Confirmation of Liverpool’s Premier League title success has sparked the usual outpouring of nonsensical hyperbole.
Whenever Liverpool win something, greater importance is generally attached to the feat. Such was the case on Sunday.
One well-known ‘journalist’ claimed Liverpool had flown ‘back on to the perch that Sir Alex Ferguson knocked them off’.
As statements go, that one really took the biscuit. When Ferguson arrived at Manchester United, his primary aim was to end Liverpool’s sustained period of dominance.
Whichever way you look at it, winning the Premier League title for just the second time does not equate to Liverpool regaining their mantle as serial winners.
The Reds are worthy champions. The league table doesn’t lie, and they will be top of the pile when all the games are completed. Congratulations and all that.
However, they have been helped in no small part by the ineptitude of teams who were touted as rivals at the start of the season.
Arsenal have flattered to deceive, and Manchester City never looked like winning the title for the fifth consecutive season.
Chelsea briefly threatened to mount a challenge before reality set in, while Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are nowhere to be seen.
Other teams have had decent enough seasons by their usual standards, yet none have been remotely consistent enough to force their way into title contention.
All of which has resulted in Liverpool being the best of a bad bunch. Consistent enough to get the job done, but nowhere near the levels reached by many previous title winners.
Their title success is praiseworthy. But let’s keep a lid on the overbearing platitudes.
Top football stories
- Welcome to Roberto De Zerbi’s Marseille: Goals, moles and mutiny claims
- How Salah’s season compares to Shearer, Henry and Haaland
- Celtic’s latest title triumph owes much to Brendan Rodgers’ frustrated ambitions
Football Today features
- Manchester City fans’ semi-final snub sends a clear message to the FA
- Real Madrid, Leeds, Rangers or England? Klopp rumour mill spirals out of control
- Rice vs Bellingham: Arsenal star puts Madrid cry-baby in his place
What to watch
The Championship clash between Leeds United and Bristol City is the headline act tonight.
