Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk says the Premier League champions face "challenging times" because "everyone wants to see you fall".
The Netherlands centre-back, 29, played a key role as the Reds ended a 30-year wait for a league title last season.
In an exclusive interview with Eddie Hearn's 'No Passion No Point' podcast, Van Dijk discussed racism, matches without fans and defending the title.
"I think trying to stay at the top is the hardest thing to do," he said.
The 29-year-old told Hearn in episode one of the second season of his BBC Sounds podcast: "Everyone wants to see you fall when you reach the top.