Plenty of straws to clutch as Reds fall just short (ESPN article)

by Dave Usher for ESPN

Sadly Andy Carroll's West Ham could not produce the shock victory that Liverpool needed to snatch the title from the grasp of Manchester City, but at least the Reds took care of their own business by overcoming Newcastle United 2-1 at Anfield. It was far from straightforward, though, and for a while there was the possibility that Brendan Rodgers' men would suffer the ignominy of home defeat to the hapless Geordies and allowed Chelsea to nip in and steal second spot.

As they so often have in recent months, Liverpool dug deep and second half goals from the two Daniels -- Agger and Sturridge -- eventually turned the game around and ensured the Merseysiders ended their season in a manner befitting of what has gone before.

As soon as news filtered through that Samir Nasri had put City ahead against the Hammers, everyone inside Anfield knew the title dream was all but over, but the important thing was to end on a winning note and to not allow such an exciting, impressive season to end on a downer.

In truth, the season is probably ending at the right time for the Reds; they've been limping towards the finish line and the sparkle and verve that was in their game several weeks ago has all but disappeared. Luis Suarez for example, has looked like he's been running on empty in recent weeks but such is the Uruguayan's incredible desire to play and to win that he's still had a big impact despite clearly being nowhere near his best. The team as a whole looked flat and jaded against Newcastle -- no doubt due to the pressure they've been playing under for months, but they will surely be a lot better for the experience of having been in the race for so long this year.

I don't necessarily subscribe to the "you have to lose one before you can win one" theory, but it is certainly true that a number of sides who have missed out in agonising fashion have come back strongly to win it the year after. That's certainly one of a healthy number of straws for Kopites to clutch right now.

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