This archive report was first published on 6 August 2019.
As Liverpool prepare to face Manchester City in the Premier League opener against Norwich on Friday, August 9, 2019, the Reds are determined to end their 29-year title drought.
Despite narrowly missing out on the English title last season, Jurgen Klopp's side has been relentless in their pursuit of Manchester City, accumulating 97 points in the process.
However, their 1-0 loss to City at the Etihad Stadium in January proved costly, as the champions pipped Liverpool on the final day of the season.
Undeterred, Liverpool bounced back with a 2-0 win over Tottenham in the Champions League final, securing their sixth European Cup title.
With European success in their DNA, Klopp and his players are now focused on ending their club's title drought and dethroning treble winners City.
According to Klopp, the battle lines were drawn when Guardiola called him to congratulate him on the Champions League victory, with both managers jokingly agreeing to 'kick each other's butts' again next season.
And in Sunday's Community Shield penalty shootout defeat against City, Liverpool showed that the duel for supremacy will be just as closely fought this season.
Having splashed out over Sh28.9 billion (£230 million) in the previous three transfer windows, Klopp has opted to steer clear of any more blockbuster moves during the close season, instead focusing on keeping his current squad intact.
Sepp van den Berg, a 17-year-old Dutch defender, and Harvey Elliott, Fulham's 16-year-old midfield prodigy, have been added to the squad, while several stars have been handed new, improved contracts.
Crucially, Klopp is hoping for full seasons from England internationals Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Adam Lallana, and Joe Gomez after the injury-plagued trio made it through pre-season intact.
For Mohamed Salah, his ice-cool strike in the Champions League final against Tottenham was just one of many highlights in a season that saw him finish as the Premier League's joint top-scorer.
