Premier League heartbreak for Liverpool!
I thought at the halftime break on the title-deciding ‘Super Sunday’ of the 2021/22 Premier League season, that may be the miracle was happening, to overturn Manchester City’s 1-point lead in the Premiership to win the title, but it was not to be for Liverpool, breaking Reds hearts around the world.
Liverpool was stunned by Wolves in the first 3 minutes of the game, finding themselves a goal behind, Pedro Neto poking Raul Jimenez’s square ball into the back of the net. Liverpool was caught napping by Wolves counterattack with their high line. But despite this, Liverpool fans were unpanicked as the Reds tend to play their way out of trouble, and there were still 87 minutes of the game remaining.
Liverpool’s Senegalese International forward Sadio Mane equalized for Liverpool in the 24th minute, while Manchester City was being held to a scoreless draw by Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa side. As the game passed its 37th minute a huge roar echoed around Anfield as news filtered through that Villa had scored, putting Liverpool in the box seat for the title if they could score just one more goal.
At half-time, Liverpool was level, while City was losing, giving Liverpool fans hope that the miracle was happening. Sadio Mane put the ball in the back of the net a few minutes after halftime, but he was deemed offside. Liverpool could not break down Wolves, looking tired and out of ideas for the next 20 minutes, before another huge roar reverberated around Anfield in the 69th minute as news came in that Villa has scored a second goal, meaning City had to score 3, if Liverpool could find just one goal.
Then reality came crashing down on Anfield as news arrived that City had scored 3 quick goals in the space of 5 minutes to turn the title chase on its head, with Gündogan scoring twice, in the ’76 and ’81 minutes, and Rodri scoring in the 78th minute, meaning that even if Liverpool found that elusive goal, it would not matter. Mo Salah did finally make the breakthrough in the 84th minute, toe poking a rebounded header between the defender and the post, and Andy Robertson made it 3 – 1 in the 89th minute, sadly it was all academic unless Gerrard’s Villa could do us a huge favor and score a third goal.
It was not to be, the game finished Manchester City 3, Aston Villa 2 at the Etihad Stadium, while Liverpool was victorious over Wolves at Anfield. The Reds did all they could to make the quadruple dream happen, which is all we can ask of Jurgen Klopp’s team. For me, it’s a hard pill to swallow, it looked like it was going Liverpool’s way before City seemingly found 3 goals out of the blue. That said, it would have been even more heartbreaking if City drew or lost, and Liverpool could not find the second goal to claim the title. I think most Liverpool fans had accepted that it was unlikely that City would draw or lose on the final day, and that City would be Premier League champions, but the dramatic events of the day played with the emotions of Liverpool fans around the world, heightening the disappointment of finishing second.
We are disappointed, but we are so proud of what Liverpool has achieved this season, The FA Cup, The Carabao Cup, and potentially the Champions League title should the Reds overcome Real Madrid in Paris six days from now. Mo Salah jointly won the Golden Boot award, Alisson Becker jointly won the Golden Glove award, while Belgian International Divock Origi was given the guard of honor as he leaves Anfield after 8 years of faithful service, with loan spells at Lille, and VfL Wolfsburg during that time period.
What an amazing season, Liverpool was once more than four wins adrift of Manchester City, so to finish just one point behind in the Premier League, to come within touching distance of the title is an amazing feat. CONGRATULATIONS to Manchester City, they may have done it the hard way, but they did what they needed to do, and are deserved 2021/22 Premier League champions.
Just one more game remains, the Champions League final, to make it three trophies this season if Liverpool can avenge their 3 – 1 Champions League final defeat in 2018. This is not an easy tie, but I am hopeful that Liverpool can achieve the treble this season. Then the Reds can take a well-earned break after playing the maximum possible number of games in a season, before regrouping for another try at the Premier League title next season, there are exciting times ahead for Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp.