Bild's head of sport Christian Falk explained: "The way he has gone about this is not gentleman-like, so I think he will leave. 

"I think he is very sure he has a club, and I think we know the club! But the question is whether they pay the fee. We are speaking about Liverpool, and they are not looking to spend too much money this year—that's why they missed on [Timo] Werner."

"Klopp would like to have him...and Bayern are doing everything to sell him."@cfbayern believes Thiago will be off next summer but Liverpool would have to "pay the price"💰 #BRFootballRanks

— B/R Football (@brfootball) July 15, 2020

It is understood that the Liverpool report was leaked from players within the team, who had picked up on the link and been discussing this outside of the team's training HQ.

It has accelerated to the point that very few people around the club believe there is much chance of a U-turn on the contract situation at Bayern. The team do not expect him to play for them next season.

Yet, what is strange, is that there has been very little to report at the Liverpool end of this story.

In times like this, it is sensible to look towards the local pack of reporters such as The Times' Paul Joyce, Chris Bascombe of the Telegraph, The Athletic's James Pearce and Dominic King of the Daily Mail for the most accurate briefings out of the club—but all are quiet on the subject or playing it down.

Earlier this month, Joyce briefly addressed the transfer: "Liverpool are unlikely to target Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara with Klopp playing a straight bat to the subject."

He then quoted the Liverpool boss as saying: "Thiago Alcantara is a really good player, like a lot of other players out there who I like a lot. But that is all I have to say about it."

Earlier this month, Pearce reported that Thiago "is keen to move to the Premier League and would relish the opportunity to work with Klopp. Down to the final year of his contract, he would be available for around £30 million.

"Klopp has previously eulogised about Thiago's talent, but senior sources at Liverpool insist it's currently unlikely that they will pursue a deal." 

On Monday, the Liverpool Echo reported that it has "always understood that such talk of a move this summer has been wide of the mark as the Premier League champions are not considering a move for Thiago at this present time."

So everything is quiet, it seems. Manchester United do also have some small interest in Thiago, so why did Liverpool arise as such a clear favourite to get him?

As one source suggested to B/R, Thiago "would not have gone down this path if he did not feel there was a chance of getting a move to a specific club."

To read between the lines, and to listen to opinions of well-informed journalists, it is likely that Jurgen Klopp's personal admiration for Thiago could be driving the story.

It is possible Thiago has been told this deal can be completed if he pushes for it.

But the Liverpool boss wanted Timo Werner earlier this summer and didn't get him, so would the board grant Klopp his wish this time? 

They have not made significant signings since the summer of 2018 when Alisson Becker, Fabinho and Naby Keita arrived, and the signs are that the Reds will continue to tread carefully in light of the potential COVID-19 impact on finances.

The idea of signing a 29-year-old midfielder on a big contract does not seem to fit the club's ethos, particularly as Bayern are hoping for a fee of €40 million.

But Liverpool might yet have more funds open up with sales, such as Dejan Lovren's move to Zenit St Petersburg for £11 million. Adam Lallana has joined Brighton as a free agent too, so squad spots are opening up.

The transfer window in England is open until October 5, so Liverpool have some time to survey their finances and judge how much they can afford to spend, and where.

Sources in Germany remain adamant that Bayern still have no idea where Thiago will end up, or what the driving force is for his sudden desire to move to the Premier League.

The only thing they do know is that Thiago seems to have a plan and is determined to pull it off. 

-

The 2019-20 Premier League season is finally over.

It was the longest campaign in history, spanning 353 days, enduring a three-month delay because of a pandemic and tested throughout by the debut impact of VAR, but it is, finally, in the books.

So it's time to hand out some awards, recognising the best, the worst and the most dramatic—among other things. Strap yourselves in one last time and relive the action that spanned almost a full year.

          

---

     

Best Team: Liverpool

Obviously.

They smoked the competition, went unbeaten until late February, won the title with seven games to spare and totalled 99 points. They conceded the fewest goals, scored the second-most and finished up 18 points clear at the top.

While some came close to matching their quality on occasion, none could conjure the consistency Liverpool did, and none possessed the same drive and hell-bent mentality to win games.

        

Best Player: Kevin De Bruyne, Manchester City

A final-day assist in a 5-0 win against Norwich City, in which he also scored two goals, took Kevin De Bruyne to the 20-assist mark for the campaign—plus the 13-goal mark to boot.

It's a return of a combined 33 goal involvements, truly sensational, marking him out as the most productive player in the division. Combine that with the fact that he's been a dream to watch, and you've got yourself the clearest case for best player of anyone.

City struggled for consistency across the season; their five-game win streak to finish 2019-20 was their longest of the season, highlighting why they couldn't keep up with Liverpool. That accentuated De Bruyne's brilliance, as he was consistently excellent, at times saving them, at times putting the cherry on top of great performances.

          

Best Young Player: Trent Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool

2019-20 saw Trent Alexander-Arnold continue to morph into David Beckham, with his crosses and set pieces reaching a point where they are borderline undefendable.

He ended up with 13 assists for the Premier League campaign, the highest tally on his team and second only to De Bruyne in a league-wide context.

