Given their tendency to smash goal-scoring records in an unprecedented campaign, it is little surprise that the focus on Liverpool this season has been on their attack.
The comeback win in Villarreal set a new all time club high mark of goals scored in a single campaign, with 139 in 57 matches across all competitions in 2021-22, which given their rich history is truly remarkable. Yet for many, it is their defensive resilience which has underpinned the Reds’ historic quadruple campaign.
In the Premier League, Alisson can still set a new record for clean sheets in the competition, with shut outs in their remaining games. And with 31 clean sheets in all competitions, they can beat the all time club record of 34 in a single season, which has been done on four previous occasions.
Alisson is of course a huge part of that, but as Spurs visit Anfield on Saturday evening, with their formidable strike force of Harry Kane and Son Heung-min threatening to derail Liverpool’s title express, it is Virgil van Dijk who will take centre stage… for good reason.
A year ago, he had just announced that he wouldn’t play in the Euros for his nation Holland, such was the severity of a cruciate ligament injury that had kept him out for virtually the whole of his team’s difficult 2020-21 campaign.
Yet after being sidelined for 10 months with the crippling injury, van Dijk is back better than ever… and his manager Jurgen Klopp insists that is because of the mental strength the defender has shown.
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"In situations like this there are always different reasons. The first is the surgeon, but No 2 is the player," Klopp explained. "There were darker moments in that period when he was not really over the moon about the situation and we were not.
"Not because somebody made a mistake but just because he was not around, he needed time to get away from everything. He managed it good through all that.
"He was back immediately but all the rest as well, if it was that easy [to get back to top level performance] then a lot more players would be world class as well. It’s not easy. But he came through that as well. Here we go [knocks table], long may it continue!"
Van Dijk has previously spoken about the "very emotional, very tough" mental battle he faced to get back, but his stats this season suggests he has returned to that world class level spoke of.
In the Premier League, there have been 21 clean sheets, only 19 goals conceded, 192 recoveries, 30 interceptions and 100 clearances, along with 140 duels won, and 113 aerial battles won. He will need to be at his best for the visit of Kane and Spurs.
Klopp rates them as one of the most dangerous strike forces in the league, suggesting: "They have speed like crazy up front. Harry Kane, what a player, and there is a blind understanding between them. Tottenham has massive quality.
“They have some of the best counter attacking players in the world and we need to find solutions for that. It is the biggest challenge for protection we have faced for a long time.
“Each mistake you make, you have to be high up the pitch because that is where you score the goals but when you lose the ball you have to be immediately around all of them.
"That is difficult. That is just football. We have to find a way to be as calm as possible, because it is not possible all the time."
Klopp knows one thing: his side must win, because he expects Manchester City to bounce immediately back after their shock Champions League exit.
"They are too good (not to bounce back). Yes, it is a massive blow. I think everyone was ready to switch the television off and then all of a sudden part two started. That was really harsh I can imagine," he said.
"I have had nights like this, it is not cool. The next morning is not enjoyable but the next moment you realise, 'Ok we cannot change that any more so we have to focus on Newcastle on Sunday.' They will be ready."
