And so, yet again, Manchester United rides off into the sunset with the Premiership in tow, another season for the red half of Manchester to sing with voices held high, we are the champions.
But it could have been the red half of Merseyside that could have and should have won it. They say the numbers never lie and the amount of goals that Liverpool have scored all season-long showed that they were more than a match for Man Utd, 76 goals v Man Utd's 67. If it was down to number of goals scored, Anfield would have rocked to Queen's finest.
Instead, it's another set of numbers that mattered, wins and draws. 27 wins to Man Utd to Liverpools 24, 6 draws to Liverpool's 11, that's where the game was won and lost. The Reds may have lost less games than the Red Devils but they didn't win enough.
So many factors have been espoused by fans and professional pundits aside, so many reasons have been given and too many conspiracy theories tabled. It was Rafa this and the squad that but, at the end of the day, it's the numbers that count and the numbers have spoken.
Still, there is always next season to look forward to. Man Utd will strengthen itself to defend a league it would love to call its own and the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal will lick their wounds and brace themselves to challenge the Top Two. Liverpool may not have won the league this season but the fact that the club came so close should inspire it in Season 2009/10. It now rests on the club owners, the manager and the players to decide whether this season is the stepping stone for greater glory or the start of the fall. Next season should prove to be an interesting one indeed.
"We will win it next season". That's what Liverpool have been saying every year since they last won the league in the 80s. Anyway, nice try this season. The title was within striking distance. It was a good challenge but not enough to beat the Devils.
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