Heartbreaking loss takes title out of LFC hands (ESPN article)

by Dave Usher for ESPN

It was every Liverpool supporter’s worst nightmare: Anfield public enemy No. 1 Jose Mourinho throwing a huge spanner in the works of the Merseysiders' title challenge and a Steven Gerrard mistake proving decisive.

We won’t know just how costly this 2-0 loss will be to Gerrard and Liverpool until the remaining fixtures have been played out, but many Kopites are fearing the worst. It’s not over yet, though. It wouldn’t be Liverpool if it was straightforward, would it?

Whenever the Anfield club has won trophies in recent years, it's invariably done the hard way. Rarely has silverware been lifted without every last nerve of the supporters having been shredded in the process.

In 2001, three cups were lifted. The first (the Carling Cup) needed a penalty shootout to overcome a Championship side in Birmingham. The second (FA Cup final vs. Arsenal) looked to be slipping away until Michael Owen scored twice in the last eight minutes. Completing their treble in the UEFA Cup against Alaves, they needed an own goal in the golden goal extra time to beat an unfancied Spanish club.

In contrast, a League Cup triumph in 2003 was relatively straightforward by Liverpool standards, but the classic Istanbul rally-from-behind Champions League win in 2005 probably took five years off the life expectancy of many a Kopite.

Likewise the FA Cup triumph a year later. That needed a spectacular last-gasp equaliser from Gerrard and yet another penalty shootout to overcome West Ham. Even in 2012 the Reds required penalties to defeat a Championship side to win the League Cup.

So Liverpool were never going to enjoy a stress-free stroll to the title by winning their final three games; it’s just not how they do things. If the Reds are to break their 24-year Premier League hoodoo (and right now it isn’t looking good), they are going to have to do it the hard way. As usual.

Read the full article here.