Collecting 97 points and still missing out on a Premier League title is ludicrous.

Liverpool’s points tally in the 2018/19 season would have been enough to win the title in 25 of the past 27 seasons.

But, unfortunately for Jurgen Klopp’s side, they came up against a simply imperious Manchester City team.

City won their last 14 matches to pip the Reds to the title by a point.

It was one of the most exciting battles in recent history.

And, while it ended in disappointment for Liverpool, it was further proof that their wait to win the Premier League may soon be over.

Yet not everyone is convinced by Liverpool, including their former striker El Hadji Diouf.

Diouf: Liverpool bottled it

The Senegalese striker has burned bridges with Liverpool and their fans since leaving the club in 2005.

He’s taken shots at Steven Gerrard and Jamie Carragher. Now he’s come for Klopp’s side, claiming they ‘bottled’ the Premier League.

And, despite currently boasting a five-point lead at the top of the table, Diouf doesn’t see Liverpool repeating their heroics from last season.

“I don’t see them doing as well as they did last season. They had the chance to win the league title; they had it in their hands and then let it slip,” Diouf told FourFourTwo. 

“They were seven points ahead around Christmas - how Manchester City got it in the end beats my mind. As they say in England, I think they bottled it.”

Liverpool tasted defeat just once last season - against City - and Diouf can’t understand how their dominance didn’t end in a domestic title.

He continued: “If you have only one defeat in a whole season, surely you can’t say that you didn’t win the league – so it’s hard for me to imagine them having such a similar season and coming out as champions. 

Manchester City will be the team to beat once again.

Yeah, doesn’t seem like Diouf will be invited back to Anfield anytime soon.