For a few seconds that passed like hours on Wednesday night, the hearts of Liverpool faithfuls sank. In a pantomime folly reminiscent of Steven Gerrard against Chelsea in the 2013-’14 season, faithfully reminded whenever the Reds enter the final stretch of a title race, Virgil Van Dijk let Everton’s Beto spin past him like a seasoned pickpocket. Van Dijk, arguably the most impregnable centre-back in the world, mistimed his clearance so horribly that he completely missed the ball. By the time he turned around, the Brazilian had sped into the box and was lining up for the strike, with just the goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher to beat.
To the collective relief of the crowd, a bursting silence enveloping the Anfield, Beto’s side-foot shy hit the post. Van Dijk whispered a prayer—he was just a moment away from seeing his faux pas replayed as frequently as Steven Gerrard’s 11 years ago. Buoyed by the stroke of fortune, Arne Slot’s men rallied back and broke the blue wall of Everton’s resistance to notch the three points that would all but guarantee their 20th title. The neutrals would believe the race is already over — Liverpool require only 13 points from a maximum of 24 available for the ticker-tape parade next month.
But the closer the hour of glory ushers in, the more nervous their fans would become. They have endured ample heartbreaks in the Jurgen Klopp era, twice losing out to the inscrutable winning machine of Pep Guardiola, by a point or two, by margins as minuscule as the ball hitting the underside of the bar and rebounding into safety, or a wickedly deflected goal in their opponent’s favour. A rueful Klopp would philosophise on the 2021- 22 season, where one night separated them from adding to a domestic cup double. “That’s life. One day, one point, one mistake, that separates champions and losers.”
Even before the German’s grand revival of the club, Liverpool and heartbreaks were regular bedfellows. The memory of the Gerrard slip is just a nudge away, but the near-miss of the 2008-09 season is not too distant either. Those of the slightly mature vintage would remember the failed pursuit in 1997, where goalkeeper David James groped the air as a David Beckham cross flung past him and nestled in the nets. Or when they lost six of their 14 games in 1991 to gift the title to Arsenal.
The worst fears are flared by their recent flatlining. In March, they were dumped out of the FA Cup and Champions League, besides losing the Carling Cup final to Newcastle United. Signs of fatigue have crept in. As has the reminder that the team needs rebuilding next season, with possible departures as well.
Mohammed Salah, who looks primed to collect all the individual awards, embodies their plummet in intensity. The Egyptian’s snap and bite have eroded a fraction. He has not scored in open play since the goal against Manchester City in the last week of February. Their marauding right back Trent-Alexander Arnold is unlikely to feature this season. The backline is looking porous, the 33-year-old legs of Van Dijk tiring and hence prone to uncharacteristic mistakes. The left back, Andy Robertson, had an unusually quiet season.
The midfield has, in recent weeks, looked ragged and ponderous when trying to break low blocks. Slot has not cribbed about the lack of squad depth or the limited resources to rotate the chief players. But the nucleus has shown clear signs of being overworked. Van Dijk has started in 29 of the 30 league games, accumulating 2700 minutes; Salah has logged 2665 minutes and missed only three games. The last few victories were etched by their granite will rather than playing breathtaking football.
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Yet, it’s improbable that the season would witness a wicked twist. As had been this year, the concept of a race was but an illusion, a ghost race rather. As early as last October, Liverpool had placed an iron grip on the title. As defiant as Arsenal had been, plugging away despite injuries and perceived refereeing injustices, they were seldom involved in a realistic race. Opta’s supercomputer has predicted Liverpool finishing top in 99.1 per cent of their 10,000 season simulations last month. The bookmakers too have almost given up on the Gunners, the only team in Liverpool’s rearview mirror.
The path to glory is relatively straightforward too. Barring Arsenal and Chelsea, there are no serious hurdles in their path. Four of the eight games are against teams in the bottom half. Arsenal have to juggle with the Champions League fixtures against defending champions Real Madrid and manage with a makeshift defence after a season-ending injury to Gabriel. Fellow defenders Ben White and Jurrien Timber too are not fully fit, while Riccardo Calafiori sustained an injury during international duty.
But Slot would not want the title to be decided by a stroke of fate, but would rather look to sweep home the title emphatically, as they have played for much of the season. He had given some of his regulars a break after the international fixtures, which came at an opportune moment to switch off from the game and return revitalised. The Liverpool faithful’s concern would not be so much about winning the crown with a sweeping swagger as about crossing the finish line without the stumbles of the past. They could do without stomach-churning moments as Van Dijk’s clumsy non-clearance too.