The ECHO's Liverpool writers had a go at trying to predict what was going to happen last season - it went as well as might have been expected
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Ryan Gravenberch and Mohamed Salah of Liverpool
Ryan Gravenberch and Mohamed Salah of Liverpool(Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
Who says journalists know nothing about football? Well, most people on social media as it turns out. But that didn't stop our Liverpool writers having a gaze into the crystal ball before the first game of the season in an attempt to envisage what was going to happen.
Given the Reds at that point hadn't made a new signing - Federico Chiesa would come a little bit later in the month - and there was a new boss in Arne Slot after almost nine years with Jurgen Klopp at the helm, it wasn't particularly easy to predict what would happen with the Anfield side.
And here's what was believed might happen with Liverpool - and elsewhere - during the course of the recent campaign. Try not to laugh too much, okay?
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Where will Liverpool finish
Paul Gorst: 2nd
Ian Doyle: 3rd
Theo Squires: 3rd
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Joe Rimmer: 3rd
Even the most optimistic of Liverpool reporters couldn't quite bring themselves to believe a record-equalling 20th title would be on its way to Anfield. Nevertheless, there was a collective sense the Reds would be involved in the conversation for the championship. At least that was spot on, right?
Liverpool player of the season
Paul Gorst: Mohamed Salah
Ian Doyle: Mohamed Salah
Theo Squires: Mohamed Salah
Joe Rimmer: Diogo Jota
No points for originality among those who expected the Egyptian to take the honours given his standing as one of the best players in the world. But the shout was accurate. Full points for creativity in believing Jota would take the accolade, though, even if it was somewhat wrong.
Liverpool breakout star this season
Paul Gorst: Stefan Bajcetic
Ian Doyle: Ryan Gravenberch
Theo Squires: Ryan Gravenberch
Joe Rimmer: Harvey Elliott
Bajcetic left on loan shortly after the start of the season and had a miserable time at Red Bull Salzburg before a better spell with Las Palmas. Elliott had a frustrating campaign with a lack of first-team starts, but Gravenberch emerged as one of the best players in the Premier League.
Premier League Golden Boot
Paul Gorst: Erling Haaland
Ian Doyle: Erling Haaland
Theo Squires: Erling Haaland
Joe Rimmer: Erling Haaland
Everyone went for the easy option and everyone was wrong. Okay, there was an injury absence for the Norwegian, but Salah, the eventual Golden Boot, always appeared the most potent in front of goal.
Premier League Player of the Year
Paul Gorst: Mohamed Salah
Ian Doyle: Declan Rice
Theo Squires: Rodri
Joe Rimmer: Jack Grealish
Rodri's season lasted only a few weeks before injury, while Grealish ended the campaign not even being included in City's squad for the contentious FIFA Club World Cup. Rice was perhaps Arsenal's best player overall, but Salah was a class above the rest.
Top four prediction
Paul Gorst: Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Newcastle United
Ian Doyle: Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea
Theo Squires: Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur
Joe Rimmer: Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United
The shouts for Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United turned out to be somewhat off target, but otherwise the contenders for a Champions League place were no surprise.
Bottom three prediction
Paul Gorst: Nottingham Forest, Ipswich Town, Southampton
Ian Doyle: Leicester City, Southampton, Nottingham Forest
Theo Squires: Leicester City, Nottingham Forest, Southampton
Joe Rimmer: Ipswich Town, Southampton, Wolves
The struggles of the promoted teams were anticipated but nobody could bring themselves to relegate all three of them, which of course is eventually what happened. Fair to say the success of Nottingham Forest wasn't expected, however.
Champions League winner
Paul Gorst: Liverpool
Ian Doyle: Manchester City
Theo Squires: Real Madrid
Joe Rimmer: Manchester City
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Nobody saw the impact of Paris Saint-Germain in European competition coming this season, but Liverpool could console themselves at coming closer than anyone to eliminating the ultimately deserving winners.