He netted four goals, quadrupling his best-ever tally for a season, improved on the defensive end and developed a relationship with Joe Gomez that has Liverpool fans optimistic about a long spell of strength in that area of the pitch.

         

Biggest Surprise: Sheffield United's European Charge

There was some seriously lazy analysis of Sheffield United floating about before the season started, pigeon-holing them as a long-ball, defensive team that had no hope of surviving in the top tier.

But even those who knew better than to make such assumptions, even those who appreciated how quirky, efficient and effective the Blades were, probably didn't see a legitimate European charge coming.

Losses in Gameweeks 36 and 37 knocked them out contention for UEFA Europa League football or better—they were in it for that long. With the fourth-best defensive record, strong pressing in midfield and an eclectic mix of attacking tactics, they took everyone—opponents and those watching on—by surprise.

             

Best Manager: Chris Wilder, Sheffield United

Sheffield United's surprise European charge doesn't happen without Chris Wilder's brilliance at the helm. Their success isn't a case of having superior players or big transfer splashes; it's one derived from a brilliant figurehead who excels in every area of management.

Wilder's odd overlapping centre-backs tactic has caught the eye this year, with many amazed by how the Blades push their centre-backs to the wing and have them dribble and cross. It's not something we've really seen in the Premier League before.

They use that tactic to create overloads in certain areas, flooding players into it and creating chances. That's just as much a co-ordinated effort as their physical midfield play, intense pressing in specific situations and defensive nous.

Wilder's signed well, strategised well and man-managed well. He took a team many had destined for an immediate return to the Championship on a European chase, eventually settling for ninth on 54 points—just two behind Arsenal.

There's an extremely strong argument for Jurgen Klopp as Best Manager for obvious reasons, but Wilder's case is just as strong, making it a tough choice between the two that he edges.

        

Best Signing: Bruno Fernandes, Manchester United

It feels a bit odd to select a January signing for this award, but Bruno Fernandes' impact on Manchester United since joining, in conjunction with the seriously up-and-down fortunes of most big summer signings in the league, makes him the pick.

The below stat line sums him—and his style—up perfectly.

Name	Apps	Goals	Assists	Shots per game	Pass Completion %
Bruno	14	8	7	3.1	75.7

Bruno's a risk-taker—he tries things. And in a team that boasts speed and willing runners ahead of the ball, he'll happily try six difficult passes in order to land three. He'll also willingly shoot from distance, knowing the odd one will go in, and he takes about as guaranteed a penalty you'll find—a handy trait in a team that won a record number of penalties in a Premier League season (14).

He's played a massive hand in driving United up the table and into third. The Premier League table since February 1, Bruno's debut, has the Red Devils top with 32 points (followed by City and Liverpool on 30 and 29, respectively).

His consistent excellence and impact, coupled with the absence of that from the likes of Rodrigo, Tanguy Ndombele and Nicolas Pepe et al., clear a path to scoop this award.

          

Most Improved Player: Danny Ings, Southampton

For the first time since 2014/15, Danny Ings was able to stay fully fit for an entire season. The result? He scored 22 Premier League goals, a total that included just one penalty, and ran Jamie Vardy (23) incredibly close for the Golden Boot.

Even back in 2014/15, he scored 11—exactly half his 2019-20 tally—though, in fairness, the Burnley side he played for then was a little less enterprising than the Southampton variant he belongs to now.

Ings developed rhythm and confidence, and through that he found a killer instinct, perfecting the arced right-footed finish and coming alive in the box to finish off scraps. He coupled that with relentless off-the-ball work and silky link play, making him the MVP of Ralph Hasenhuttl's side and more than just a difference-maker in the final third.

            

Biggest Midseason Makeover: Southampton

Saints fans are sick of hearing about it, but it bears repeating one last time to relay the context for this award: Back in October, on a dismal Friday night drenched with rain, Southampton lost 9-0 to Leicester City. The result plunged them into the relegation zone and wrecked their goal difference (minus-16, joint-worst in the division).

Many considered them dead and buried, the damage irreparable. But Southampton fought back in style; they picked up 44 points from there, having kept faith in manager Ralph Hasenhuttl and his methods.

44 - Since Southampton lost 0-9 against Leicester City on October 25th 2019, they went on to earn a further 44 points - two more than Leicester managed to win since that night (42). Trust. pic.twitter.com/nw8OaOdmw7

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 26, 2020

They beat Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Leicester (sweet revenge) and Manchester City and ended the season on a six-game unbeaten run. In fact, they accrued more points than Leicester in the post-9-0 period.

Saints went from staring into the abyss to seeming just two or three astute summer additions away from a Europa League challenge.

         

Biggest Post-Lockdown Makeover: Aston Villa

How did Aston Villa stay up? How did a club that, in FiveThirtyEight's prediction model, had an 86 per cent chance of going down with just two weeks of the season to play avoid the dreaded drop?

Certain statistics explain it quite simply.

	Conceded per game	Errors leading to goals	Set-piece goals conceded
Pre-Lockdown	2	11	15
Post-Lockdown	1.1	0	0

For 28 games, Villa tried to play good football, building from the back and moving it through the lines, but they continually shot themselves in the foot in doing so and were terrible from set pieces. They also got extremely unlucky with injuries, losing three key men for long periods, adding to their plight.

