No matter how close they get, they never seem to win it and always just fall short along the line - at the end line. Liverpool last won a league title 30 years ago. Yea you read that right. Are they caused in the Premier League? Here are 3 seasons (plus the current one which might be voided) when Liverpool could, and probably should, have won the league, but didn't.
2008/09- The season when the likes of Gerrard and Torres were in their absolute prime. They did the double over Manchester United (the then European Champions) and Chelsea. They looked destined to end their 19 year wait to win the title. However, they were hindered by too many draws against lower table opposition and, frustratingly, despite a very strong finish to the season, United also kept on winning to finish four points clear to retain the title. This despite the fact that Liverpool lost fewer games, 2 (including away to relegated Middlesbrough) compared to four defeats for United. Liverpool also scored more goals, 77 compared to 68 for United, and had a six goal better goal difference. However, 11 draws proved to be the fatal blow. If they had converted just two of those draws into victories, Liverpool would have won the title.
2013/14- If one picture summed up the fact that some sort of curse exists on Liverpool and that elusive Premier League trophy, this is it. Everything seemed to be going Liverpool’s way in the closing stages of the 2013/14 season. Man Utd were having an awful first season after Fergie’s retirement. Arsenal had fallen away. Spurs were in transition and Chelsea had been plagued by inconsistency. A thrilling 3–2 home victory over Man City and a narrow victory at relegation threatened Norwich had put Liverpool six points clear of Man City with three games to go (with City having a game in hand and a slightly better goals difference). A brilliant run of form from mid February had seen Liverpool shoot from top four contenders to title favourites under manager Brendan Rodgers and the outstanding form of Luis Suarez. Three more wins from their last three games and a first league title for 24 years was in the bag.
The first of these was at home to Chelsea, and we all know what happened. Dominant throughout. Missed chance after chance. The infamous Gerrard slip proved the turning point not just in the game but in the entire season. Despite bombarding the Chelsea defence in the second half, Liverpool couldn't force an equalizer and were caught on the counter attack in the last minute to concede a second goal. The entire context of the title race had suddenly changed.
Eight days later, with their title hopes still just about alive, Liverpool travelled to mid-table Crystal Palace. A heavy victory would have left them in with a realistic shot at the league going into the last game of the season. They looked to be well on their way. 3–0 up after 70 minutes but they were then caught in the trap of trying to push on to score 5–6 goals. After conceding a goal from a fluke long shot, they simply panicked and crumbled in the final 15 minutes. The game finished in a 3–3 draw. The title challenge had capitulated. Despite a home victory over Newcastle on the final weekend, City won their remaining fixtures to finish two points clear. That summer, Suarez left for Barcelona and without his goal scoring form Liverpool fell away badly the following season. It also meant that Liverpool’s greatest player of the last 20 years, Steven Gerrard, never fulfilled his lifelong ambition of lifting the EPL title as Liverpool captain.
2018/19- Last season was one of the greatest seasons in Liverpool’s long and distinguished history. They won the European Cup for a sixth time. They defeated the champions of France, Germany and Spain. They secured a club record points tally of 97 in the EPL season (a total that would have won the title in every EPL season except for that season and the previous one) They produced a genuinely world class team for the first time since their golden era of the late 70s/early 80s. They only lost one game in the EPL all season. Unfortunately though, this one game was away to the team that pipped them to the title- Man City. However, that is not the whole story. The entire destiny of the game was changed by a moment in the first half with the game still scoreless. Sadio Mane was put through one on one with Edison and seemed destined to score. However, his shot struck the inside of the post before John Stones’ attempted clearance struck the City keeper and looped back towards the open goal. It seemed a certain goal, but the City defender scrambled across and got a foot on it at the last second, with VAR confirming that the ball was just 1.12cm from crossing the line. Had it gone in, Liverpool would have gone in front and most likely would have secured at least a draw that would have changed everything. As it was, City went in front just before half-time and went on to win the game, a victory that proved vital in the final standings as City finished one point clear (98 points to Liverpool’s 97). Just like in 08/09, Liverpool ended the season with the fewest defeats but a frustrating number of draws (7 compared to 2 for City) and some rotten luck meant that they once again had to settle for second place.
2019/20- With Liverpool being so dominant all season, it was the joke that, even if they cannot mess it up themselves this time, some sort of virus or global war would do it for them. Never did I imagine that such a seemingly ridiculous proposition could actually come true but we are seeing it unfold before our very eyes. Liverpool, 25 points clear and almost certain to end their three decade wait to lift the title are about to fall victim to the most unfortunate and unpredictable circumstances imaginable. There is a very realistic prospect that the entire 2019/20 season will be declared void and axed from all the record books, meaning that Liverpool, who haven't yet mathematically sealed the title (although they were perhaps only a week away from doing so) would be denied what would be a fully merited title victory and would be forced to start from scratch in August. If that did happen, it would be the most cruel blow, and arguably the greatest travesty in sporting history. I hope for that they can finish the season, even if it is 3/4 months late, because even the most die hard anti-Liverpool football fan out there cannot deny that Liverpool truly do deserve it this season. History, however, tells us that Liverpool might just be a jinxed club when it comes to the Premier League.
