Despair
Manchester United's faltering championship dreams lay in ruins today as the title went to Leeds.
Defeat at Anfield, where Ian Rush finally broke his duck against United, finally killed the Old Trafford club's bid.
A 3-2 win at Sheffield United had already set up Leeds for their first championship triumph since 1974 and Rush rubbed Manchester United's noses in it with a glorious 12th minute strike.
Substitute Mark Walters added a second in a frantic finish but it was the Rush goal that eclipsed United as he strode onto a perfect John Barnes pass to clip the ball beyond goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel.
It was the first time in the Welsh international striker's goal-laden career that he had breached United's defence and it was to prove crucial.
Despite all their passion and commitment United's third consecutive defeat was always on the cards after that and they were unable to revive their dream of a first title success in 25 years.
Alex Ferguson's team never let go of the slightest hope and they took the game boldly to the FA Cup finalists right from the start.
Paul Ince, Brian McClair and Andrei Kanchelskis all hit the woodwork but Liverpool confronted their fierce rivals with a determination which suggested they were chasing glory themselves rather than just wrapping up a season which, by their lofty standards, has been desperately ordinary.
United boss Ferguson took one last roll of the dice and plunged his inspiring captain Bryan Robson into the Anfield cauldron despite six games out with a damaged calf muscle. The former England leader drove United on with his customary generalship among an avalanche of flying boots but it was an awesome task in a battle of blood and guts that produced three injury substitutions, including the exit of Rush, in the first 31 minutes.
United, with Ince also making a surprise return in midfield, never stopped battling for the trophy their vast army of fans have long craved. But it was never going to be their day as Liverpool won their first League match since Coach Ronnie Moran took over as caretaker manager from the stricken Graeme Souness nearly a month ago.
United must have known their fate when Ince saw his flashing 20-yard drive cannon across the face of goal from the inside of a post 11 minutes after Rush's opener.
United lost Gary Pallister when he limped off after a block tackle by Barry Venison and it was the Liverpool sub who shot into the side netting when confronted with an open goal after a delightful Barnes back-heel. Walters, who had come on as Rush's replacement, inadvertently blocked a goal-bound Dean Saunders shot right on half time and Saunders later missed another inviting chance to put United out of their misery. And it was just that for Ferguson's team when McClair and Kanchelskis both put efforts against the bar following a Dennis Irwin free-kick two minutes into the second half.
United never let the pace slip right to the end but as they poured forward in increasing desperation they were vulnerable to the inevitable counter attack. Molby looked certain to grab Liverpool's second until Schmeichel brilliantly kept out his drive but even the giant Danish keeper back to his best in this memorable struggle, was helpless when Walters jabbed the ball into an empty net three minutes from time after Ray Houghton hit the bar.
Ferguson choked back his disappointment to congratulate Leeds on their league title triumph and it should not be devalued by any talk of United throwing it away. "We have been punished for our mistakes, particularly this week, but Leeds have won it because they made less mistakes than anybody else all along the way," said Ferguson.
"Anybody who talks about it being an ordinary league is talking rubbish. It is still as difficult to win as ever. Losing it has had a numbing effect on us and I don't know how we will get over it but we will find a way. I'm still proud of my team. People like Bryan Robson and Brian McClair show what we are all about. You can't leave your character behind in the dressing room and what you see on the pitch is a true reflection of them as human beings. Of course, this is a big disappointment but looking back it's not been that bad a season."
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