Liverpool need to focus on the FA Cup next season.
We honor Jurgen Klopp and Klopp honors everyone else. And thus the circle has been squared.
We ultimately honor ourselves. So let us make a toast to every blessed one of us, and Liverpool, Sean Cox, to the last man, woman and child. And to the memories of those who could not be with us.
And now to a bit of football.
Looking ahead to the fall, the Reds will begin running the gauntlet, in defense of a much deserved, long awaited, championship crown.
Uneasy rests the crown.
Every other side in the league, including those newly promoted sides looking to put a feather in their cap will be coming, gunning, for us. Especially, most assuredly, on the road.
The road could be a rocky one this campaign. The road might well become a tough old slog?
Chelsea will definitely be better, more than likely, at least on paper. Manchester United have improved.
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Manchester City will have sorted their issues by then, one way or the other. They may have nothing more to play for than domestic competitions and the Premier League. They will still be Manchester City and Pep Guardiola, either way.
Wolverhampton, are playing in form and never underestimate the likes of Brendan Rodgers and Leicester City. The Italian magician Carlo Ancelotti will be hunting for a top four spot with Everton.
Jurgen will have some interesting decisions to make through the fall. Some of these may be made for him through circumstance, player injury, other unforeseen misfortune.
It seems to me that Klopp has only a few things remaining to round out his EPL CV.
Having won Champions League, Super Cup, Club World Cup and the Premier League crown, an immediate repeat of the league, or the international treble, a domestic treble would serve quite handsomely.
But I would counsel Jurgen to proceed with caution in discounting the value of the FA Cup. I don’t think he fully understands how important this particular piece of silverware is to English football fans and this is his one blind spot. It is not like the DFB Pokal.
From my research it is the oldest continually contested team trophy (1939-45 it became a wartime cup), in any sport. Only the America’s cup sailing race is older, and he has underestimated its value to English fans.
Remember the pushback last fall and winter when he fielded a side with the kids. He would need to bring home to Anfield another FA cup to put the final feather in his English footballing cap.
His other task is to defeat (Real, Barca, or Athletico) a Spanish side on Spanish soil. Rafa Benitez was the last manager of Liverpool to do this in ‘05.
Regardless how all of this gets sorted. The Reds will be ready to defense the flag on all fronts, to be sure. Up the Reds!!
It will be fun and exciting and heart stopping for us old farts to watch. Rest assured, come match day, we will be there with the soaring Liverbird all in RED!