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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Sport
Paul Gorst

Liverpool can 'put on a show' by addressing their one major weakness against Man City

The post-season analysis within the Liverpool camp will have turned up very few issues for Jurgen Klopp and his staff to address.

There was no glaring problem to solve or huge inquest to undertake after the Reds had come closer than any other before them to a mythical quadruple. Klopp's side became just the fourth to win both domestic cups in the same season and missed out on the Premier League title by a single point to a Manchester City who many will champion as one of English football's greatest in years to come.

A third points tally in four seasons above the 90 mark indicates that Klopp's Reds have the consistency to challenge every season and it is only misfortune that their time has come in the same era as Guardiola's City and their virtually limitless resources.

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A points haul of 92, a Champions League final appearance and both domestic cups lifted means there is no real single delicacy Liverpool need to harden to ensure more success flows their way this coming campaign. The overriding message will be a short one for the players this term: Same again, please.

"We kind of nearly made the impossible possible and took it as far as we could," says Trent Alexander-Arnold. "We never crossed the line on two of the trophies but we're proud of what we did. We know we can improve and I am excited to start up again and get going. I am sure it will be an exciting season."

In the ongoing search for improvement, there is one area that Klopp can seek to address with assistant Pep Lijnders this summer, however. Last season's results against fellow members of the top four were essentially the difference between a league title and a runners-up medal.

In the six games against City, Chelsea and Tottenham, Liverpool picked up six points from a possible 18. None of those six games were lost but that every one was drawn ultimately saw Klopp's side fall just short.

What is more infuriating about those results from the fans' perspective is that Liverpool held a lead in three of those games; against City in October (twice), Chelsea in January and Spurs just before Christmas.

That, then, is an area for improvement, particularly when sitting on a lead. A key feature of their title-winning season two years ago was how composed and assured they looked once they held the advantage. A return to that level of dominance will surely lead to more points, even if there should be an acceptance that perfection is impossible.

Shutting out games when in the lead is something Liverpool greatly improved upon in the second half of last season but it was a bone of contention in the early months of the previous term. Liverpool dropped points against Brentford and Brighton before those aforementioned 2-2 draws with Spurs and Chelsea, which is an area that can be strengthened going forward.

It would be harsh in the extreme to be overly critical of Liverpool for last term's efforts, but when looking at where gains can be made, the term 'game management' is maybe something further explore at the AXA Centre.

One player who might be able to turn some of those draws into wins is Darwin Nunez, whose goal poacher talents is something Liverpool haven't really had down the centre of their front three under Klopp. The Reds will have to adjust to a new way of playing with the 23-year-old Uruguayan up top but when a goal is needed, he could yet be a deciding factor in the biggest games.

"When we played them (Benfica in the Champions League quarter-final) we knew he was a special player and we knew that he'd bring goals, he scores a lot of goals, gets himself in good positions and he'll work hard and fight for wins," says Alexander-Arnold of his new team-mate. "That's what we need and that's what we expect when we bring players in, that's the club mentality. I think he will slot in.

"Over the years there have been a few signings when the club is linked to them, us players get excited and we're like: 'Yeah! He'll work for us!' and this is one of them, this is definitely one of them."

Next up then for the Reds is a clash with City in the Community Shield as the FA Cup winners take on the Premier League holders in the traditional curtain raiser, this time at the King Power Stadium. Given the issue of results against team around them in the table last term, it offers an early opportunity to address it, even if the fixture is not typically deemed to be of huge significance.

The Shield is the only piece of silverware that has eluded Klopp during his time at Anfield, even if its importance features way down at the bottom of that honours list. But perhaps that, coupled with the identity of the opponent can provide some extra motivation this weekend?

"It's always great to start off the season with potentially some silverware and who better to start the season off than Man City?" says Harvey Elliott. "So it'll be a great test for us and we need to make sure we recover now and reflect on this game and how City are going to play and make sure we're at the races.

"I am sure the boys will be ready, they have been wonderful this pre-season. We're all looking forward to it to start the season off with some silverware to go into the season all guns blazing and hopefully we can smash it again. We're all looking forward to playing in England again. We're all excited and we all can't wait to put on a show for the fans."

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