Wounded Liverpool there for taking on last day v Newcastle

Most Liverpool fans could be forgiven for thinking a few weeks ago that a win against Newcastle on the last day would end 24 years of league title hurt but now, even if they do claim the three points, it looks certain to be just a consolation.

With Man City needing merely a draw against West Ham to seal the title Brendan Rodgers and his side have publicly conceded the title and although that is clearly a last ditch attempt to infect the Etihad dressing with complacency it is also what many of the Liverpool players will be privately thinking.

Rodgers will tell his players that they would never be able to forgive themselves if they failed to beat Newcastle and Man City ended up losing and although that is the only approach the Anfield boss can take there are serious doubts about how motivated he will be able to make his side.

After receiving plaudits, awards and the first slot of many a MOTD throughout the season for their excellent play and being rewarded with top spot for many weeks it’s impossible to quantify how much of a negative impact their recent demise will have on their performance, but to think they won’t be affected at all is naive.

Newcastle have been woeful in the second half of the season and finally arrested a run of six consecutive defeats to condemn Cardiff to the Championship last time.

However, although Newcastle will be in much better spirits the basis for this selection is far less about the visitors than it is the home side.

All the evidence of this season suggests Liverpool will cruise to a final game success but odds of 12/1 that it has all become too much for  a team that no-one predicted would be in this position at the beginning of the season is too big to ignore.

Before losing to Chelsea, Liverpool were 2/9 for the title and their players would have been thinking along the same lines as the layers.

It would have been devastating to lose that match and then throw the title even further away when inexplicably conceding three goals in 11 minutes to squander two points against Crystal Palace.

Combine that with seeing Manchester City produce arguably their best form of the season, especially against Everton where the Liverpool squad would have still watched in hope and the home side could now be there for the taking. #

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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