Liverpool vs Manchester United: Alan Shearer believes Jurgen Klopp’s frightening attack can win Liverpool the Premier League this season

DURING Liverpool’s pre-season tour of America this summer Jurgen Klopp addressed the thought of winning the title with the Reds.

He said: “To be really successful and win a title with a great club like Liverpool would be 100 per cent one of the greatest things I could ever imagine.”

Well he might not just have to imagine what it would be like — because this Liverpool team can do it this season.

When they blew their chance two years ago it had a hugely damaging effect on the club.

It would on any side.

I remember Newcastle doing similar in 1996 just before I arrived.

There was a real desperation to make up for that, one that seemed to consume the club.

Money was thrown at it, different managers came and went, we seemed to be running on sand.

It seemed the harder we tried, and the longer it went on, that title seemed to get further away.

The chance had come and gone.

That must have been the feeling at Anfield. Manager Brendan Rodgers lost his best striker in Luis Suarez and they slipped to sixth in the league the following season.

By October 2015 he was gone and so was a lot of hope.

But that has quickly been restored by Jurgen Klopp.

The foundations were laid last season with two cup finals, though they ultimately lost both in the League Cup and Europa League.

Yes their league form was shaky but there was a sense things were heading in the right direction.

All managers need time to get their ideas across, even though it is in such short supply nowadays.

They still look suspect at the back, particularly from set- pieces. But going forward they are irresistible.

The front three of Roberto Firmino, Philippe Coutinho and Sadio Mane is simply the best in the league right now.

The whole team possess so much energy, which they need to play out Klopp’s high- pressing game.

I do wonder if they can maintain this through a season.

The fact that they do not have European football to contend with is advantage but it will still be a challenge to maintain that level throughout.

That absence of European football certainly helped Rodgers the year he almost ended the long wait at Anfield. People underestimate just how much those midweek Champions League fixtures, particularly away from home, can take out of a team.

The Europa League is just an irritant for most of those in it with the Thursday-Sunday fixtures hated by the managers.

Liverpool have none of that to worry about.

Manchester City slipping up again at the weekend shows us this is not going to be the one-horse race that people initially thought with Pep Guardiola at the Etihad helm.

There is another huge thing in Liverpool’s favour when they get on a run — and that is Anfield.

What an atmosphere, what a place to play.

They respect their football there but when they get right behind their team there is an incredible energy in that stadium.

The noise levels have gone up still further with the extension to the main stand.

A lot of that energy comes from Klopp, too, with his pitch-side passion.

Oh yes, have no doubts this can be Liverpool’s season and tonight can only add belief to that.

But while they will be favourites going into this almighty clash, there can be no certainties with Jose Mourinho in the opposing dugout.

He effectively ruined their title hopes two years ago.

Everyone remembers the Steven Gerrard slip handing Chelsea victory but Mourinho got his tactics just right that day and I expect him to employ similar ones tonight.

Sitting deep, frustrating and trying to get something on the break.

He knows how to destroy a team’s most potent weapons.

This is a crucial game for United, too, after a start that has actually been worse than last year’s under Louis van Gaal.

A win for them and they too will believe as well.

It is perfectly set up for a truly titanic encounter.