Liverpool will face a team aiming to replicate them this weekend, with Aston Villa boss Dean Smith having spent a lot of time during the coronavirus lockdown extensively studying Jurgen Klopp's tactics.
Villa stayed up on the final day of the season, sneaking ahead of Bournemouth in the Premier League table with a draw against West Ham United, but Smith regards the time spent during lockdown as being a crucial determinant in that taking place.
On the Behind Enemy Lines podcast, Birmingham Live's Aston Villa writer Ashley Preece explained: "Smith was watching a lot of Liverpool tapes during lockdown - watching how they defended.
"It’s about the shift that the Liverpool players put in to get behind the ball and [Smith wanted to] add a Liverpool touch to his backline.
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"A lot gets said about Liverpool going forward but it is their defence that makes them as good as they are.
"And Villa’s defence has just improved so much - Tyrone Mings and Ezri Konsa, Smith says is a future England pairing, and Matty Cash at full-back as well."
Ultimately, Liverpool are big favourites for the game due to the ability of their superior players to carry out a game-plan, but nevertheless, that is a big compliment from a fellow Premier League manager about the way Klopp and his assistants set the Reds up.
Villa have spent a similar amount to Liverpool in the transfer market this summer and recently added Ross Barkley to their squad on a season-long loan deal from Chelsea.
Preece added: "Last summer was a bit of a trolley-dash, getting 13 players in, a big turnaround, but this summer there have been five shrewd signings topped off with Barkley, and Villa are buzzing."
The former Everton man is expected to start the weekend's clash on the bench with Villa's team in good form, having won both of their first two matches of the campaign, against Sheffield United and Fulham.
