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The Premier League season is over.

Liverpool finished second with 97 points - just a single point behind champions Man City.

Nevertheless, Jurgen Klopp's side have plenty to be positive about and also have a Champions League final to look forward to.

Now the season is at an end, our writers have taken a look at the best performances, players, biggest surprises and moments that defined a memorable Premier League first campaign.

James Pearce

(Image: Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Performance of the season

Liverpool 5 Arsenal 1.

The Gunners were blown away as the Reds signed off 2018 with a bang at Anfield. Roberto Firmino walked away clutching the matchball after netting the first hat-trick of his Liverpool career with Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah also getting in on the act. What a response to falling behind early on. A proper demolition job.

Player of the season

Virgil van Dijk. There were plenty of contenders but no-one has contributed more than the big Dutchman over the course of this season. The first Liverpool outfield player to start every Premier League game in a season for eight years. An inspirational figure who has firmly established himself as the best centre-back in world football.

Young player of the season

Trent Alexander-Arnold. It's hard to believe he's still only 20. The Academy graduate from West Derby just keeps getting better and better. Broke the record for most assists by a defender in a Premier League season with 12. Rock solid defensively and always a threat rampaging forward.

Goal of the season

Mohamed Salah's thunderbolt against Chelsea. Nothing looked on when the Egyptian attacker controlled a lofted pass from Van Dijk wide on the right flank at Anfield. However, he darted inside and unleashed an unstoppable strike into the top corner. A breathtaking moment of individual brilliance.

Surprise of the season

Joel Matip. I was amazed by how well he performed in the second half of the campaign - so composed, so consistent. He really stepped up at a time when Liverpool were short of centre-backs with Joe Gomez and Dejan Lovren sidelined.

Moment of the season

Divock Origi's dramatic winner six minutes into stoppage time against Everton at Anfield. Van Dijk's sliced volley, Jordan Pickford's howler and Origi gleefully accepting the gift. Cue mayhem. The perfect way to win a derby.

Opposition performance of the season

Manchester City at the Etihad in early January. That was such a high quality contest between two brilliant teams. Bernardo Silva was outstanding. It came down to the finest of margins with that goalline clearance from John Stones.

Ian Doyle

(Image: Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Performance of the season

It seems an awful long time ago, because it was. But Liverpool's win at Tottenham Hotspur back in September was a calling card that this was a Reds team in the Premier League title battle for the duration. For the same reason, second-half displays at Burnley and Southampton also deserve highlighting.

Player of the season

Gini Wijnaldum was impressive during the opening half of the season, Fabinho came good during the winter, Mohamed Salah overcame a New Year dip and Sadio Mane was important throughout. None, though, were as consistently on the money as Virgil van Dijk, who continued to demonstrate his £75million transfer fee was a complete steal.

Young player of the season

Not a tough one. Trent Alexander-Arnold has emerged as the best right-back in the country and, with 12 assists, has set a new record for most goals created by a defender in a single Premier League campaign. What's more, at only 20, he's only going to get better. A frightening thought.

Goal of the season

There have been plenty of fine team goals for the Reds this term, but the ones that resonate are the individual efforts. Sadio Mane's backheel against Watford deserves a mention, while Daniel Sturridge's sensational late leveller at Chelsea was important in the context of the campaign. But Mohamed Salah's thunderbolt against the Londoners at Anfield in April tops the lot. It stayed hit.

Surprise of the season

Sorry, but getting to 97 points and still not winning the title is the kind of surprise nobody wants to have.

Moment of the season

The Kop groaned as Virgil van Dijk sliced a shot way up into the December air to suggest the Anfield derby would end in a frustrating stalemate. But then Jordan Pickford had a flap, the ball struck the crossbar and Divock Origi - who until minutes earlier hadn't featured in the Premier League all season - reacted quickest to force the ball home. Legendary status there and then for the Belgian.

Opposition performance of the season

Wilfried Zaha was perhaps the only player to have made the Anfield crowd gasp in trepidation whenever in possession, although it didn't help that Liverpool were without a recognised right-back when Crystal Palace came to visit in January. Nevertheless, Zaha's display marked him out as a real talent.

Connor Dunn

(Image: PA)

Performance of the season

This season was filled with incredible performances, stunning goals, heroic defending and spirited fightbacks aplenty. And it is in all honesty difficult to choose one performance that outweighs them all but one real standout display from this campaign was by Mohamed Salah away at Bournemouth.

The Egyptian's pace and movement throughout the game caused the Cherries' defence all manner of untold problems.

