Premier League sides will find it difficult to dethrone Liverpool except they can match their work ethic, says ex-Red star Graeme Souness.
Liverpool and their tireless work ethic all over the pitch would make them difficult to topple once again next season.
The Reds prepare for their title-defending campaign after they ran their way to the top last term.
A number of sides have made some decent signings and the title race is expected to heat up. Alongside Manchester City, Chelsea in particular are genuine contenders for the title on paper.
Liverpool begin their title-defence with a home game at Anfield against newly-promoted Leeds.
Former club favourite Souness assesses the season ahead and explains what rivals must do to close the gap on Jurgen Klopp and company.
“Liverpool lost only one league game last season before lockdown, away to Watford, so good luck to teams trying to take points off them when the new campaign starts on Saturday,” the 67-year-old wrote in his column for The Times .
“The first thing you have to do is match their work ethic. At the end of the game, you might be talking about something that Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino or Sadio Mane has done or perhaps Virgil van Dijk or one of the full-backs, but the first thing is to work harder than the guys you are up against, and all of them do that.
“It is no coincidence that the teams who beat them before coronavirus halted the season, Napoli and Atletico Madrid in the Champions League and Nigel Pearson’s Watford in the top flight, were prepared to put a proper shift in. Last season, Liverpool were the best team in the league, but also the side everyone least enjoyed playing against.
“The next thing you have to be prepared to do is take their midfield on in a physical encounter. They want to bully you, so you have to stand up to them.”
Klopp already expects a tough season ahead starting from their opening fixture against Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds.
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