Clearly, the Zoom calls during lockdown were focused on these things because they came out risk-free, defensively solid and much-improved from set pieces. It kept them in games and fuelled their confidence, and eight points from their final four games—including a win over Arsenal in Gameweek 37—saw them leapfrog Watford and Bournemouth to stay up.

In the space of two gutsy weeks, they went from "Doing a Fulham" and taking big steps backward to looking toward a bright horizon, with the potential of keeping their best players and making serious progression up the league.

         

Biggest Disappointment: West Ham

There were a few contenders here: All three relegated clubs share a natural, obvious disappointment; Southampton endured the worst result of the campaign; and Tottenham Hotspur's 2019-20 was a dreary follow from the outset.

But arguably the biggest disappointment was West Ham United. They drastically underperformed according to their talent level under Manuel Pellegrini and then returned to David Moyes on their knees, asking to be saved.

He did exactly that, guiding them to 16th, and by the end of the season, the Hammers were an awkward customer. But how it went so wrong at the beginning is a mystery.

Their recruitment in the summer was strong; they secured Sebastian Haller—who had just combined for 15 goals and nine assists in the Bundesliga with Eintracht Frankfurt—and Pablo Fornals, who had excelled at Villarreal and just won the UEFA European Under-21 Championship with Spain, and added them to a team already containing good players who had proved elsewhere they had quality.

Make no mistake: On talent level, this West Ham squad is a top-10, potentially even top-eight, outfit. The degree to which they underperformed this season is shocking, but at least in 2020 they appear to have found the right track.

        

        

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All statistics via WhoScored.com, unless noted otherwise

Liverpool clinched their first Premier League title ever and their first domestic league title since the 1989-90 season on Thursday after Chelsea's 2-1 win over Manchester City.  

And one very famous fan of the club, part-owner LeBron James, showed the Reds some love on Twitter:

PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LET’S GO 🗣🗣🗣🗣🗣 @LFC #YNWA♥️ 🙏🏾💪🏾🏆👑

— LeBron James (@KingJames) June 25, 2020

James has owned a 2 percent stake in Liverpool since 2011, so he's more than aware of the title drought the Reds just ended. Liverpool have now won 19 domestic league titles overall, and this is their first in the Premier League era, which began in 1992–93. 

James will be hoping to bring a title to his team, the Los Angeles Lakers, when the NBA season resumes in late July. That organization's title drought is a bit shorter than the one Liverpool just ended, with the last championship coming in the 2009-10 campaign. 

Liverpool became the 2019-20 Premier League champions Thursday, and they have Chelsea to thank.

The Blues defeated Manchester City 2-1 on Thursday, clinching the title for Liverpool. The Reds sit at 86 points with seven games remaining, while second-place City are on 63 points with the same number left, meaning they can't catch Liverpool. Anything less than a win from City on Thursday would have clinched the title. 

To all of my @LFC supporting friends,

CONGRATS! This is trophy is well-earned and well-deserved!

Enjoy it.

— Jimmy Conrad (@JimmyConrad) June 25, 2020

It is the first title for Liverpool since the inception of the Premier League in the 1992–93 season. 

A first-half goal from American wunderkind Christian Pulisic put Chelsea in the driver's seat, though Kevin De Bruyne evened things up in the second half with a brilliant strike off of a free-kick. 

2️⃣ goals in 2️⃣ games for @cpulisic_10!@ChelseaFC grab the lead. ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/PQNjmAjRZG

— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) June 25, 2020

There are no words, so let's just go with these three:

Kevin De Bruyne. #MyPLSummer pic.twitter.com/ukBzQcYanB

— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) June 25, 2020

But Fernandinho's handball in the box late in the game led to both a red card and a penalty. Willian converted the penalty, and the 10-man City squad were unable to muster a comeback. 

MADNESS. MADNESS!

...but it ends in a handball and a red card... #MyPLSummer pic.twitter.com/oADMJqBk4M

— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) June 25, 2020

A massive goal for Chelsea...

but a MASSIVE GOAL FOR LIVERPOOL.#MyPLSummer pic.twitter.com/IZtyhFMfhP

— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) June 25, 2020

Some poetic justice for Liverpool perhaps.

A halfway error and a Willian goal seals the title for them here - exactly what took it away from the in 2014.

— Miguel Delaney (@MiguelDelaney) June 25, 2020

With that, the celebrations began in Liverpool. 

The Reds last won the league title in the 1989-90 season, a long drought for such a proud and decorated club. This season's title is the 19th in Liverpool's history, and given the side's absolute domination this season, it was a foregone conclusion. 

What a way to break a 30-year hoodoo. What a team Jurgen Klopp has built at Anfield. Liverpool have destroyed the opposition this season. No one got near them.

— Oliver Holt (@OllieHolt22) June 25, 2020

This Liverpool team will go down as one of the great sides. It has to. Any team as dominant as this belongs in a special category.

— Oliver Holt (@OllieHolt22) June 25, 2020

Liverpool have lost just once and drawn twice. They have a goal difference of plus-46. Last year's European champions have made mincemeat of their Premier League opponents this season.

