Woan ends any Reds' hopes of anothe title
from "Press Association"
Liverpool's reign as champions was formally brought to a close by the left foot of a man from the Wirral - but in truth Ian Woan's 64th-minute goal merely put the Anfield oufit out of their misery.
From a position in November when the deduction of two points from Arsenal stretched Liverpool's advantage to eight, the Reds had slid to a situation where only an enormous stuff-up by Arsenal could have handed them the title.
But Liverpool were for once the side to succumb to pressure and though some will point to the bizzare departure of Kenny Dalglish and the equally strange delay in bringing in Graeme Souness, only the most ardent Koppite could argue that such goings-on were not balanced out by equally strange occurrences at Highbury over the course of the campaign.
Manager Graeme Souness admitted as much: "Liverpool have lost the championship rather than Arsenal winning it. We all take defeat in different ways but anybody who plays for me should be bad losers. Finishing second in the table may be a healthy position for anyone else but certainly not for Liverpool. That's the burden I must carry."
On the field Nigel Clough made the most salient points. With an awareness which must surely soon earn him a regular England spot, he mercilessly exposed a new-look back four.
Major surgery
In response to the mauling at Stamford Bridge, Souness had employed David Burrows, Steve Nicol, Gary Ablett and Steve Staunton as the back four.
It looked very much like a hastily applied field dressing rather than the major surgery a defence which has been most un-Liverpool-like this season needs.
Clough's pass in the 14th minute put Gary Crosby through and the panic that ensued saw Burrows put the ball in his own net and Crosby on the deck. The ref had seen the foul first and it made no difference as Clough stepped up to convert from the spot.
Perhaps reminded during the break of the responsibilities which come with a Liverpool shirt, the abdicating champions showed some touches of class in the second half.
They drew level when Steve Chettle's challenge on Ronnie Rosenthal was seen as a foul and Jan Molby dispatched the penalty with ease. The Liverpool of old would surely have gone on to win, but this time they gave ground in midfield and Forest were back in front within eight minutes.
Crosby's free-kick found Woan and the 80,000 pound signing from Runcorn sent the title to Highbury with a sweet volley.
Copyright - Press Association