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.
Loftus
Guest
Still better than watching Rooney celebrating or even Neville or Ferdinand. The Champions League won t miss United next year anyway.
Loftus
Guest
Don t know why you say they trew it away. It was never a big lead and the whole season has showed that any team can lose against a bottom of the league team.
Kyle Stewart
Roar Pro
While I agree Liverpool did over achieve you can't just say it now when you weren't saying when you were sitting pretty on top
onside
Guest
Trouble is Steve that Liverpool had no counter to 'the bus'. They continually played long balls in that proved easy to counter,instead of taking the ball to the 18 yard line and then passing square in front of 'the bus' to players running down the centre whose job it is to effect a pass into the box to a player who has found space .Suarez made space in the box several times but Liverpool kept kicking long balls.They were ill prepared. There are tactics to counter 'the bus'.That said, the game is remarkably easy to play from the comfort of my Jason recliner.
Gerandelin
Guest
Very harsh to single out Gerrard's slip in my opinion. Ultimately, Liverpool's calamitous defence over the course of the season was their ultimate downfall. They conceded more goals away from home than any other sides excluding the three who were relegated. If Rodgers can sort out their defensive deficiencies they will be a frightening prospect next season.
Col
Guest
the quality?
Col
Guest
Mmm Steve - not sure if you watched the game but the Chelsea chances prior to the hilarious slip were at least as good as any Liverpool managed. Yes Liverpool had more possession etc etc - but Chelsea could easily have scored prior to Ba's goal..
j binnie
Guest
Fadida - As a self confessed United fan I would have thought your feelings would have been deeply embedded in their problems rather than getting your amusement from a "Gerrard slip". Now that the " Moyes out " brigade have been silenced I would have thought your attention would have been in how your team was performing under the much heralded quartet,Giggs,Scholes,Butt, & Neville. When they took over from Moyes the club was lying 7th in the league, & that's where they finished despite winning 2 games,drawing 1 & losing 1 against teams far from the recognised top 4. So you don't get the wrong idea from this comment I would like to point out to you that in those 4 games Giggs & co.put 4 starting line ups on the field.To do so he used 20 different players (this is not counting subs).Doesn't that strike you as being excessive for a team that won the championship just last year.???. When one examines the number of starts only one player played in every game,the goalkeeper De Gea.!!!!!! When we move to the next number ,3 appearances, we see Jones Ferdinand,Vidic,Evra,Carrick & Kagawa in the starting line ups albeit sometimes in differing positions. Vidic is leaving & I think you would agree Ferdinand & Evra could be on borrowed time leaving Jones,Carrick & Kagawa as probables for next year. When we move into the 2 appearances we start to see some problem areas.with players such as Wellbeck,Januzaj,,Valencia,Smalling,Fletcher, & even Mata not quite reflecting the managerial confidence that one would expect from such names. The 1 appearance figures are even more damning for we have Hernanzez,Van Persie,Young,Rooney & mega purchase Fellaini, with youngsters Wilson (2 goals) & Lawrence all making the start. Now I know injuries can make an impact on these figures but examination of the subs. show that Rooney is the only one that this would apply to ,for both Van Persie & Hernandez had 2 starts off the bench. All in all I think it would be safe to suggest that Giggs & co were not overly impressed with the standard of play being dished up by these superstars of last year & I think team selections over these last 4 matches reflects that that problem is still in existence at United. Thoughts???? jb
slane
Guest
Can't believe the people on here saying they didn't blow it. They needed 3 wins from 3 games to claim the title. They didn't get those wins. That is the definition of blowing it.
wisey_9
Roar Guru
Not true. If they had beaten Palace, there would have been more pressure on City to deliver in their final two games...
Indian cricket fan
Guest
Glad they did! As a united fan,i am delighted they didn’t win the title. Even though it hurts seeing City win but i’d take that over Gerrard celebrating. But football is boring unless United are winning, that’s why i stick to IPL and indian cricket. P.S- Glad to be back on roar after a long time. Btw Aussies beware….Indians are coming to Australia this summer to take revenge for the last tour.
Indian cricket fan
Guest
Glad they did! As a united fan,i am delighted they didn't win the title. Even though it hurts seeing City win but i'd take that over Gerrard celebrating. But football is boring unless United are winning, that's why i stick to IPL and indian cricket. P.S- Glad to be back on roar after a long time. Btw Aussies beware....Indians are coming to Australia this summer to take revenge.
Reginald Bomber
Roar Guru
Which part of the A-League finals is broke?
p budd
Guest
I can't engage in the general banter of whether or not Liverpool threw the title away and certainly not over one player making an error or the whole team forgetting that to win a game you have to score more goals than you concede. However, this season it felt as though the title was handed to the eventual winners rather than it being fought over. It wouldn't have mattered if Liverpool, Chelsea or Arsenal had won, it just feels as though points were given away and opportunities provided to a group of teams and the twists and turns kept coming except for the final weekend of the season, which let's face it, was probably the most boring and predictable round of the season. If the four protagonists turned the clock back eight weeks, what would they do differently and would or could the changes have made a difference ....quite athought provoking topic to chew over before bed time...but I am not seeking answers!
Cantab
Guest
Had they have beaten crystal palace they would have still come 2nd
xavialonso
Guest
Gerards slip didn't cost them. It was the draw to Crystal Palace that really cost them.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Agree however the mistake Rodgers made in this game was not keeping a couple of troops back the entire game. Protect your goal at all times in a game like this. Why were Johnson and Sakho pushing forward ? I don't blame Stevie G. There absolutely should have been two guys preferably Skrtel and Flanagan back shutting down Ba. As it is Ba had an open run to the goal. Rodgers should have played pragmatically, who cares if it was an ugly 0-0 draw. A point would have been enough.
Jacques
Guest
Absolutely shattered.Reds fan since since born. Hoping for Melbourne Victory to make me smile again
Nicholas Hartman
Roar Guru
Yep, threw it away. Lost to Chelsea and collapsed against already-safe Crystal Palace. Everyone knew Chelsea were going to counter-attack but Rodgers stuck to his guns and duly lost.
Andy
Guest
There's nothing wrong with parking the bus. Just like there's nothing wrong with Liverpool looking to break fast and utilise their ridiculous speed up front (hardly revolutionary).