As Steven Gerrard slipped and handed Manchester City pole position in the title race it could have perhaps of become a forgone conclusion, but Liverpool as a club and their fans demanded that they would push Man City right to the wire. However, up stepped Glen Murray with a flick onto Dwight Gale to drive a dagger through Liverpool hearts. At three nil Liverpool fans serenaded their players with chants of “are you looking Manchester” as ‘the reds’ looked to heap pressure on their title rivals. As it proved they were looking with a glistening look in their eyes as they saw Liverpool’s title challenge collapse.
To most it has slipped along with Gerrard but the dramatic last ten minutes at Selhurst Park condemned Liverpool to what in a way many already knew. Many were quick to condemn Liverpool claiming they had bottled it and they hadn’t the character to go on and secure the title. Liverpool were victims of their own downfall instead of taking a more solid approach, true to his values Brendan Rodgers went full throttle to demolish Chelsea, backfiring as no one could have envisaged, Gerrard giving the ball away left rival fans frothing from the mouth.
Now take a step back and evaluate, Liverpool rose like a phoenix from the ashes to rise from 7th to being involved in the title race and with a bit more of the knowhow they could have done it too, Rodgers side has exceeded expectations they were meant to be pushing for top four not domestic glory. They have arrived ahead of schedule.
They have received many plaudits this year and have been something to desire, having spent less than the other Premier League elite the confirmation of Champions League football could allow the Merseyside club to compete on a bigger financial scale and they will have to if they are to have aspirations of the title anytime soon. If they lose their best such as Luis Suarez they could slip away. This summer will define where Liverpool are destined for.
The football they have played has been lovely to look and easy on the eye, it would be suggested they lacked the much needed steel to go on and win a title. An unfortunate season for an unfortunate club, a great player in Gerrard will be marred by the lack of a Premier League medal and his defining moment will always be that slip against Chelsea. But, after the hangover of letting their title aspirations slip fades they will ultimately realise that this season was a good one or perhaps they will continue to dream about what could have been.