Winning the title in June after the COVID-19 pandemic suspended the season probably isn't what Liverpool and its supporters would have expected coming into the year. But there is no questioning how formidable the Reds have been during the campaign. A title well-earned, even if the clinching moment was provided by rivals Chelsea. 

Liverpool are on the verge of becoming Premier League champions for the first time, and once that achievement is unlocked, discussion will inevitably turn to whether they can hang on to their crown in 2021.

The days of enjoying success in football are pretty short-lived anyway, but this is going to be a particularly brief celebration. There will be no fans in the stadium to enjoy a first league title since 1990, and there will be no parade around the streets of Liverpool to embrace thousands of adoring supporters. 

So once that trophy is won—be it against Crystal Palace on Wednesday or a game very soon afterwards—a major question asked of manager Jurgen Klopp will be how he plans to move on to the next step. How do Liverpool begin to dominate English football for a long period?

Everything about the end of this season is looking different to how all of us imagined. Potential signings,  player sales and new contracts are all up in the air, even at Liverpool.

And their top target, Timo Werner, has just signed for Chelsea.

Bleacher Report sources are indicating it is likely the club let another transfer window pass by without a major signing coming through the door.

They did not make a significant signing in 2019, and it says everything about Jurgen Klopp's belief in this current Liverpool team that those same sources suggest the manager is prepared to accept the situation yet still believes he can win the league again next time around.

Liverpool have had close-call experiences with big signings before. 

First, there was Alex Teixeira, the then-Shakhtar Donetsk player, who was expected to join in 2016, but Klopp agreed to pull the plug on the deal when the financial terms became too elaborate. 

Two years ago, there was the case of Thomas Lemar, who looked set to join from AS Monaco until Arsenal's interest sparked a bidding war that Liverpool did not want to be a part of.

And in the summer of 2018, there was also the disappointment of not bringing in Nabil Fekir, who was targeted to transform their attacking identity. Past problems with his knee caused concern, and Liverpool backpedalled from the deal at the 11th hour.

Liverpool are disappointed that Werner chose to join Chelsea—Klopp had put in plenty of groundwork to build a connection—but they decided not to meet his release clause, so this is not viewed as a disaster.

The first step to preparing for the 2020/21 season will be the experimentation that can take place before the end of this season. Liverpool have a perfect opportunity to test the depth of their talent pool. 

In light of Werner not arriving, there will be chances for Takumi Minamino and Harvey Elliott to prove their first-team credentials, along with Curtis Jones. Klopp has always been willing to give youth a chance, and all indications from around the club are that that will continue across the squad, no matter how much success Liverpool enjoy. Rhian Brewster can hope for an opportunity after his Swansea loan too.

Of course, Liverpool still want to have star quality backing up Sadio Mane, Mo Salah and Roberto Firmino—that's why Werner had been targeted.

But there is less urgency on that front right now. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Liverpool had big concerns about the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, a tournament to which they were likely to lose both Salah and Mane at a key time in the campaign.

There is an expectation the tournament will now be postponed from January to a later date, though, and if that's the case, there is no reason to believe the Mane, Salah, Firmino trident can not continue to thrive.

There are inevitably going to be high-profile rumours. But it would take an extremely good opportunity to land at their feet for them to suddenly consider a name not already being pursued.

For example, Philippe Coutinho is linked with a return on loan, but this is a deal that is very unlikely. It is being driven by the player's representatives but does not make much sense.

He left in less than ideal circumstances, and his behaviour at that time has not been forgotten by some at the club. Klopp still rates him, but he has also evolved this side in a way that would not have been possible while the Brazil international was at the club.

Coutinho's form and high wages at Barcelona do not make him an attractive asset right now, so a return would only have a chance of happening if Barca were to cover a massive chunk of his salary. And even then, it probably wouldn't go ahead.

It is a similar case with Barca's Ousmane Dembele, who is available for sale or loan, although he is viewed as the most likely big-name arrival if Liverpool do opt for a Werner alternative.

Liverpool's approach to transfers is always careful and sensible. They keep plans close to their chest and often set out to sign players two windows in advance.

In an ideal world, Liverpool would find replacements for Adam Lallana, Xherdan Shaqiri and Dejan Lovren. 

It's not that the club have no money at all to spend, so they may still invest, but big-fee additions are not on the agenda. 

Liverpool accelerated spending in 2017 and 2018 to bring in Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Fabinho, Naby Keita and Alisson Becker in a bid to close the gap on Manchester City.

That decision paid off even quicker than hoped, and Alisson's arrival in July 2018 for £56.25 million was the last big signing made.

City had already set the bar in terms of what was needed to win the Premier League, and while they are likely to spend again this summer, Liverpool have a potential different advantage that means they could stay ahead of them without adding to the squad.

They were knocked out of the UEFA Champions League in March, so they will not play in the end-of-season UCL tournament in Lisbon. It means Klopp's players will have the luxury of a proper break in August before the new season is due to begin in September.

City are still in it, though, and fighting to win it as a main priority for the season. And then at the beginning of September there are international fixtures to consider.

Liverpool can wrap up this league title and then use the next two months as the beginning of a 2020/21 pre-season campaign that City might just not have the time for.

