Liverpool nominated for Laureus Team of the Year award following Premier League success last season, despite being sixth right now

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Liverpool are in the running to win the 2021 Laureus World Team of the Year award, even though they’re sixth in the Premier League table right now.

The Reds won a first ever Premier League title last term but their defence hasn’t gone to plan, with Jurgen Klopp recently admitting they have no chance of retaining it.

Liverpool lifted the Premier League trophy for the first time last season

But Liverpool’s title defence has gone very off-script this season

Their efforts, though, have still been recognised by sports journalists from around the world and they have a chance at winning the accolade, which will be announced in May at a virtual ceremony.

The Merseysiders will be up against the likes of Champions League winners and runaway Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich, as well as Mercedes’ F1 team and the Argentina men’s rugby team for beating New Zealand for the first time.

The LA Lakers, inspired by Liverpool shareholder LeBron James, have also been nominated for winning their 17th NBA Championship.

The Kansas City Chiefs could also win Team of the Year on account of winning their first Superbowl since 1970 in 2020. However, their nomination has been slightly hurt by the fact they lost this year’s Superbowl earlier this month.

Bayern won last season’s Champions League and look set to seal an ninth straight Bundesliga crown

Elsewhere, Britain’s Lewis Hamilton has been nominated for Sportsman of the Year award after sealing a record-equalling F1 Driver’s Championship. He’s the current holder of the Laureus accolade.

He’s up against Bayern striker Robert Lewandowski, tennis sensation Rafael Nadal, LA Lakers talisman James, Ugandan runner Joshua Cheptegei and pole-vaulter Armand Duplantis.

Hamilton said: “It’s an honour to have been nominated for ‘Sportsman of the Year’ alongside some truly incredible athletes.

“When I look back at the award ceremony last year, it’s hard to believe just how much has changed. 2020 was a difficult year for so many people, for many different reasons and of course the world of sport was hugely affected.

Hamilton is one of F1’s greatest on the track and is tirelessly working to promote more diversity in the sport

“I was fortunate enough to be able to race and I’m so proud of what we, as a team, were able to achieve together. I’m even prouder of the journey we began towards making the motorsport industry more diverse and inclusive.

“Nelson Mandela was the inspiration behind Laureus and I’m sure he would support everything we can do, to use sport to achieve a greater good.”

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