Can I cheat and have more than one?
1. Best Player - Between Van Dijk or Mane for me. Van Dijk was just class all season and I haven't ever seen a defender as good as him ever in Liverpool shirt. Hyypia comes close but Van Dijk is as good as as Hyypia and is quicker and better on the ball than Hyypia was. Same for any other defender I've seen, whatever they excelled at, Van Dijk pretty much matches that and then excels at everything else. The closest I've seen from clips and hearing other people describe him is Hansen and given the esteem he's held in, Van Dijk might even be in that company (auld arse would know more about that). Mane's stepped up again this season, basically no one's beating him for acceleration from a standing start and he's scored so many important goals this season, probably the most from the squad (?). The more I think about it, the more I think he meant to kick the ball against Sissoko's arm in the Champions League final. The only criticism, if it is one is that his finishing can occasionally be erratic (sounds ridiculous I know given he was top scorer in the league) like the Napoli game at Anfield but in Klopp's words, he's a mentality monster and it doesn't affect him, he scored the first against Man Utd the weekend after that Napoli game.
I think Van Dijk just edges it because of his transformative effect on the team has had more impact than any other individual player I can think of.
2. Best Young Player - Alexander Arnold. Best right back in Europe at 20, a ridiculous number of assists and can't think of many (any) full backs who is as dangerous as him, possibly Alba is up there and our very own Robertson definitely very much is. Gomez had an awesome start to the season where he was as good as Van Dijk in the opening few months but given he missed virtually half the season, it's got to be Alexander-Arnold who got better and better as the season progressed, and he was bloody good to begin with.
3. Best Signing - Alisson. I was pretty happy with Karius but Alisson is a level above him in every aspect and like Van Dijk, seems to have a positive impact on those around him. Another mentality monster (the whole team is really) who can put a mistake behind him immediately. Like Klopp said, he makes ridiculous things look easy and I suppose his highlights reel might not be as showy as others but he just knows where to position himself to do so.
4. Best Goal - Technically, it's Mane's first against Bayern, amazing control and then loved the cuteness to finish the way he did. Another important goal from him too.
Special mentions for Salah's thumper against Chelsea (there's an angle of it from behind the dugout which is the best one I've seen and it's a brilliant shot of the ball going in), Mane's backheel against Watford (loved how he got that power on it and how he hit into the ground first which basically made it impossible for Forster to save although marks deducted for the initial mis-control), Firmino's shimmy, dummy and left foot finish past Arsenal and Sturridge's against Chelsea in the league (glad he got the European Cup with us, he's still one of the most talented players I've seen play for us and hopefully he'll still have a good finish to his career )
5. Best Performance - Barcelona at home, obviously. To do what we did is still difficult to believe given the circumstances and the opposition yet all the same it seems perfectly reasonable given what this club is. Another chapter in our history as Europe Mentality Monsters (again!) to go alongside Olympiakos, Chelsea, Juventus, Arsenal, Real Madrid, Dortmund, Man City and Roma amongst others and my favourite game under Klopp.
6. Best Moment. Got a few:
In terms of goals:
Origi's goal against Everton, probably the best and funniest single moment I've seen.
Origi's winner against Barcelona. Genius from Alexander-Arnold and Origi made a really a finish into the top corner look easy. I think I was stunned for the rest of the game and only got back to normal when the final whistle blew.
Origi's winner in the final, quality finish too, got himself back onside from the corner, controlled it perfectly to set himself up and gave Lloris no chance. And it sealed the Champions League for us and made Origi a legend for life (As if the Barcelona game didn't do that already!).
Non-goals:
Alisson coming out at home to Brighton and lifting the ball over Knockaert. 'What a fun season this is going to be'.
Alisson's save against Milik in the final minute against Napoli. Was bracing myself for us getting knocked out but Alisson's save is up there with Gerrard's goal against Olympiakos.
Wijnaldum tricking three Barcelona players because he's brilliant.
Van Dijk bossing Son in the 76th minute of the final, like he was playing on a cheat code.
Robertson being a shithouse and pissing off Messi in the first minute at Anfield.
Henderson lifting the European Cup. The whole squad deserved it for having a brilliant season and everyone's been boss, even players who aren't regular starters for us have come into the side and had contributed. Henderson's been here since the beginning and was bought alongside Adam and Downing and has had to fight through not only other fans ridiculing him but our own too. Moreso since Klopp arrived and we've been getting better and better and people were questioning him having no place in Klopp's side and how other players should get the captaincy. This despite no indication from Klopp that he had anything other 100% faith in him. So to see him lift the trophy and be talked about as a European Cup winning captain makes me happy.
And Klopp winning the European Cup for us, from where we were to where he's taken us, he didn't need a trophy but I'm so happy he got to win the biggest one of all to have something tangible to show for it.
