Jordan Henderson typifies Liverpool’s steel as undefeated run hits 101 points to show mindset of champions

The statistics – a year undefeated in the top-flight while picking up 2.73 points per game - are striking, but it is Liverpool’s steel that is most remarkable as they relentlessly drive towards being league champions

A dog interrupted Sheffield United’s pre-match activation session on Thursday morning at Stanley Park, weeing on a training cone before darting off into the distance, but it is Liverpool taking the piss.

The numbers, all of them, are frightening. Jurgen Klopp’s side, 13 clear at the Premier League summit with a game in hand, have navigated an entire year without defeat in the division. That is 37 games during which they have amassed 101 points.

Manchester City were the team to last inflict a loss on the Merseysiders, who have gone on to win 32 of their matches since. At this stage, they are bettering the points-by-game rate (2.73 versus 2.63) of Pep Guardiola’s 100-mark team.

The statistics are striking - and there are more of them - but it is Liverpool’s steel that is most remarkable. "I love everything about them,” Chris Wilder said following Sheffield United’s 2-0 defeat at Anfield.

“The physical and mental part of what they’re doing is amazing.”

Liverpool lost Alisson to a calf injury during the first-half of the league opener against Norwich City, with Adrian having to deputise while shorn of match fitness and not being afforded any time to settle at his new club.

Klopp was sans the services of his world-class goalkeeper for 67 days, but his players refused to let that fact show in their performances.

Since then, Liverpool’s injury list has only ballooned but so too has their resolve. Fabinho was the standout holding midfielder in Europe before suffering ankle ligament damage in the 1-1 Champions League draw with Napoli in November, but Jordan Henderson has been imperious since stepping back into the No 6 role.

“He’s exceptional. Yes, he's outstanding,” Klopp said of his captain, who turned in another top display in a testing encounter.

“I don't take that for granted for one second. If anybody who is with us doesn't see the quality of Jordan Henderson, I can't help. Is Hendo the perfect player? No. Do I know anybody who is? No. Is he unbelievably important to us? Yes. He didn't like the position, No6, when he saw how good Fabinho is!

“I asked him, two or three weeks ago, when he played already exceptional in the position, 'You don't like the position, right?'. He was laughing. Before that he played centre-half.

“You see it in life that character and mentality helps always and in this case especially.”

There were question marks over Liverpool’s defence, compounded by Joel Matip’s knee injury and Dejan Lovren’s hamstring issue.

Joe Gomez returned to partner Virgil van Dijk at centre-back and they’ve only let in one goal in the six league games they’ve started this season.

Liverpool have now recorded five consecutive clean sheets in the division for the first time since September 2007, when Rafael Benitez was still at the Anfield helm.

In quick succession, Klopp has also been unable to call upon Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (ankle), Xherdan Shaqiri (muscle strain) and Naby Keita who injured his groin during the warm-up on Thursday night.

But Liverpool relentlessly carry on and the manner in which they nullified the multi-faceted and well-drilled Blades despite their pre-match setback was astounding.

"I think the scoreline flattered us,” Wilder admitted. "I thought Dean Henderson was the difference between it not being three, four or five.

“The basic stuff that Liverpool did, they did miles better than us. They were more aggressive, physical. They dictated the game.”

Henderson has excelled in the No 6 role since Fabinho's injury (EPA)

England’s pacesetters have both learned from and been motivated by last season, when they became the only team to go into the new year seven clear and not win the title.

Draws with Leicester, West Ham, Manchester United and Everton scuppered their ambitions of becoming champions then, leading to an indomitable drive of 58 points from the available 60 now.

“In the dressing room there was no party or something,” Klopp said when asked about the 12-month undefeated run in the top flight.

“There are two reasons. It's really an intense period of the year, so it's not like somebody wants to go out and have a few drinks. So they are all happy when they are in a bed and so am I, by the way. And because this or that player wants to do better and he knows he has to do better in this or that situation.

“We can do things better and we have to.”