Column: It was a joy to report at Anfield

Every aspect of the Reds' transition from a side that finished seventh to one in contention for the Barclays Premier League title was scrutinised meticulously over the course of a ground-breaking campaign.

Nowhere more so than in the national media, where the club's return to the Champions League for the first time in five years, prompted by a stunning 11-game run of victories, filled endless column inches and provided plenty of back-page headlines.

Continuing our series, Liverpoolfc.com will review an unforgettable season with a handful of the country's leading journalists - and today we get the thoughts of The Times correspondent Oliver Kay, who tells us why it was a highlight of the season making a visit to the Anfield press box...

Describe the 2013-14 season for Liverpool...

Spectacular and enthralling are the first two words that spring to mind. It was a season when Brendan Rodgers and his players raised expectations so high that they and the fans probably felt anything was possible. After they just missed out on the title, they ended up feeling deflated, which is inevitable because there was an opportunity that slipped through their fingers right at the end. But it wasn't just an opportunity that had just fallen into their laps. It was an opportunity they earned by winning all those games, scoring all those goals, playing some great football. I have to say that, as a journalist, it was great going to Anfield in the final months of the season to report on games of huge significance, knowing that you were going to be entertained and that a huge story was taking place. It did feel for a time as if there was something inexorable sweeping them towards the title. I think the media coverage, as well as the atmosphere in the ground, reflected that at the time. But football doesn't work like that. The best team invariably wins the title. Liverpool looked like the best team between February and late April, but ultimately, over the course of the season, I thought Manchester City proved themselves to be the best team.

Realistically, where did you expect Liverpool to finish at the start of the campaign?

I've just checked and, as I thought, I predicted that they would improve considerably points-wise but that they would be competing with Tottenham for fifth place. To get 84 points, score 101 goals and come so close to winning the title was remarkable. The closer they got, the more you started to hear people suggesting Liverpool had a huge advantage because they hadn't been involved in Europe. There might have been an element of that during the run-in, when they looked so fresh, but it's a big, big disadvantage financially and recruitment-wise when you are not in the Champions League. Even to jump from seventh to second was a remarkable performance.

Which player impressed you the most and why?

The obvious answer is Luis Suarez because his performances left the deepest impression, but having said and written so much about him, I would probably prefer to cite the improvements of Jordan Henderson, Raheem Sterling and Daniel Sturridge. If you go back 18 months or two years, Henderson looked like he lacked real personality and belief on the pitch and Sturridge seemed to be a bit of a nearly man at Chelsea, while if you even go back six months Sterling looked like a player who would show nice touches on the ball but not a great deal of match-winning quality. The improvement all three of them have made - along with Jon Flanagan and others - is remarkable. It's a huge testament to Rodgers' regime.

How important is it, not just for Liverpool, but football in Europe that Liverpool are back in the Champions League?

It's hugely important for Liverpool, obviously - not just for finance but for the prestige and for the pulling power it gives. I'm really looking forward to reporting on Champions League football at Anfield again. I know some see it as a media cliché, but those nights - certainly the best nights - are special. As for whether it's important for the rest of Europe, I wouldn't really go that far. The Champions League has coped without Liverpool in the same way as it has coped without Barcelona, Bayern Munich, Juventus etc. in the past and of course in the same way it will cope without Manchester United this season. What I would say is that the rest of Europe will find this Liverpool team to be a breath of fresh air.

Can Liverpool go one better and win the title next season?

It will be difficult. Liverpool will hope and expect to improve, but so will Manchester City, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham, not to mention Manchester United. If you look back through Premier League history, on the occasions when Liverpool have come close and when they've finished second, in 2002 and 2009, they've not bought well when they have had the opportunity to make the next step. They need to make sure they do that this time and to make sure they have the squad to deal with the additional challenge of Champions League football. If I was putting a tenner on next season's title winners right now, I would say Manchester City. They are the team to beat.