'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The 2018-19 Premier League season will always be remembered as one of the most exhilarating campaigns of all time. Not only did the title race go down to the last day of the season, but Manchester City eventually managed to beat Liverpool by just a solitary point. Despite suffering heartbreak on the final day of the season, Liverpool still have a shot at glory against Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League on June 1.
In addition to this, following Liverpool's heroics in the semi-finals earlier this week, it is highly likely that the Reds will eventually end their season on a high. Here are five things we've learned about Jurgen Klopp and his men over the course of their 2018-19 Premier League season:
#5. Making the right moves in the transfer market has transformed Liverpool's fortunes
Liverpool enjoyed a fairly decent 2017-18 domestic season, with their attacking trio of Mohamad Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mané scoring goals for fun. However, the one thing that cost Klopp and his team was their defensive frailties, which emphasised the fact that the club needed to invest in a couple of world-class defensive reinforcements.
And that is exactly what the Anfield-based outfit did during last summer's transfer window by adding the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker to their squad.
Together, the Dutch defender and Brazilian goalkeeper, have taken Liverpool to the next level as the club has developed a new-found solidity at the back over the course of the just-concluded domestic campaign. This also has to do with the fact that both van Djik and Alisson have a no-nonsense approach to their respective roles and their additions have undoubtedly improved Liverpool by leaps and bounds.
#4. Virgil van Dijk was the best defender in the Premier League this season
This season, Virgil van Dijk managed to capture the imagination of one and all with his masterful defending. Ever since moving to Anfield from Southampton, the Dutchman seems to have upped his game and has become the undisputed leader of the Liverpool defence.
In the years gone by, Liverpool have sorely missed a leader of men at the heart of their defence. In fact, not since the days of Jamie Carragher has the Kop seen such a commanding presence at the back and van Dijk seems to have finally filled that void perfectly for the Reds.
Along with his immense presence at the back, the Dutchman has also popped up with the occasional goal which has made his contributions invaluable to Liverpool this season and this promises to be the case for years to come.
#3. Sadio Mane is the most underrated forward in the Premier League
Sadio Mané certainly is not the biggest name in world football and perhaps will never be. But anyone who has seen the Senegalese in action will vouch for the fact that he is a world class player. During his time at Liverpool, Mané has established himself as one of the most potent attackers in the Premier League by finding the back of the net on a consistent basis. And this year was no different as he ended with 22 goals in the Premier League.
But in spite of his exploits for Liverpool, Mané slips under the radar all too often, while the likes of Salah and Firminio make headlines for Liverpool. However, Mane seems to be quite happy doing his bit for the club and that is of utmost importance. Even though he does not always get the credit he deserves, Liverpool's players and fans will agree that they would not have been the same without him.
#2. Jurgen Klopp will be remembered as one of the greatest managers of all time
Jurgen Klopp's high-pressing style of football, passion for the game and amiable personality has made him a crowd favourite at all the clubs that he has managed so far and it is easy to see why. The German lives each moment of the game on the sidelines and is the first one to defend his players in case of criticism from the outside world.
Having said that, Klopp also knows when to ask his players to get their act together and his inspirational half-time talk against FC Barcelona in the semi-final of this season's Champions League is the perfect example of this. Given the kind of players that Klopp has at his disposal, it is only a matter of time before Liverpool start winning titles and once that happens, one can be certain that Klopp will go down as one of the greatest managers of all-time.
#1. This could be the start of an era of dominance for Liverpool
Despite conceding the title to Manchester City by the narrowest of margins on the last day of the Premier League season, Liverpool should be extremely proud of their domestic performance this season. Not only did they manage to give Pep Guardiola's side a real run for their money, they still have a shot at glory in the Champions League.
Given that the Champions League final is more than two weeks away, Klopp and his men have enough time to recover, mentally and physically from what's been an emotionally draining domestic season.
And if they manage to overcome Spurs in the final in Madrid, the sorrow of missing out on a first domestic title in 30 years will soon be replaced by the euphoria of winning a sixth European crown. To sum it out, despite losing out on the Premier League title, this could well be the start of something special for Liverpool FC.