Anytime he was near the ball, whether that be running in behind, creating chances for Liverpool or scoring his hat-trick Eddie Howe's side simply could not cope and it was a joy to watch the attacker run riot on a drizzly day at the Vitality Stadium in December.

Player of the season

There are so many who could easily be handed this award. Sadio Mane has been absolutely fantastic and at times really led the title charge. Mohamed Salah provided so much for the Reds this season with his goals, assists and direct threat. Gini Wijnaldum was absolutely excellent in the engine room throughout the campaign. Alisson meanwhile achieved the Golden Glove and made some huge and incredibly important saves. The wing-backs of Trent Alexander Arnold and Andy Robertson with their workrate, assists and defending ability have been fantastic. The winner, though, is Virgil van Dijk as the player who has totally transformed Liverpool's backline, improves those around him and general all-round play is nothing short of masterful.

Young player of the season

Nobody other than Alexander-Arnold deserves this accolade.

It is incredible to think about the sheer world-class level he has been performing at this season as a 20-year-old academy graduate.

His defensive solidity, his unrelenting workrate to give Liverpool an outlet from the back, his quick-thinking and record-breaking number of assists for a defender are just four of the unbelievable qualities he has displayed consistently this term.

Goal of the season

Mane's cheeky backheel chip against Watford? Daniel Sturridge's screamer at Chelsea?

There were some sensational goals scored for Liverpool this season but the best has to go to Salah for his rocket against Maurizio Sarri's side.

His deft touch and perfect control to go past Emerson before unleashing a vicious arrowing strike past Kepa into the top right corner of the net to send the Kop into total bedlam was magnificent.

Surprise of the season

Just quite how good Liverpool were. Finishing on 97 points and losing just once in the whole campaign is nothing short of sensational. There's not a chance even the most optimistic Reds fan saw that coming and it was really something to behold.

Moment of the season

90+6. What a moment. What a time that was to be a Liverpool fan. Scoring in the 96th minute in the Merseyside derby after a sliced volley that went wrong from Van Dijk led to a mistake from Jordan Pickford that then saw Divock Origi head home for the Reds to claim a 1-0 victory in the match.

Opposition performance of the season

Wilfried Zaha during Liverpool's 4-3 win over Crystal Palace. His pace and close control down the wing terrorised the Reds and they had to battle incredibly hard - fouling the attacker on a number of occasions - to cope with his threat.

Sean Bradbury

(Image: John Powell/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Performance of the season

Liverpool answered pretty much every question asked of them this season, and that was particularly evident in the excellent home win against Arsenal.

Despite going a goal down after just 11 minutes, the Reds were 4-1 up by half time and went on to make it five after the break as Firmino sealed a hat-trick. It capped off a fine December in which Klopp's side won 8/8 matches throughout the month.

Player of the season

Plenty of contenders here. Salah has been magnificent again, Mane has soared to new heights, both full-backs are in with a shout and Alisson has delivered an excellent first campaign under Klopp.

But it must go to Van Dijk. The big Dutchman has been imperious at the back, has barely missed a game and has consistently inspired those around him to bigger and better performances.

Young player of the season

Absolutely no debate about this one: Trent Alexander-Arnold.

Mature beyond his 20 years, improving all the time, already a key attacking outlet and hopefully Liverpool's right-back for many years to come. What a year he has had.

Goal of the season

Salah's screamer against Chelsea at Anfield has to be considered and I was a big fan of Firmino's slaloming effort against Arsenal too.

But Daniel Sturridge at Stamford Bridge tops them all. Not only was it a stunning strike, but it maintained momentum at a crucial time and set the tone for what was to follow for the rest of the campaign.

Surprise of the season

How far Liverpool have gone in the Champions League.

With the lingering disappointment of Kiev coupled with a genuine title race on the domestic front, I thought it would be a tall order for the Reds to compete on both fronts and reach a second consecutive final.

But Jurgen Klopp's team clearly had other ideas. And it bodes well for being able to deal with the dismay of narrowly missing out to City in the league...and hopefully hurtling straight into another title challenge from August onwards.

Moment of the season

The Kop's powerful, positive reaction after the final whistle of the last game against Wolves despite Liverpool finishing second in the league.

It sent the perfect message to Klopp and his players ahead of the Champions League final - and another tilt at the league title next season.

Opposition performance of the season

Everton at Anfield. Despite what happened after 90+6 minutes, the Blues put in a threatening, committed peformance and matched Liverpool for decent chances. It has to go down as one of their best away displays seen across Stanley Park for some time.

Man City were very good in their 2-1 win at the Etihad but that was a game of very fine margins. An honourable mention too for Leicester who looked particularly dangerous in the 1-1 draw back in January.

