Liverpool legend John Barnes has made an interesting claim regarding Jurgen Klopp’s Premier League champions-elect.
TOPSHOT – Liverpool’s Brazilian midfielder Roberto Firmino (R) celebrates with Liverpool’s Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk after he scores the team’s second goal during the English Premier League football match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Liverpool at the Molineux stadium in Wolverhampton, central England on January 23, 2020. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
The Reds are on course to claim their first league title since 1990 – which Barnes was a part of as a player – with Liverpool currently leading present holders Manchester City by a gargantuan 22 points at the league summit.
Liverpool require just four more wins to make their league victory a mathematical formality with Eddie Howe’s struggling AFC Bournemouth up next for Klopp’s European champions.
The Reds are currently off the back of three defeats in their previous four matches after losing in the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup in the space of 15 days.
Klopp’s ‘mentality monsters’ were – prior to the defeat against Watford – embarking on a 44-match unbeaten run – the fifth-longest run without a loss in Europe’s top-five leagues.
However, Barnes has credited Liverpool’s mentality that has seen the Reds dominate the English top-flight with an iron fist sinc the beginning of the season but believes it is the attitude of the players rather than individual talent that has been the difference in the team ending 30 years of hurt on Merseyside.
Speaking on Sky Sports’ ‘The Debate’, he said: “Liverpool haven’t necessarily got better players than any other team in the top four or five. They have a great attitude, determination, commitment and harmony with the fans which means they maximise their potential to do what they did.
“If you look at three or four games before they lost, they ground results out and I thought they played better last year than they did this year. I’m not saying this was always going to happen but there will come a stage where there was going to be a dip.
“Fortunately, with 20 points ahead, we [Liverpool] are going to win the league. But, it could be a huge week, out of the FA Cup, hopefully not the Champions League, because if they go out of the Champions League, although we are going to win the league it will be a bit of a down scoop because if you win the league with seven games to go then what do you play for?”
DOHA, QATAR – DECEMBER 21: Jordan Henderson of Liverpool lifts and celebrates with the FIFA Club World Cup Trophy during the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2019 Final match between Liverpool FC and CR Flamengo at Khalifa International Stadium on December 21, 2019 in Doha, Qatar. (Photo by Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty Images)
What RTK has to say
Barnes is absolutely spot on to credit the resilience and togetherness that has lead to such unrivalled dominance for Klopp and Liverpool.
The German manager’s infectious mentality has rubbed off on the rest of the team and each member of the squad has bought into the coach’s philosophies and has become possessed with winning.
With the Super Cup and Club World Cup already in the Anfield cabinet this season, the holy grail of a first Premier League title in the club’s history only vindicates just how special this Liverpool team have become.