Liverpool's 2024 was clearly divided into two parts.
The first saw Jurgen Klopp's trophy-laden and transformative run with the Reds heading towards the bottom. The German received the adoration of the Anfield crowd for the last time in May, with his side finished at the bottom of the 2023/24 Premier League season.
Klopp's successor endured an extremely difficult task, tasked with galvanizing a group mourning the loss of their leader. Arne Slot was the manager identified by Liverpool's recruitment team as the perfect candidate to rebuild on exceptional foundations.
This turned out to be an inspired decision. The first half of the 2024/25 campaign has been truly remarkable for Liverpool, who lost just once under their new Dutch boss last year.
While the year 2025 promises to be an even more attractive year Liverpool supporters, let's think back to the best of 2024 for the Reds.
Liverpool have boasted a number of world-leading stars over the past decade and many have stood tall in 2024. Virgil van Dijk enjoyed a resurgent year, Alisson remains the best goalkeeper on the planet when fit and Alexis McAllister immediately wowed Anfield with a string of stellar performances.
However, there can be no doubt that, once again, Mohamed Salah was the standout performer for the Reds last year. The relentless Egyptian produced remarkably consistent performances for Liverpool and could end the current season with a career-best tally if he maintains his incredibly high standards under Slott for the second half of the season.
His longevity is outstanding and his consistency equally so, while he still offers the fiery pace and dynamic left foot that has usually seen him top Liverpool's goalscoring charts.
Many of them have improved significantly since the arrival of Slot, but none have surprised as Ryan Gravenberch. The personable but inconsistent Dutchman had traveled to Merseyside at the start of Klopp's last season but found it a challenge to adapt to the physicality and energy of the Premier League.
Molding Gravenberch into an excellent defensive midfielder wouldn't be on many people's bingo card for 2024, but he did. The 22-year-old has flourished while anchoring Liverpool's engine, answering the club's dire need for a new number six.
Loud shouts have to be made for Cody Gakpo and Luis Diaz when it comes to Liverpool's most improved in 2024, but Gravenberch's transformation has been too surprising to ignore.
The end of Klopp's reign was littered with good stories about Liverpool's academy prospects. Injuries meant the club's youngsters got plenty of opportunities to impress and most made positive first impressions on the Anfield faithful.
While Jarell Quansah also shone for Liverpool's first team, rising from relative anonymity and a short loan spell in League One, it was at right-back. Conor Bradley who endeared himself to supporters in 2024.
After a season-long loan spell at Bolton Wanderers, in which he was named the club's Player of the Year for 2022/23, the Northern Irishman was immediately given first-team opportunities for Liverpool. Filling Trent Alexander-Arnold's shoes is no easy task, but the 21-year-old did an extremely impressive job.
More reminiscent of Andy Robertson than Liverpool's number 66, Bradley has had a hugely successful year and has now amassed almost 40 appearances and very few assists for the Reds.
Surprise, surprise. it's Salah who scored most goals for Liverpool last year, a regular feat achieved by the 32-year-old.
Salah scored 29 goals in 44 games for Liverpool in 2024, a tally bettered by only six players in Europe's top five leagues and only Erling Haaland in the Premier League.
The Reds talisman endured a slow end to last term by his lofty standards, but has come alive at the start of Slott's reign. 20 of those 29 strikes have come this season – 17 of which have arrived in the Premier League.
Liverpool were remarkably quiet in the transfer market last year. In fact, they made just two high-profile signings, with only Federico Chiesa, who signed from Juventus for £12.5m in the summer, turning out in a red shirt.
Perhaps Liverpool's most exciting addition is yet to play for his new club, the summer signing Giorgi Mamardashvili is back on loan at Valencia for the current season. The Georgian goalkeeper is one of the game's top young keepers and looks a natural heir to Alisson's throne with his brilliant reflex saves and impressive distribution.
If Liverpool continue on their current trajectory, there will be plenty of moments vying for status as the greatest of 2025. However, there is one particular moment from last year.
Liverpool picked up their last piece of silverware under Klopp in February, winning the Carabao Cup final against Chelsea. Van Dijk's 118th-minute header secured a famous victory for a youthful Liverpool side, beating the multibillion-pound 'bottlenecks'.
While Liverpool would have hoped to leave Klopp with more silverware, such a dramatic triumph was a fitting final tribute for the legendary Reds manager.