LET’S give him the benefit. It was just a turn of phrase in a conversation, a man doing his job, but the use of the word “only” irked Virgil van Dijk. Him, and many more. A reporter had pointed out what everyone already knew following Atletico Madrid’s Champions League smash and grab at Anfield on Wednesday night.
Liverpool have won two trophies already this season but can “only” add the Premier League between now and whenever the competition is concluded given the Coronavirus situation. “Only,” repeated van Dijk back to the reporter with his face and his body language speaking a thousand words.
It’s a thought and a feeling that has been reflected elsewhere, too – that Liverpool could and should have won more, or set up chances to win more. And that reaching this point in the season with only the title to wrap up is somehow disappointing.
Reporter: “it’s only the Premier League”
Van Dijk: “only?” pic.twitter.com/dW03n2it6A
— Kloppholic (@Kloppholic) March 12, 2020
The truth is it can be a bit of everything. Before this quick-fire rash of defeats, Liverpool had been imperious for months. And their ruthlessness and relentlessness inevitably sparked conversations about just how good they could be, how many records they could set, and how many trophies they could win. Could it be the greatest side EVER? Sport has always asked these questions.
In the absence of a genuine title race as early-season contenders Manchester City and Leicester City dropped away, a void for discussion yawned on TV, radio, podcasts and in newspapers. Let’s remember that Liverpool’s trip to Qatar in December was, in the eyes of many, certain to derail the title push. Instead, the Reds won the Club World Cup, flew home and on Boxing Day blew away second-placed Leicester City with a 4-0 masterclass at the King Power Stadium.
That victory before 2019 was out meant Jurgen Klopp’s side were 13 points clear at the top of the league. In December. Reigning champions Manchester City were a further point behind Brendan Rodgers’ side in third. The title was toast for many, whether they said it or not. For context on the gap – the GULF – between Liverpool and every other Premier League opponent this season, on that day, immediately post Christmas, The Reds were sitting pretty on 52 points at the top of the table.
Now, in the second week of March, it’s 82 points for Liverpool. City have 57. Leicester have 53. It’s been done and dusted, over and done, game over as a competition, for some time. That leaves gaps for analysis, discussion and content. You can only say Liverpool are the best side in the Premier League this season so many times.
Which has meant the void for the ‘who will win the league’ chat, has often been filled by ‘how good are Liverpool’. This side has been compared to every other Liverpool side in history. To City’s league-winning sides. To Arsenal’s Invincibles. To Manchester United’s Treble-winning side. All of a sudden we’re sold a new dream – that incredible needs to be better. That just amazing needs to be absolutely perfect.
And why? Because there’s little point comparing this Liverpool side to their peers of 2020 in the Premier League is there? Just look at that table. When it was all going well, the records were smashed, the bests were beaten, the graphics got ever greater, we all took it in, swallowed it, repeated it and it became “a thing” that Liverpool should aspire to – the best season ever.
Doubles were discussed, trebles were talked about. And what football fan wouldn’t want a piece of it? You can never win too much silverware. You might become blase about it if it happens every year. But when trophies are on tap it’s easy to take it for granted. We did way back when. Manchester United did more recently. We appointed Souness, they appointed Moyes.
Liverpool would have become the first club in Premier League history to win the title before April with victories over Everton and Crystal Palace.
All Premier League fixtures have been postponed until April 3 due to the coronavirus outbreak. pic.twitter.com/OncveWr1Be
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) March 13, 2020
The rest is history. Which is why the league matters. Why being top of the tree in England is so important. Forget the other bits – the icing, the cherry, even the cake itself. Bill Shankly said the league was our bread and butter. Yet it hasn’t been on the table in three decades. In that time, Manchester United not only knocked us off our perch by winning 13 titles while Liverpool remained stuck on 18, they reinvented themselves.
Once, Liverpool were THE club. Slowly, we gave that up. And United claimed to be “it”. Twenty titles to 18 said they were right. Our European record said otherwise. But still we wanted that league. We wanted to be back. On top. In front. Leading and sticking two fingers up instead of inventing conspiracy theories and looking to next year.
Now, finally, we’re back. The title is coming home. And for three decades it’s what we’ve wanted. For so many reasons. Anything else was a bonus. Records, landmarks, seasons of multiple trophies, which are so hard to do – we’d have loved all that.
But the league. It was always about the league. Finally doing it. Laying the ghosts to rest. Changing the script. And telling everyone that things have changed. Thanks for minding the perch. Now it’s our turn again.
Only the title? Do me a favour. Remember when Kenny resigned in 1991? When Houllier had us punching our weight? When Benitez took us close? That Rodgers rollercoaster. Then 97 points under Klopp. Other players, other managers, other teams break at that point. A tally that wins you it at pretty much any other point in football history but not this time? Well it’s never going to be ours after that, is it?
Yet this team, this Liverpool, will soon succeed where so many failed. Great players, great teams, but they couldn’t turn 18 to 19. These lads will. That’s special; so special after all this time. They will be heroes. They will be legends. And no one should be allowed to tell us otherwise. You know, I know, we know.
Just the league? Just the job. It’s what we always wanted.
