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Liverpool fans know what a tough season looks like.

Just a few years ago, before Jurgen Klopp brought glory back to Anfield, the club had gone three decades without a league title.

Liverpool’s position at the top hasn’t been all fireworks and flair.

It’s been about digging deep, grinding out results, and showing up when it matters most.

The team has had to adapt too — with Arne Slot stepping in after Klopp’s departure last summer, expectations were modest.

Many thought just finishing in the top four would be an achievement.

But Liverpool are now just a point away from lifting their second Premier League title in five years.

A legend of John Barnes’ status understands what it takes to win, but more importantly, he understands what it takes to stay consistent.

And that’s why he isn’t talking about skill?

He’s talking about character.

What did John Barnes say about the Liverpool title charge?

Speaking to the PA news agency ahead of his appearance at Sunday’s London Marathon, John Barnes said the difference this season hasn’t been about who’s more talented.

It’s been about what’s inside.

“It’s nothing to do with the quality of the squad, it’s to do with the character of the squad because they all have good players,” Barnes said via The Independent.

He pointed to Liverpool’s resilience, especially during a tricky past month that included losses to Newcastle and PSG.

“Character is about winning football matches, not titles.”

“If you look at what we have done in the last month – not withstanding losing to Newcastle and Paris St Germain – we haven’t played sparkling football but we’ve got the job done,” he said.

“You need your character not when you are playing well and you are winning, it is when you are struggling, and that is what Liverpool have done and why they are still 12 points clear.”

Barnes also credited the players for adapting quickly to Slot’s methods.

“A lot of the credit goes to the players as they have bought into what the new manager wants,” he said.

He explained that it’s easy for teams to fall apart after a legendary manager leaves, referencing transitions after Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger stepped down.

“It would be easy for them if they didn’t want to do it because no one would have blamed the players, they would have said ‘Arne Slot isn’t good enough’.”

Reflecting on his own career, Barnes added, “The mentality (for the team of his era) was, once it’s gone, you put it to the side and move forward… We didn’t wallow in self-pity and despair.”

Looking ahead, Barnes warned against complacency.

“When you win, you don’t get carried away and feel how great you are because you can easily fall away in the following season,” he said.

“Yes, we’ve won, but that doesn’t mean all of a sudden it’s going to be easy next season.”

But he’s optimistic, “Looking at the players’ attitude, I have no fear – and I’m not saying they will win the league next year as Man City and Arsenal will come again – but we will be challenging, which is all you can ask.”

Read more: Jamie Carragher names four Liverpool stars in Premier League Team of the Season

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