Liverpool: Henderson lifts trophy as team crowned champions
Manchester City ace Kevin de Bruyne has warned Liverpool they will find it mentally tougher to retain their Premier League title than it was to win it in the first place. De Bruyne told the Daily Mail he believes the Reds can win the title again, but it will all depend on their team mentality.
Liverpool begin their Premier League title defence at home against Championship champions Leeds United today.
The Reds go into the game off the back of a disappointing showing in the Community Shield, having lost out to Arsenal on penalties.
Last season, they blitzed the rest of the league and ran away with the title, finishing 18 points ahead of City andone pointshy of the Premier League pointstotalof 100.
So far this summer their squad hasn’t been changed too much, with KostasTskimikastheironly signing as a backup to Andy Robertson.
Liverpool fired Premier League title warning by Man City ace Kevin de Bruyne (Image: GETTY)
But De Bruyne believes that it will be the team’s mentality, not their transfer activity, which will put them in good stead to retain their title.
The Belgian has experience with back-to-back league titles, having achieved the feat in the two years prior to Liverpool’s first title in 30 years.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, the newly-crowned PFA Player of the Year conceded that he believes the Reds can pick up where they left off last season, but warned Jurgen Klopp’s side that they’ll find it harder to retain the title than it was to win it.
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“There is so much in life that goes on personally. Every little thing can change you. Injury can change you.
“Football is all about circumstances and it’s already difficult enough to try and win one, never mind twice.
“I think they [Liverpool] can reach the levels again. I don’t think you need to change the team to have the same feeling or ambition. But I don’t know how they feel. I don’t know their desire. For everyone it is personal.
“Sometimes when you win something you can feel less. Sometimes it can give you extra hunger. So it’s difficult to know. Let’s see.”
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