Key players in Liverpool’s Premier League title chase in 2019/20

Who of Liverpool were the most important in their quest for Premier League glory?

Frank Lampard’s Chelsea defeated Manchester City by a scoreline of 2-1 at Stamford Bridge, shocking many. Chelsea were the underdogs going into the fixture but overcame the threat posed by Pep Guardiola’s men.

Moreover, with Manchester City losing to Chelsea at Bridge, Liverpool have ended their 30-year long title chase. Liverpool has now been crowned as the Champions for the 2019/20 season with seven games to spare.

Jurgen Klopp has stood by his words and stayed true to his promise. He promised that he would deliver at least one trophy by the end of four years. He not only delivered the UEFA Champions League in 2018/19, but he also won the Premier League for Liverpool the following season.

The German manager changed Liverpool tactically but also financially. After the disastrous 2014/15 season, Jurgen Klopp arrived at Anfield.

He signed players for a low fee and made them superstars. His key signings include Becker Alisson, Virgil van Dijk (who were the priciest), Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, and Roberto Firmino along with the midfield maestros.

The journey of the title chase is phenomenal for Liverpool. One can say that they have risen from ashes. With players trying to outperform each other, Merseysiders are expected to run riot in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year and could have the PFA Player of the year in their current squad.

Here is the list of Liverpool players who played a major role in their title chase…

Liverpool’s 2017 signing, Mohamed Salah.

Liverpool signed Mohamed Salah for a reported fee of £36.9 million from Italian outfit, AS Roma, in the 2017/18 season. In his first season at Anfield, he scored 50 goals and 14 assists across all the competition.

He raised the standards of the Premier League and broke the record for most goals in a single season with 31 goals. In the next season, the Egyptian King scored 30 G/A for his club and topped the charts.

Mohamed Salah is not only about goals. He has created chances for Merseysiders in the 2019/20 season. Across 27 games, the player has assisted seven times. The stalemate in the Merseyside derby underlined the importance of Egyptian international who was an unused substitute.

The one that started it all, Sadio Mane

The Senegalese international has been the savior for Liverpool across all the competitions. The hallmark of a champion side is not only to perform well but to perform well when it’s much required.

Sadio Mane has stood to these words and performed for his manager in crucial matches. He has been one of the best players for his club since he arrived from Southampton. In the current season, the player showed his all-round capabilities with 22G/A for his side.

These stats have supported the club in a big way. Sadio Mane’s goals and assists kept Liverpool on the right track whenever the club seemed to fall off the title chase.

Jordan Henderson. The first Liverpool captain to bring them a Premier League trophy.

Jordan Henderson has provided the much-required stability for the Merseyside like a hatchback car. The player has been an absolute leader and has played 308 games in a decade, one game higher than his colleague, James Milner.

Also, the stats state Liverpool has won 13% more than that of usual whenever Jordan Henderson has featured. The loss against Watford outlined Henderson’s importance as the player didn’t feature against the Hornets.

Despite this, the midfielder has provided five assists and scored three goals for the Reds. He has been the heart of the team in the middle of the park. He has served the midfield with purpose and relentlessness.

He has also helped the team to string together passes and breakdown the opposition. The Premier League title is a cherry on top of the cake for his achievements with the Anfield based outfit.

Every penny spent on Virgil van Dijk has been reimbursed in full.

The general public raised their eyebrows when Liverpool and Klopp signed Virgil van Dijk for a reported fee of 75 million pounds from Southampton. However, those eyebrows remained raised when Virgil van Dijk went on to win the PFA Premier League Player of the Year, as well as the runner-up in Ballon d’Or race.

In the 2019/20 season, the player has 0.7 tackles per game along with 4.4 clearances per game. Also, he has 14 clean sheets to his name in the top flight. If Jordan Henderson is a family hatchback car, the forward trio being sports cars, Virgil van Dijk has been smooth and classy as a Rolls Royce.

With an assured presence at back and being an imposing stature, Virgil van Dijk might be once again in the race of PFA Premier League Player of the Year.

Trent Alexander Arnold

The saying, “Corner taken quickly” will always remain as a headline in the player’s career. The fullback has cloaked great speeds in the wing-back position and with some delicious crosses. One can forget the big-money signings like Virgil van Dijk and Alisson but the contribution of TAA is unforgettable.

The full-back has terrorized the opposition with his speed and crosses. He redefined the position of fullback. The lavishly talented player has 12 assists to his name in 31 Premier League appearances.

The England international has been lethal from both open play and dead-ball situations and is very far ahead of his colleagues at the club in terms of assists.