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Jason McAteer | I saw Liverpool's pre-season disaster and was worried

Jason McAteer joined OTB AM's bumper Liverpool special after the club secured its 19th title. Dis...



Jason McAteer | I saw Liverpoo...
Soccer

Jason McAteer | I saw Liverpool's pre-season disaster and was worried

Jason McAteer joined OTB AM's bumper Liverpool special after the club secured its 19th title.

Discussing the belief that Klopp's side possesses, he revealed that there were concerns coming into the season inside the club over whether they'd be able to go toe-to-toe with Pep's Man City again.

Liverpool faced the challenge of rebounding from failing to win the league with 97 points in 2018/19.

"If you are chasing somebody, and you finished second and it's kind of a 'good effort' - you always wonder whether you can go again and compete with them," he told OTB Sports.

liverpool Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp during a training session at Melwood Training Ground, Liverpool.

He added that the team and staff were left "gutted" as they missed out by one point to the Manchester side.

The former-Ireland midfielder believes that Liverpool's Champions League success played a key role in giving the team had the confidence to go all the way this season:

"Someone mentioned dining at the top table, it's a good analogy. That's how the players feel. They were the Champions of Europe [but] devastated that they never won the title. They started the season on that high, with that confidence."

liverpool Liverpool's Neco Williams (no.76) shoots during the Premier League match at Anfield, Liverpool.

However, he confessed that there were some doubts in his mind as the Premier League season kicked off:

"I've got to admit. I went on tour with them, it was a bit of a disaster, pre-season. It didn't go to plan. The games weren't great. They had constant commitments."

liverpool Liverpool supporters celebrate as they gather outside of Anfield Stadium in Liverpool, England, Thursday, June 25, 2020 after Liverpool clinched the English Premier League title. Liverpool took the title after Manchester City failed to beat Chelsea on Wednesday evening. (AP photo/Jon Super)

"They got really turned over by Napoli (3-0 loss on July 28th) up in Scotland. That was pretty close to the beginning of the season.

"We all wondered, 'Are we going to pick up where we left off? There were a few question marks over it.'"

Those doubts soon dissipated and he believes that the club's string of wins by a one-goal margin, and mid-season late-winners, eventually broke Man City psychologically as Klopp's title drive became a procession.

OTB AM Liverpool special

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Jason McAteer Klopp Liverpool Podcast