While Jurgen Klopp deservedly earns the plaudits for Liverpool's stunning start to the season, sporting director Michael Edwards has received glowing praise for his work behind the scenes.
It is nine years since Fenway Sports Group - then New England Sports Ventures - completed their purchase of Liverpool and the club have enjoyed remarkable success in recent years.
A sixth European Cup was secured in June, less than a month after the Reds were narrowly pipped by Manchester City to the Premier League by a point despite a tally which would have guaranteed top spot in 25 of the last 27 seasons.
The league resumes on Saturday with Jurgen Klopp's side - in possession of the only 100 per cent record in England's top four divisions - eight points clear of City and set for another title challenge.
And according to The Athletic, FSG president Mike Gordon believes Edwards has been integral in their journey and it is claimed he values the sporting director "on par" with manager Klopp
“The respect and value Mike Gordon places on Michael Edwards is almost impossible to quantify,” a source at FSG told The Athletic .
“In fact I’d go as far as to say it’s on a par with how much Mike values Jurgen Klopp. There’s a great dynamic between the three of them.”
Meanwhile, Liverpool chief executive Peter Moore believes adding a long-awaited league title to their Champions League triumph is the "barometer of success" by which the club is judged.
"I think that is what our fans want," Moore told the PA news agency. "We were so close last year, 97 points, and in any other year we would have won it.
"But the club goes on and I think that (a league title), for many of our fans, would sit alongside our Champions League triumph as the barometer of success.
"As a club off the pitch we have a set of visions, missions and values and at the top of that sits supporting the team to 'win trophies'.
"Two words, because ultimately that is what our fans want and that is what we need to deliver."