One other big thing for Liverpool to remain positive about is the age of their squad. Their recent recruitment strategy has targeted players of a certain age bracket.

Sources at Liverpool say there is a feeling that because of the age of star players—Van Dijk, Salah, Mane and Firmino are all 28—there is no rush to worry about replacing them. Scarily, those four might not yet have peaked.

Liverpool's first Premier League title-winning campaign might not be ending the way they would have imagined, but that does not mean the hunger and desire for more is going to fade. In fact, the strange circumstances surrounding this title win might just make them stronger.

-

Liverpool relayed a message on behalf of former player and manager Kenny Dalglish and his family announcing he had tested positive for COVID-19. 

He was tested after he was hospitalized for an infection on Wednesday. The statement said the positive test was an unexpected result since he is asymptomatic for the coronavirus. It also said Dalglish had already voluntarily self-isolated with his family and "would urge everyone to follow the relevant government and expert guidance in the days and weeks ahead."

This announcement comes after Liverpool was the subject of criticism for how they initially handled the business of the club during the coronavirus pandemic.

"Whatever the eventual outcome of the discussions, Liverpool is one Premier League club whose reputation has taken a major hit over the last week," Matias Grez of CNN wrote of the club's initial decision to use the United Kingdom government's Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme as a way of paying workers who were furloughed.

The decision drew the ire of many considering Liverpool generated a profit of £42 million last year and elected to use taxpayer money to pay their staff. The club reversed the decision following the criticism.

As for Dalglish, Alex Milne of the Mirror noted he won six First Division titles with the club as a player and three as a manager.

While he "is regarded as one of the greatest players to ever play for" the Reds, he also played for Celtic and managed Blackburn and Newcastle during his career. He won the 1994-95 Premier League title with the Rovers.

Dalglish was also knighted in 2018.

Search for "Michael Edwards" on Wikipedia and among others you'll find Michael Edwards the former Notts County defender, Michael Edwards the Australian film composer, Michael Edwards the pioneering art therapist, two Michael Edwardses who played Major League Baseball and Michael Edwards the British fragrance expert. But you won't find Michael Edwards the sporting director of Liverpool.

It is a measure of Edwards' low profile that despite being one of the architects of Liverpool's transformation into kings of European football and Premier League champions-elect (at least until the coronavirus outbreak put the season on ice), he doesn't even have a Wikipedia page. He never speaks to the press and rarely makes public appearances, yet having helped to engineer the signings of players such as Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino, Andy Robertson, Georginio Wijnaldum, Fabinho, Alisson and Virgil van Dijk, he is arguably one of the most influential figures in the English game.

Edwards, 40, started out as a performance analyst at Portsmouth and spent two years at Tottenham Hotspur before being brought to Liverpool in November 2011 by the club's former director of football Damien Comolli. Since arriving at the club, he has variously worked as head of performance and analysis, director of technical performance, technical director and, since November 2016, sporting director, a role in which he enjoys the steadfast trust of head coach Jurgen Klopp.

"It is a very good relationship," Klopp said last year. "He is a very thoughtful person. We don't always have to have the same opinion from the first second of a conversation, but we finish pretty much all our talks with the same opinion. Or similar opinions."

Edwards' eye for a player has turned him into one of the most-respected members of the Anfield hierarchy. But before he started spotting footballers, his dream was to become one.

---

Born and raised in Southampton on England's south coast, Edwards played youth football locally before signing for Peterborough United—then operating in English football's third tier—in 1995. A hard-working right-back, he turned out for Peterborough's under-18s alongside future Tottenham midfielders Simon Davies and Matthew Etherington and also made a handful of appearances for the club's reserve team.

"Michael was a good player," recalls Simon Wilson, who played alongside Edwards at Peterborough and later worked with him at analytics firm Prozone. "He played right-back normally, but could also play centre-back. He was composed on the ball and competitive off it, although quite slight. He had excellent endurance, I remember, and was strong mentally. He would be at the front of the running, on top of his gym programme and do all that was asked of him. A bit of a teacher's pet, we thought, but probably a coach's dream."

A recognisable figure in the youth team, with his neatly kept blond curtains, Edwards spent his time at Peterborough living in city-centre digs with his team-mates. His former colleagues recall someone who was more mature than other players his age, but whose sharp sense of humour made him a popular member of the squad.

"He was quite quiet and shy initially, but massively came out of himself as time went on," Wilson tells Bleacher Report. "He has a good sense of humour and without being a dominant type, is happy to be the clown to make others laugh."

Edwards was released by Peterborough in March 1997 having never made a first-team appearance, but although he would come no closer to making it as a professional player, there were already signs that a future in the game awaited him. Another former team-mate remembers him being "tactically astute" and having "a good understanding of the game." His interest in computing was evident too, and he was teased by his Peterborough peers for throwing himself into an information technology (IT) module that the rest of the youth-team squad considered a waste of time.

After leaving the club, Edwards enrolled on a course at Peterborough Regional College before going on to obtain a degree in business management and informatics from the University of Sheffield. Initially he moved back to the Peterborough area and taught IT at a local high school, but in 2003 he returned to his native south coast after being taken on as a Prozone analyst by Portsmouth.