Paul Gorst

(Image: (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images))

Performance of the season

The 5-1 evisceration of Arsenal shortly before the New Year. The Gunners were taught a lesson for their temerity to take the lead as a Roberto Firmino-inspired Liverpool put the Londoners to the sword to go nine points clear.

Player of the season

Mohamed Salah's performances and goals have accounted for as many as 24 of Liverpool's 97 points, but the rock-solid Virgil van Dijk stands head and shoulders above his team-mates this season. The Reds recorded 21 clean sheets in total with his leadership qualities so vital at the back.

Young player of the season

How could it not be Trent Alexander-Arnold? The 20-year-old Reds defender has moved himself into the conversation of Europe's best full-backs this season. Twelve assists - 17 in all competitions - have seen him take the tag as the defender with the most assists in a Premier League season. The best player out of the Kirkby Academy since Steven Gerrard. A credit to the club's staff.

Goal of the season

If it's to be the last goal of his Liverpool career, then what a way to sign off for Daniel Sturridge. His arrowing, arching, long-range effort rescued a point at Chelsea in September and sent the travelling support into delirium. Just edges out Salah's effort against the same team at Anfield.

Surprise of the season

Liverpool losing just one game all season, picking up 97 points and not winning the title.

Moment of the season

Divock Origi's 96th-minute winner in the Merseyside derby sent Jurgen Klopp bounding after Alisson Becker on the Anfield pitch and earned him an £8,000 fine as a result. Worth every penny.

Opposition performance of the season

Crystal Palace developed a reputation as a side at their best away from home and they certainly proved that at Anfield. Roy Hodgson's men even scored three times before the Reds managed to squeeze them out 4-3. The pace and ability of the likes of Andros Townsend and in particular Wilfried Zaha caused all kinds of problems on the counter, that day.

Theo Squires

Performance of the season

That 5-1 victory over Arsenal. Wow. It could have been more. It should have been more.

Roberto Firmino was magnificent and to do that against one of the big six was the perfect late Christmas present for the watching Reds support.

Player of the season

Virgil van Dijk has undoubtedly been superb ever since he first stepped foot inside Anfield, but while he has transformed Liverpool's defence to help forge the Reds' title challenge I'm going to overlook him for player of the season.

Instead, my vote goes to Sadio Mane. The forward has reached a whole level and while Van Dijk was denying opposing sides at the back, the Senegalese was dragging his team over the line when they needed him most at various points over the season.

Liverpool might not have finished just a point behind Man City without Van Dijk but I'd argue they boasted enough quality to finish second regardless as the rest of the chasing pack faltered along the way with Alisson making an equally important contribution. However, without Mane the title race would have been rather more straight-forward for Pep Guardiola's side.

Mane might not have ended the season with a Premier League winner's medal, but the Golden Boot was a deserved prize. And hopefully he can get his hands on silverware of a different kind come June 1.

Young player of the season

It can't be anyone other than Trent Alexander-Arnold, can it?

Joe Gomez had the better first half of the season, but injury rules him out so Trent is the inevitable choice. And not just for his record number of assists.

Last year he played in a World Cup and Champions League Final. If he's lucky, he'll finish this year with his hands on silverware for both club and country.

It's even more incredible when you remember he's still only just 20-years-old.

Goal of the season

Mo Salah v Chelsea. One goal from his previous 10 games and he goes and does that, out of nowhere, against his former club at a time when Liverpool really couldn't afford to slip up in the title race. Outstanding. Form is temporary but class is permanent.

Surprise of the season

Gini Wijnaldum establishing himself as Liverpool's most important midfielder.

Often the Dutchman has been accused of drifting through games, being out on the pitch without you really noticing what he does. Season 2018/19 was the year that all changed.

Let's face it, after the arrivals of Fabinho and Naby Keita, few of us would have expected him to have been the first name in Jurgen Klopp's midfield. Especially with captain Jordan Henderson and vice-captain James Milner vying for starting roles. He was even linked with a move away last summer.

While he might have tired during the final month or so of the season, regardless of being fielded as a number six or a number eight, it's now impossible to imagine Liverpool's midfield without him.

Moment of the season

The 21 minutes after Sadio Mane's opener against Wolves on the final day of the season. For 21 minutes, Liverpool fans dared to dream that the title really could be heading to Anfield.

They've had the taste now, imagine the celebrations when the drought finally ends.

Opposition performance of the season

Man City at the Etihad. The one game that Liverpool lost and the one game that cost the Reds the title.

Pep Guardiola's side were the only team Jurgen Klopp's men failed to beat this season and with the standards now set so high to lift the Premier League, you can't look past what was the deciding match in such a fiercely-contested battle.