opinionLiverpool are about to do what nobody expected – it was unthinkable just months ago

Sure! Here’s the paraphrased version of the passage with all quoted words kept exactly as they are:

When the news broke that Jurgen Klopp would be stepping away from his role as Liverpool manager, many feared the worst. The German had assembled one of the finest Liverpool teams ever and secured every major trophy over a nine-year spell full of silverware. Yet winning ‘only’ a single Premier League and Champions League title felt like an unfair reflection of how good they truly were.

Liverpool had the misfortune of competing with Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City machine – arguably the best team in Premier League history. So it seems appropriate that they are now the ones benefiting from the reigning champions’ sharp drop-off this season.

A lot of people expected Klopp’s departure to send Liverpool into decline, similar to what happened at Manchester United and Arsenal after the exits of Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger. After falling short in Klopp’s final Premier League title bid, many Liverpool supporters were content to aim for a top-four finish in Arne Slot’s debut season.

What Liverpool have managed this campaign is extraordinary. With just two losses so far, they could still end the season with a maximum total of 94 points. Before Klopp’s tenure, Liverpool had only surpassed 90 points once (1987/88) in their entire history.

This season is not like 2015/16, when Leicester City capitalised on the struggles of the usual top teams. That year, the Foxes claimed the title with 81 points – 10 ahead of second-place Arsenal. If Liverpool beat Tottenham on Sunday, they will surpass that total with four games left to play.

It’s true that we’ve missed out on a thrilling title race this year, with Arsenal trailing Liverpool by a massive 13 points. But that’s not Liverpool’s fault. They can only take on what’s in front of them – and that’s exactly what they’ve consistently done.

They have stood far above the rest under Slot. They lead in wins, have the fewest losses, scored the most goals, boast the second-strongest defence, and have kept the highest number of clean sheets. No other side has come close.

Some might say the Premier League hasn’t been at its best this season. But Liverpool’s clear superiority tells its own story. And considering how heavily doubted they were before a ball was kicked, their impending success is all the more impressive.

Just over a year ago, Liverpool’s home defeat to Crystal Palace effectively ended their Premier League title hopes. The players were heartbroken at the thought of not delivering a championship in Klopp’s final season, but they knew better than anyone how difficult it really is.

This is a team that racked up 92 and 97 points in past seasons without being crowned champions.

This time, Liverpool could still finish on 94 points – a total higher than many previous title winners, and certainly enough to demonstrate that they deserve the crown. But they don’t need to prove themselves. Liverpool understands just how tough it is to lift a league title.

For those of us in our thirties (guilty), much of our adult lives were spent wondering if Liverpool would ever win the league again. Arsenal have now gone over 20 years without one, and it’s been 13 years and counting for Manchester United. Chelsea waited over 50 years before winning a title, and Manchester City waited more than 40 – both only breaking their droughts after being bought by some of the richest owners in the world.

Arne Slot has come in and, within a year, taken Liverpool to the brink of glory. He’s done it while competing with two of the world’s wealthiest clubs, a team that finished second in back-to-back seasons, and another side that’s spent over a billion pounds just to stay in the race. He’s done it in a league overflowing with cash, with mid-table teams improving in quality – and without a single pundit expecting him to finish above third.

He’s pulled off the unimaginable, and Liverpool supporters know how rare and difficult this is. So when the title is confirmed, they have every right to celebrate as hard as they want.