Filed under: Liverpool, Manchester United, Premier League, Football
It is safe to assume that Manchester United's 19th title success - surely to be confirmed at some point over the next 11 days - would not feature too highly on the average Liverpool fan's season highlights.Finally, and some would say inevitably given the gap in quality between the two sides over the last two decades, United are on the verge of moving past Liverpool into first place on the English top-flight honours board.
Sir Alex Ferguson stands ready to exclaim his finest hour after finally "knocking Liverpool off their perch" as he set out to do when he took over at United in 1986.
That will send shockwaves of pain through Liverpool's fans as they are forced to endure Old Trafford gleefully singing "are you watching Merseyside?" in a reminder of how far Liverpool have fallen, how strong and successful United have become and how the power in English football has switched from one end of the M62 to the other.
But, whisper it quietly, could United's title success not be a good thing for Liverpool in the long run?
Could Liverpool not use United's 19th title as the inspiration they need to not only join them on that number but continue tussling with them for title supremacy over the next decade?
Alan Hansen has often said that when he paraded Liverpool's last title around Anfield in 1990, he felt there was a sense of nonchalance and expectation about the accolade, as if Liverpool deserved to win the league simply because of who they were.
Well that sense of complacency and laziness has well and truly gone due to their 21-year hiatus and United's victory can only narrow and sharpen Liverpool's focus even more.
Current captain Steven Gerrard said: "It's hurtful from our point of view because we held the record for so long, but you've got to give credit where it's due, they've overtaken us for the time being.
"The good thing is we are on our way back up and we won't give up the fight to try and overtake them again - don't worry about that.
"That is the motivation - to know your bitter rivals have overtaken you on league titles.
"We can still boast about the European Cups, of course, but we do need to amend the 19-18 and myself and everyone else will be doing everything we can to try and do that."
Liverpool then are no longer the top dogs.
And the discomfort that fact brings could prove to be the vital factor and the final piece of the jigsaw that Kenny Dalglish needs to implement to ensure Liverpool and United embark on a battle for pre-eminence that justifies the competitiveness and mutual loathing that both clubs display towards the other.
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