Liverpool will start the 2020/21 Premier League campaign as defending champions. 

That means every other club will be out to beat them.

We've seen in previous years just how hard it is to win back-to-back titles, with only the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City doing that successfully.

History tells us then, that Liverpool will need to move forward - not stand still. 

The Reds need to dip into the transfer market and improve their squad with quality signings, but so far, that hasn't happened. 

Only Konstantinos Tsimikas has arrived at Anfield this summer and he's not expected to be a regular starter. 

The Premier League champions have been linked to Bayern Munich's Thiago Alcantara too, but that deal seems to have gone quiet. 

Liverpool have been linked with Thiago

Ahead of the new season, Gary Neville is worried that if Liverpool don't secure the signing of the midfielder, then they'll really struggle to defend their title. 

"It wouldn’t be ridiculous to suggest there will be a slight drop off if they don’t somehow stimulate that squad by doing something," the Sky Sports pundit said, per talkSPORT.

"It is a huge emotional drain on the group of players for three years. To ask them to go again and achieve that same standard would be a superhuman effort.

Liverpool are defending their PL crown

"Getting them to do the same without amendment to the squad to give them that lift again, that is where signing Thiago would give the big one for Liverpool.

"To send a message to the rest of the players that we’ve signed one of the best players in the world in that position."

Neville also argued that Thiago would offer a 'word-class presence' in a position where Liverpool don't already have that. 

Neville describes Thiago as world-class

"He is world-class and would give them a world-class presence in an area of the field where they don’t have a world-class presence. They need that impetus to stay where they are.

"I could be wrong - they could deliver exactly what they did before but looking at history it doesn’t work like that usually."

That's quite a statement. But Neville might be right. With other clubs around them strengthening, Liverpool will struggle to keep up with their rivals. 

Neville has spoken on Liverpool

Standing still won't be good enough. To challenge for back-to-back Premier League titles, Jurgen Klopp needs the funds to improve his squad this summer and time is running out.