Prozone, a pioneering data analysis company, was still in its infancy. Aided by a small army of part-time processing staff based in a warehouse in Leeds, the firm's analysts would film matches and then meticulously break them down into datasets that could be used to objectively analyse a team's performances. At the time, it was revolutionary.

Barry McNeill, then Prozone's business development manager, was looking to place analysts from the company at professional clubs around England. Wilson was working as an analyst at Southampton, having been released by Peterborough at the same time as Edwards, and when McNeill came to visit him in 2003, he mentioned that his old team-mate was looking for new work opportunities. McNeill took Edwards on and immediately sent him to Portsmouth, where his role involved analysing the first team's performances, making presentations on the tactics of future opponents and evaluating potential transfer targets.

"At Portsmouth, Michael would have been an all-rounder: post-match analyst, technical scout and a confidant to players, as they sometimes had more of a thirst for learning than older generations of managers and coaches," McNeill tells Bleacher Report.

Portsmouth assistant coach Jim Smith had become the first manager in England to use Prozone during his time at Derby, where his assistants Steve McClaren and Steve Round had been quick to appreciate the potential of the new technology. It took Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp a little longer to get to grips with it. During Edwards' early days at Fratton Park, Redknapp called him to complain that he had put a CD-ROM containing player data into the CD player in his car and couldn't understand why it wasn't playing anything.

Like their manager, Portsmouth's players had never been exposed to the kind of analysis that Edwards was presenting to them, but his first-floor office at the spartan Wellington Sports Ground, where the first team used to train, became a magnet to players like David James, Sean Davis, Peter Crouch and Richard Hughes.

"On Mondays, he used to be the first port of call for myself and a good few of the other boys," Hughes tells Bleacher Report. "We'd go into his office and have our stats read back to us on how we'd performed at the weekend. He'd played football himself, so he was used to that sort of camaraderie and those exchanges of banter with footballers.

"A lot of people in those roles come from a non-footballing background and sometimes they find fitting into the atmosphere of a football club quite difficult. Michael was different because he had an opinion, and he let you know it. He's got a great sense of humour and he wasn't afraid to tell me or even my more illustrious team-mates that we'd been garbage at the weekend, statistically speaking. He was the first person with that job description that I'd come across as a player."

In an indication of the rapport he enjoyed with Portsmouth's players, Edwards took responsibility for organising a weekly Champions League predictions game. Each week he would collect score predictions from the players, and whoever came bottom of the table would be obliged to drive a souped-up Robin Reliant to training and then modify it in some outlandish manner in time for the next round of Champions League fixtures.

Portsmouth achieved historic success during Redknapp's second stint at the club (he left for Southampton in 2004 but returned a year later), finishing ninth and eighth in the Premier League and memorably winning the FA Cup in 2008. While Edwards remained largely unknown outside the club, he was right at the forefront of what they were doing in the players' eyes.

"If I was going into a game on a Friday afternoon, I'd ask him what he could tell me about whoever I was playing against and if there was an angle he could give me to help me the next day," Hughes says. "It's probably more a question you'd ask a coach or a manager, but Michael had that respect from us. We treated him as someone whose input was not only worthwhile but desired."

---

Redknapp left Portsmouth for Tottenham in October 2008, and Edwards followed him a year later, taking up the role of head of performance analysis. Based in an office at Spurs' old training ground in Chigwell, north-east London, Edwards worked alongside fellow analyst Seamus Brady and enjoyed a close working relationship with first-team coach Joe Jordan, with whom he had previously worked at Portsmouth. One former colleague from his Spurs days remembers him as a football obsessive with strong opinions who was more than capable of holding his own in an argument.

Comolli, who spent three years at Tottenham prior to Redknapp's arrival, was appointed director of football at Liverpool by the club's new American owners Fenway Sports Group in November 2010. He headhunted Edwards from Spurs a year later to help implement a new data-led approach at Anfield—one that chimed with FSG's management of baseball's Boston Red Sox—alongside director of research Ian Graham.

"You are struck with how intelligent he is," Comolli said of Edwards in an interview with The Independent last year. "I like the fact that he challenges the conventional wisdom, like Billy Beane [of Moneyball fame]."

Asked to overhaul Liverpool's use of data analysis, Edwards endured a challenging first few years at the club. As a member of Liverpool's much maligned transfer committee, he was one of the people held responsible by fans for unsuccessful signings such as Iago Aspas, Lazar Markovic and Christian Benteke. There were also well-documented tensions with Brendan Rodgers, Liverpool's manager between 2012 and 2015, who felt that he and nobody else should be responsible for overseeing the club's football strategy. "I always think the manager is the technical director," Rodgers explained.

Edwards operated on the periphery during Rodgers' tenure. An agent whose client joined Liverpool in the summer of 2014 tells Bleacher Report he "didn't know he [Edwards] existed." But Klopp, who replaced Rodgers in October 2015, had no qualms about operating with a technical director, having enjoyed huge success within a similar structure at Borussia Dortmund. Together with FSG president Mike Gordon, they have succeeded in restoring Liverpool's lost lustre.

"I think he helped Liverpool's owners see that they could manage player trading, player development and staff recruitment more effectively," says Edwards' former Prozone colleague McNeill, who is now CEO of sports advisory and software company Sportsology.

