Strengthen the defence? Check. Improve the squad year-on-year? Check. Improve every department of the first XI, from keeper through to striker? Check. Overhaul the youth system? Check. Improve scouting? Check. Make the reserves more competitive? Check. Create a first team whose age means it can stay together for years and improve with experience? Check. Buy the best attacking players possible within the budget? Check. Improve in Europe? Check.
And improve in the league? Check.
In 2006, Liverpool won its second-highest ever percentage of league games on the way to 82 points, the best tally since 1988. This year, the Reds lost just four times –– again, the best figures since 1988. Clean sheet records have been broken, and the club finally has a 25-goal-a-season striker. What's missing is gold-dust of all these improvements occurring simultaneously, combined with enough weaknesses in the top rivals to leave a gap to move into.