There's no doubt we are all in awe of the achievements of Liverpool this year.
It’s been a lesson to many, especially club boards, in how to become a dominant force in the English game.
Jurgen Klopp has shown what an astute manager he is... the relationships he’s built with individual players and the team, his shrewd activity in the transfer market and his general demeanour on and off the pitch, including weekly pragmatic conversations with the media.
His club’s 19th League Championship is testament to the all-round approach that has been adopted over the last four years.
How different this is to the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester Unitedwith the only comparison being the blue half of Manchester (but they’ve been caught cheating!).
However, I’ve said it for months, for me, Liverpool are nowhere near as good as they were last season.
Don’t let their points total fool you. It’s like Paarl Boys playing a Montessori XV at rugby, there just ain’t no opposition.
As this campaign has developed, however, they have become far more retracted in their style, looking more like a Mourinho set-up as opposed to the swashbuckling Reds who simply attacked relentlessly for victory every week. It’s a weird one.
KINGS FOR EUROPE: Liverpool have tons of trophies. Picture: File Image.
While the league is wrapped up, it feels as if the initial frenetic five or six months has worn the players down.
This was most apparent away to Watford last week when the standard hard, high press was absent.
It’s something that Chelsea clocked and used to tactically beat them in the FA Cup.
And then a laboured win against Bournemouth on Saturday.
What does it all mean? Well, in my humble, unbiased opinion, of course, Liverpool are getting over the line easily, but that’s about it.
I’ll be surprised if they have Champions League success and despite the Championship being MASSIVE for them, it’s all a bit of an anti-climax considering the hype.
The big worry of course (and I know Liverpool fans are thinking it), is this season really the start of an era?
Last year they juggled and played to win in Europe, this year they’ve done the same to win the League.
Can they successfully combine strategies to become the truly dominant Liverpool they once were?
BLUE BLOOD: Chelsea wonderkid Billy Gilmour, left. Picture: Matthew Childs/Reuters.
I’d say if anyone was able to do it, it’s Jurgen Klopp. Will he do it? I think not
Sunday was huge, Chelsea were magnificent against Everton, with Ross Barkley (yes Ross Barkley) steering the midfield with boy wonder Billy Gilmour stealing the show (again). What a player.
If 18-year-old Gilmour had “Xavi” on his back, no one would have known the difference, except of course he looks more like a Harry Potter extra!
United were good against City and probably deserved the points, keeping them well in the hunt for Champions League football next year.
On that note, back to Europe tonight and tomorrow, with Spurs and Liverpool needing to turn around 1-0 deficits and a bumper clash in Paris as star-studded PSG (2-1 down) host Dortmund.
In the Premier League, Arsenal have to get something tomorrow night at Eastlands and on Sunday Manchester United go to Tottenham! Big tings see ya’ll next week.