"In some ways, he represents many new-age football people, and I think on the whole most people are encouraged by his success. He's shown that you can get to this type of leadership role with the right experiences, education and skill sets, rather than via the kind of nepotism you often find in football."

Edwards, who is married with two children, has been credited with successfully integrating analytical thinking into day-to-day decision-making at Liverpool. Initially more at home working alongside his fellow scouts and analysts, he did not move into his own office until he was made sporting director in 2016. His office sits directly opposite Klopp's on the first floor of Liverpool's Melwood training centre, and the German can often be found sitting on a sofa in Edwards' office, with his feet on a coffee table, informally discussing the day's business.

More likely to be seen in jeans, polo shirt and trainers than a suit and tie, Edwards is highly regarded behind the scenes at Liverpool, where his straight-talking approached is admired, and there is bemusement at management level that he has been portrayed by the media as some kind of laptop geek. Rather than a "numbers guy," one source explains, Edwards is simply seen as a "football guy." If he shuns the media, it is because he feels it would not be conducive to the effective performance of his duties to talk openly about his role, and in any case, Liverpool hardly need another spokesperson on the technical staff when they can already rely on the magnetic Klopp.

"He has a number of qualities, but I think his main strength is his judgment and decision-making," says Wilson, who went on to work for Manchester City and Sunderland and is the current director of football at Stockport County. "He doesn't really do fluffy. He is very entrepreneurial and bold in character and has a lot of conviction in getting to the thing that actually matters.

"I think what he has achieved at Liverpool would be every football club's dream. To turn around a club like that, in a sustainable way—young players coming through, low net spend—and improving every year, it's like every box is ticked. Liverpool are the best team in the world at the moment. They are the most admired club, and Michael has been a huge part of that."

While Edwards operates in the background, the fruits of his work sit front and centre. There may be no trace of him on Wikipedia, but he has made a mark where it matters.

Divock Origi has already cemented his place in Liverpool history with memorable moments like scoring two goals in the second leg of the Champions League semifinal last May to beat FC Barcelona 4-3 on aggregate.  

Liverpool went on to capture the UEFA Champions League title for the first time since 2004-05. 

The Belgian discussed the comeback against Barcelona and answered fan questions about Liverpool, manager Jurgen Klopp and a number of other topics in a Bleacher Report AMA.

@Cheesepizza: What was the dressing room like after the semifinal vs. Barca? How did everyone celebrate?

Some were silent, some were screaming, some were dancing. The overall feeling was something special just happened.

   

@TheLand216: How many times have you watched the highlights from THE Barcelona game?

Wow, um, quite a few times. I like watching the behind the scenes and seeing everyone's reaction.

   

@Austinjamati: What was a more meaningful goal for you: Your 2nd goal against Barca in the UCL semifinal or your game-sealing goal in the UCL final?

They're both crazy important goals. But the Final goal was beautiful. You dream of that scene your whole life and for it to happen is just amazing.

   

@nshimaboy: Do you ever think about how many people were overjoyed by your goals last season?

I heard a lot of stories and you realize how much it means. The stories keep coming. At the same time, you're a player and you have to keep your tunnel vision. I just miss being on the pitch. In these times, you realize how much you love and miss football.

   

@M07070707: What motivated the team to come back against Barca?

I'd say the identity of the club and city to keep on fighting. Everyone is a lion, so it was natural. People weren't saying it to each other, but we felt like it was going to happen.

  

@Memette1996: There's no way you were as chilled as you looked after your UCL final goal, right?

I spoke to my cousin before and he said you need to jump on the pile if that happens. But, really I was so calm and time stopped in that moment. I was quite zen.

  

@Another_brown: How great are Klopp's hugs?

They're very warm hugs. One of the warmest I've had in my football career. He's quite good at his hugs. Not too long. Not too short.

  

@Gboyd213: Are you a fan of any American sports teams?

I just like NBA, NBA and players. I'm not a fan of any particular teams.

  

@CR7GOAT7: Do you like the NBA, and if so, what is your favourite team?

I like watching the Lakers right now. I like their energy. And I like the Warriors energy too. I like what's going on in Cali with the Warriors, Lakers and Clippers right now.

  

@StephMessi: Messi or Ronaldo?

They're so different, so I can't pick. If they were similar players, I would make a choice. It just feels wrong picking one.

  

@JohnDavid06: Hey Divock, which team would be the sweetest comeback victory to score the winning goal against?

Everton. Hahaha.

  

@Lwilso6679: What do you think of your FIFA rating?

I wasn't happy about that, to be honest. But again, someone needs to go and speak with them. Especially my pace. I'm top 10 speed in the Premier League so I need a better rating.

  

@ModricHazard: Thanks for doing this. What's the hardest game of your career?

World Cup 2014. QF. I started the game against Argentina. I was 19 and it opened my eyes to real high-level football. Messi, Mascherano, Di Maria...unbelievable.

@Daviss511: What's your relationship with Firmino like?

We're both calm and cool. He has a lot of positive energy and a smile at all times and I'm the same. We vibe that way.

   

@Schietroma10: Hardest opponent you've faced this year?

