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It’s been some time since an English Premier League side simply threw away the title, but Liverpool managed to complete the unwanted feat overnight.
How fitting it was that Reds defender Martin Skrtel scored the opening goal against Newcastle by putting through his own net, since Liverpool’s failure to lift a first league title in 24 years can largely be attributed to a catastrophic case of self-destruction.
When the Reds beat Manchester City 3-2 at Anfield on April 13, it seemed inconceivable that the Premier League title would be heading anywhere but Merseyside.
Yet Steven Gerrard’s thunderous “we go again” post-game speech is now destined to go down alongside Kevin Keegan’s unforgettable “I will love it if we beat them” line from the 1995-96 season in the pantheon of futile quotes.
Newcastle ultimately succumbed to Manchester United under Keegan’s doomed regime, while Liverpool can pinpoint an uncharacteristic Gerrard slip as the moment their title challenge turned for the worst.
When Liverpool’s inspirational skipper failed to control a Mamadou Sakho pass against Chelsea on April 27, he opened the door for Blues striker Demba Ba to race through and score the goal which ultimately sealed Liverpool’s fate.
It wasn’t so much that Chelsea won 2-0 at Anfield that day – in the process restoring their own title hopes – but the fact that the Reds were always going to struggle to recover from that devastating psychological blow.
As if to prove the point, the Reds blew a three-goal lead to draw 3-3 with Crystal Palace in their next game at Selhurst Park, all but handing the title to a Manchester City side which thumped Aston Villa 4-0 in their subsequent game in hand.
So it was that Liverpool went into the final game needing to beat Newcastle and hope Manchester City slipped up against visitors West Ham.
The Reds did their part, coming from behind to beat a nine-man Newcastle 2-1, but a battle-hardened City were never going to let their advantage slip.
They duly dispatched the Hammers 2-0, thereby claiming their second title in three seasons since Sheikh Mansour and his Abu Dhabi United group took charge.
You can’t say City don’t deserve their crown, yet such is the uneven distribution of wealth throughout the Premier League, plenty of neutrals were no doubt hoping for a miracle Liverpool comeback.
No longer just an English game played by English players, the Premier League is now a global brand, so it’s no surprise that goalkeeper Joe Hart was the only English player to feature for the cosmopolitan City overnight.
It seems odd to cast traditional heavyweights Liverpool in the role of underdogs, but their entertaining brand of football had plenty of non-partisan supporters hoping that this was their year.
It’s hard to see how the Reds will bounce back next season given that Chelsea and City enjoy so much financial clout.
Much will depend on whether mercurial Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez keeps faith in manager Brendan Rodgers’ vision, with the speedy front man one of the most sought-after strikers in the world.
In the end, his 31 league goals weren’t enough to secure the Premier League crown so desperately coveted at Anfield.
So the wait for the title goes on, after a season in which Liverpool fans could be forgiven for wondering just how on earth they managed to throw it all away.