The 2021/22 Premier League season has finally been concluded, with Liverpool finishing as runners-up to Manchester City after 38 matches. The Reds finished just one point behind their Etihad rivals, with Pep Guardiola full of admiration for his challengers after securing the trophy on Sunday afternoon.
Jurgen Klopp's men have been on quite a journey since last August. The situation at Anfield has been constantly shifting from start to finish, despite Liverpool's go-to system and ability to deliver wins remaining consistent throughout.
There has been an underlying tactical story attached to the Reds ' season. Different players have shined, different players have struggled. Strengths have emerged, weaknesses have emerged.
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It all started nine months ago, with the team's defence initially placed under the microscope.
Klopp was easing the likes of Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez back into the fray after the pair picked up long-term injuries the season before. Alongside their respective returns, Ibrahima Konate was a centre-back addition who would have to become accustomed to the ways of his new teammates.
By October, it seemed Liverpool's defence would be the primary reason behind their struggles. Van Dijk had successfully returned and Konate appeared capable whenever he was presented with time on the field, but the team's defensive game as a whole was problematic.
In the first 11 league games, Klopp's outfit conceded two goals in matches against both Man City and Brighton, before shipping three in matches against Brentford and West Ham United.
Liverpool held the lead twice against Brentford, but didn't have the stability to cope with their direct methods, drawing 3-3. The contest against West Ham resulted in a 3-2 defeat, with Alisson Becker experiencing a rare off day.
The Reds were scoring for fun with Mohamed Salah in particular showcasing his elite level, but they had dropped points in four separate matches as a result of their issues at the opposite end.
Trent Alexander-Arnold was one of the players who was undergoing an adjustment to his game at the time, having been encouraged to occupy spaces in the centre of the park more often than ever before.
The Scouse full-back was rotating positions with Salah and Jordan Henderson on a regular basis. He confirmed as much in an interview with The Athletic, stating: "It is about making sure, at all times, there should be someone occupying the width, someone high up on the last line and someone in a half-space or in a midfield eight."
The development certainly aided Salah's offensive potential but as it was tested on the field, Liverpool leaked more goals than typical champions and struggled to establish total control.
After 20 matches of the season, Liverpool had conceded a total of 18 goals, which was more than Man City, Wolves and Chelsea. It had to improve, especially with Salah and Sadio Mane jetting off to the African Cup of Nations.
From the moment the two stars departed, Liverpool's ability to control proceedings notably improved out of pure necessity.
The Reds conceded twice at Stamford Bridge in the final match with Salah and Mane but after that point, they played 18 Premier League matches, keeping 10 clean sheets. No team - except for Man City - scored twice in a game against Liverpool after that AFCON watershed moment.
They truly gained a hold over their work against the ball in January and at the end of that month, Luis Diaz was added to Klopp's squad.
The Colombian forward proved to be a revelation. Arriving from FC Porto for around £50m, he looked as though he'd sported the famous red jersey for years, acting as a natural fit for Klopp's intense 4-3-3.
Rather than having to adjust in order to accommodate Diaz, the German coach was able to keep everything largely the same with the awareness that his new signing was a perfect fit.
One tweak which did materialise on the back of his transfer was Mane's role as a centre forward rather than a wide threat. The Senegalese international appeared reborn after his positional switch and AFCON triumph, scoring nine goals from his last 12 starts in all competitions.
Suddenly, Liverpool seemed to possess depth across the board with Diaz. For the first time, Klopp could rotate without suffering from a noticeable drop in quality.
The new-found strength in numbers would be needed, especially with the Reds reaching the final of both the FA Cup and Carabao Cup in the middle of the season, while also reaching the final of the Champions League to be played at the end of the calendar.
As a consequence of Liverpool's hectic schedule with one game virtually every three days from February onwards, Klopp's side began to grind out wins rather than blowing their opponents away, relying on clean sheets as opposed to firepower.
With the Champions League final on the horizon, Liverpool now have the chance to win a famous treble.
The team's defensive and controlling problems earlier in the season prevented them from winning the Premier League, but Real Madrid now look set to face a team who have jumped hurdles and gradually evolved this season.
In Paris on May 28, Liverpool can end their rollercoaster ride by lifting arguably the most meaningful trophy of all.
