James Milner believes Liverpool will head into the new Premier League season with a target on their backs.
Milner was part of a contingent who flew out to Austria over the weekend to begin a pre-season training camp in Saalfelden and he believes the team will become the one everyone wants to beat when the new season gets underway in September.
The Reds ended a 30-year wait for a league title last time out, finishing 18 points clear of Manchester City in second and Milner says their status as champions means that all teams will see them as a scalp.
But Milner, who won his third Premier League last term, says the entire squad are out to prove they are good enough to retain their crown and secure the club's 20th title.
"This is the start again of an even tougher season," Milner told Liverpoolfc.com.
"I think how good we've been over the last two seasons has been incredible, but if we stay at that same level it won't be good enough.
"Everyone else is pushing, everyone is improving and we have a target on our backs and they're going to want to knock us off the top. So it's down to us to keep improving, keep pushing.
"You see the mentality of the squad and the hunger and the togetherness, I don't think that'll be a problem. But it's down to us to prove that.
"Talk is easy – you can say what you want, it's about proving it on the field. We've managed to do that over the last few years and recover from setbacks and disappointments."
Between 2010-20 only Manchester City were able to retain the Premier League title, winning it under Pep Guardiola in 2018 and 19 and Milner says such a task is what will drive Liverpool on this coming campaign.
"Now it's time to go again and keep pushing and have that hunger even when we've been successful," he added.
"That's the task for us but the teams in the past have shown how difficult it is to retain that league title. That'll be a big challenge."
Liverpool return to action on August 29 when the played Arsenal in the Community Shield at Wembley before their defence of the Premier League title starts when the season begins on September 12.
