Liverpool legend John Aldridge has hailed the strength of Jurgen Klopp's defending champions for handling all their setbacks this season.
He wrote for the Sunday World: "Liverpool have been challenged on several levels as they set out to defend the Premier League title - and they have come out fighting, delivering more devastating blows than any of their rivals.
"Everything has been thrown at Liverpool, from horrible injuries to key players like Virgil van Dijk and a succession of awful VAR decisions, but the cream always rises to the top and they are ending the year on a high.
"There have been moments when I wondered whether Klopp and his squad could cope with the hits coming their way, but we should never have doubted them.
"This is a truly great football team and the performance they served up in the second half at Crystal Palace last weekend was a reminder of what they are all about.
"The quality of their attacking play as they smashed in seven goals at Selhurst Park was breathtaking, and to be sitting in top spot after everything that has been thrown at them has been so impressive from Klopp and his players."
