With a draw against Arsenal today, Man United ensured they hit the 87 point target which the reds can’t reach, to land them their 18th title. Liverpool are now forced in to at least a 20 year wait for their 19th title.
In 1990 when Liverpool last won the league the men down the M62 had a mere 7 titles next to their name. Quite rightly, it was beyond the realms of any possibility that Liverpool would not win another title until United had matched our own figure.
For the vast majority of the last 20 years Liverpool stood still both on and off the field. United expanded their stadium to one fitting of one of Europe’s biggest clubs. Liverpool dismally failed. David Moores and Rick Parry failed to deliver massively and by the end of this season both will have left control of the club to two owners who have saddled the club with debt and failed to take us forward one single centimetre. They made big promises but they have proved only one thing – that promises are there to be broken.
Any Liverpool manager is up against it from the start. Saddled by the weight of history and expectation, but second in the queue for players behind the likes of Chelsea and United, and now even Manchester City. But Rafa has coped admirably. Considering the disgraceful behaviour of owners and Chief Executive, and even some moronic ‘fans’ who were calling for his head mid-season, he has turned Liverpool back in to genuine title challengers. Some of our demolition jobs this season have been immense.
We have had some much improved results against the other top clubs this season, and while unlikely we will get such a clean sweep next season against Chelsea and United, no longer do we have any reason to write off points against the other challengers. What has been utterly disappointing is some of the home performances against weaker sides.
Only losing twice in the Premier League loses its appeal when the number of draws reaches double figures. Winning the league is not about ‘not losing’ games. It’s about winning them. Unfortunately we didn’t win enough. And we didn’t win enough at Anfield.
My mind casts back to some of the dismal home draws this season in the League and the shocking performances from the home fans. You could sense the nervousness from the first whistle. The fans were almost waiting for us to throw our opportunity away and gasps and sighs were abundant, replacing what should have been cheers and encouragement. Maybe this season is all part of learning how to win titles again? And that could apply to the fans as well as the players – it took a 4-1 victory over United before many Liverpool supporters began to think we could really be in with a chance.
Maybe if the reds had a fully fit Fernando Torres all season instead of a tiresome and disappointing half season of Robbie Keane? Maybe if the Anfield crowd had genuinely believed from day one of the season? Maybe if the fans who get tickets for the Champions League games managed to get to the Premier League games as well?
Like me, all Liverpool fans will feel a huge disappointment tonight but we must look at the positives.
Begrudging congratulations to United. Dominating the league over such a period as they have is something we all know about. But we also know the feeling of watching your dominance end and your great rival taking over.
Let’s hope Rafa is allowed to get on with his job and brings in the men he wants and that next season we move off our 18th perch.
From the first whistle next season – for 38 games of 90 minutes – lack of determination from players, staff, fans or owners will not be tolerated.
YNWA.