I'm still pissed at what happened, but I have to say Atletico Madrid.

  

@362289: Thanks for doing this. Why do you think you always manage to score when it matters most? You are forever a club legend and thanks for everything - I hope you get a 30-goal season for Liverpool!

I think it's fate that things happen the way they do. 

  

@MajinKyoSan: If you had the chance to play with one footballer, alive or dead, who would it be?

Brazilian Ronaldo when he was at Inter.

   

@Jerrycasasola: Celebrity crush?

I don't think I have one. I don't want to pick anyone's wife and get in trouble. Haha.

  

@Divock_Origi_MVP: How, if at all, does your faith influence your day to day training and games?

It's behind everything that I do and who I am. It influences everything I do.

   

@CoolKuba99: Who's your favourite player of all time?

Wow that's a hard one! If I had to pick one...from the ones that have retired...the Brazilian Ronaldo and from those still playing, Portuguese Ronaldo. x

  

@BenBlackmore: Have you ever driven your car round a bend at speed and said "CORNER TAKEN QUICKLY"?

Hhahahah. No I've never said that. I've heard it, but not said it. So many have said it in Liverpool, I can't even count. x

  

@Jgoldman85: What's most important for settling into this Liverpool team when coming from another club?

Understanding the philosophy. The game philosophy, the club philosophy and that of the city.

  

@Romithehomie?: Who is your favourite non-football athlete?

At the moment I have three. Jordan, he's the GOAT. LeBron, unbelievable on and off the court. And Steph. If I had to pick one it's Jordan.

  

@Lildipper: Hey Divock, who's your best friend on the team?

I'm gonna pass on that one. I don't like picking just one. I speak so many languages and can talk to all of the guys. I'm actually everyone's best friend.

  

@Timonthy1113: How does the atmosphere at Anfield compare to any other stadium on European nights?

It's hard to describe. It's a different energy level. It's like you're playing with 12 men. It's a cheat code. A big boost.

 

@Sammyfriedrich: Do I have your blessing to name my first born child Divock?

Yes of course. No problem. I've seen a few people who have done that. It came from the name Vlade Divac. My parents watched him play and wanted to personalize the name a little bit.

 

@Bucks8straight: What moment inspired you as a kid to play football?

My dad winning the championship with Genk in 1998. Their first time with the title and I saw the celebrations and wanted that for myself.

 

@Anothersadvol: Who is the funniest guy on the Liverpool team?

We have a load of funny guys, but either Robertson, Gini or Lovren.

  

@ElectronMan: Hey Divock, you have a cool name bro. How does it feel to hear fans chanting your name at Anfield? Also are you OK to be called 'King of the Comeback?'

First of all, thanks for liking my name. It's awesome that the fans appreciate what you do. And feeling the love makes you want to go harder. 

  

@RQZ: Do you wonder what would have happened if the corner was taken slowly?

I dunno?! Maybe there would've just been another corner.

  

@BobbyFirmi9: When are you gonna get the dreads back?

That era is officially done. It's the start of a new era. I kept a small piece of the dread in a secret place where nobody can reach it.

  

@J_gross: Have you ever gone to see the dolphin in Bruges that was named after you?

I didn't have the time, and then the dolphin passed away unfortunately. I wouldn't mind another one being named after me.

  

@BigLenny: What's your favourite pre-game meal?

Pasta. I can eat it every day. Bolognese, Carbonara. Spaghetti. All of it!

 

@Barcsenal_10: What's your favourite thing to do during the off-season. Also thanks a lot!

Re-charge. I usually take a couple days alone and switch everything off. Just zen and then after that I spend time with the people I love. Then I prep with my coaches.

 

@Djuan3: Top five rappers?

I don't want to do a top 5 in case I leave anyone out. Biggie, Tupac, Jay Z, J Cole, Drake and Nas are all legends.

 

@Lwilso6679: Pre-game rituals?

A nap especially before night games. Prayer and music.

  

@LFC973: Who is the best all-round footballer at the club?

Bobby is quite complete. He can play mid, forward, left and right. Can link up and play one-on-one. So it's probably Bobby.

 

@JoaoFelixGOAT: Hy Divock, are you the fastest in the team?

They have stats, that say I'm the quickest. Which surprises a lot of people. But peak speed it's me they say.

 

@Shyam1: You're clearly the 🐐 but do you have any Liverpool legends who inspired you?

I'd say, ummm, Gerard what he meant and means for the club. I like Torres a lot and his time at Liverpool. I liked Suarez. I'd say them.

Ending up with Liverpool is a dream come true.

 

@Barbequechicken: Who has the most potential out of Liverpool's academy players?

I wouldn't want to pick one, because they're all amazing. Pedro Chirivella, the way he sees the game is amazing. Curtis Jones, he's unbelievable one-on-one. Harvey Elliot is 16 playing like he's 26. That's just to name a few. Liverpool is blessed with some great, great talents.

   

Five months before the Champions League semifinal, Origi had an iconic moment when he scored the game-winning goal during injury time in Liverpool's 1-0 win over Everton. 

Liverpool rewarded Origi for his efforts with a long-term contract extension from the Reds in July. He's appeared in 22 of 29 Premier League games, scoring three goals, before the season was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.