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2008/09- The season when the likes of Gerrard and Torres were in their absolute prime. They did the double over Manchester United (the then European Champions) and Chelsea. They looked destined to end their 19 year wait to win the title. However, they were hindered by too many draws against lower table opposition and, frustratingly, despite a very strong finish to the season, United also kept on winning to finish four points clear to retain the title. This despite the fact that Liverpool lost fewer games, 2 (including away to relegated Middlesbrough) compared to four defeats for United. Liverpool also scored more goals, 77 compared to 68 for United, and had a six goal better goal difference. However, 11 draws proved to be the fatal blow. If they had converted just two of those draws into victories, Liverpool would have won the title.
2013/14- If one picture summed up the fact that some sort of curse exists on Liverpool and that elusive Premier League trophy, this is it. Everything seemed to be going Liverpool’s way in the closing stages of the 2013/14 season. Man Utd were having an awful first season after Fergie’s retirement. Arsenal had fallen away. Spurs were in transition and Chelsea had been plagued by inconsistency. A thrilling 3–2 home victory over Man City and a narrow victory at relegation threatened Norwich had put Liverpool six points clear of Man City with three games to go (with City having a game in hand and a slightly better goals difference). A brilliant run of form from mid February had seen Liverpool shoot from top four contenders to title favourites under manager Brendan Rodgers and the outstanding form of Luis Suarez. Three more wins from their last three games and a first league title for 24 years was in the bag.
The first of these was at home to Chelsea, and we all know what happened. Dominant throughout. Missed chance after chance. The infamous Gerrard slip proved the turning point not just in the game but in the entire season. Despite bombarding the Chelsea defence in the second half, Liverpool couldn't force an equalizer and were caught on the counter attack in the last minute to concede a second goal. The entire context of the title race had suddenly changed.
Eight days later, with their title hopes still just about alive, Liverpool travelled to mid-table Crystal Palace. A heavy victory would have left them in with a realistic shot at the league going into the last game of the season. They looked to be well on their way. 3–0 up after 70 minutes but they were then caught in the trap of trying to push on to score 5–6 goals. After conceding a goal from a fluke long shot, they simply panicked and crumbled in the final 15 minutes. The game finished in a 3–3 draw. The title challenge had capitulated. Despite a home victory over Newcastle on the final weekend, City won their remaining fixtures to finish two points clear. That summer, Suarez left for Barcelona and without his goal scoring form Liverpool fell away badly the following season. It also meant that Liverpool’s greatest player of the last 20 years, Steven Gerrard, never fulfilled his lifelong ambition of lifting the EPL title as Liverpool captain.
2018/19- Last season was one of the greatest seasons in Liverpool’s long and distinguished history. They won the European Cup for a sixth time. They defeated the champions of France, Germany and Spain. They secured a club record points tally of 97 in the EPL season (a total that would have won the title in every EPL season except for that season and the previous one) They produced a genuinely world class team for the first time since their golden era of the late 70s/early 80s. They only lost one game in the EPL all season. Unfortunately though, this one game was away to the team that pipped them to the title- Man City. However, that is not the whole story. The entire destiny of the game was changed by a moment in the first half with the game still scoreless. Sadio Mane was put through one on one with Edison and seemed destined to score. However, his shot struck the inside of the post before John Stones’ attempted clearance struck the City keeper and looped back towards the open goal. It seemed a certain goal, but the City defender scrambled across and got a foot on it at the last second, with VAR confirming that the ball was just 1.12cm from crossing the line. Had it gone in, Liverpool would have gone in front and most likely would have secured at least a draw that would have changed everything. As it was, City went in front just before half-time and went on to win the game, a victory that proved vital in the final standings as City finished one point clear (98 points to Liverpool’s 97). Just like in 08/09, Liverpool ended the season with the fewest defeats but a frustrating number of draws (7 compared to 2 for City) and some rotten luck meant that they once again had to settle for second place.
2019/20- With Liverpool being so dominant all season, it was the joke that, even if they cannot mess it up themselves this time, some sort of virus or global war would do it for them. Never did I imagine that such a seemingly ridiculous proposition could actually come true but we are seeing it unfold before our very eyes. Liverpool, 25 points clear and almost certain to end their three decade wait to lift the title are about to fall victim to the most unfortunate and unpredictable circumstances imaginable. There is a very realistic prospect that the entire 2019/20 season will be declared void and axed from all the record books, meaning that Liverpool, who haven't yet mathematically sealed the title (although they were perhaps only a week away from doing so) would be denied what would be a fully merited title victory and would be forced to start from scratch in August. If that did happen, it would be the most cruel blow, and arguably the greatest travesty in sporting history. I hope for that they can finish the season, even if it is 3/4 months late, because even the most die hard anti-Liverpool football fan out there cannot deny that Liverpool truly do deserve it this season. History, however, tells us that Liverpool might just be a jinxed club when it comes to the Premier League.
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