Champions Liverpool proved where there’s a will there’s a way - Sue Smith

Their manager, Jurgen Klopp, commented this week on how incredible it was that his side were so far ahead of Manchester City and that said it all. City were unbelievable against Burnley on Monday and on their day they can beat anybody yet Liverpool have been so far ahead of them this season.

Now they have finally won their first title for 30 years I think they will just keep going and chasing records because that is what Klopp is all about.

He will drive his players on but their mixture of unity and rivalry does that anyway.

Liverpool were very unlucky last season to be pipped at the post by such a good City side and perhaps that spurred them on even more this season. They will have reflected on that throughout pre-season and I am sure not wanting to feel like that again will have been a motivating factor in 2019-20.

It has been obvious for such a long time they were going to win the league but after three decades of disappointment, many of the Liverpool fans I know just refused to say so until Chelsea’s win over City on Thursday put the trophy in their hands.

When the lockdown happened and we wondered if the league would resume the blue side of my city had a little chuckle and some Liverpool supporters must have wondered if it was never going to happen but it would have been really unfair had they missed out having been so far ahead of everyone else.

It is their consistency that has most impressed me and when things have not really been going for them in matches they have always found a way. There were a few games where you thought: ‘How have they got three points from this?’

The match against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane was a prime example.

The Blades were holding their own and maybe could have nicked it until goalkeeper Dean Henderson made a rare mistake. He let a goal through his legs and Liverpool got the three points.

There have been moments like that throughout the season where Liverpool have found a way to win. That is what champions do.

Sometimes it was the moments of luck all champions need, and on other occasions it was sheer brilliance but they always had the confidence and drive that came from last season’s disappointment.

Even supporting their rivals, you just have to appreciate the way they play.

Different players have stepped up at different times, from right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold whipping a free-kick into the top corner to Mo Salah scoring after a brilliant run down the wing. They just have so many players throughout the team that can do something special.

The front three of Salah, Firmino and Saido Mane is arguably the best in Europe and the way they link up and interchange positions is brilliant to watch but they seem to have a healthy rivalry, too.

I remember a game when they were 3-0 up against Burnley and Mane burst through. Firmino and Salah were busting a gut to get forward because they all want to be the top-scorer.

The full-backs, Alexander-Arnold and former Hull City left-back Andy Robertson compete over who can provide the most assists.

Yet at the same time you can see the togetherness of the group.

Holding it all together is Klopp, a fantastic motivator. He is a manager I would have really enjoyed playing for because he just seems to love all his players. At this moment we are not supposed to be hugging but he just cannot help himself when his players come off the field.

He comes across as a real father figure to his players, someone who really cares for them.

As a footballer you want to win things for yourself and your club but you also want to win for a manager like that.

In the FA Cup he put his kids out against Everton and still managed to win. That just shows what a very good manager and motivator he is, but also the confidence he breeds throughout the team.

If Liverpool are playing at Anfield, you are not going to beat them. To have won their last 23 home league games is absolutely brilliant.

We have witnessed a very special team this season.

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