Triviality of the non-title decider leads to fun, frivolity and petty booing

Had Liverpool and Arsenal been playing for the league, the heckling of Trent Alexander-Arnold does not happen.

Liverpool's Trent Alexander-Arnold (right) and Conor Bradley applaud the fans. Pic: Nick Potts/PA Wire.

In the 95th minute, Martin Ødegaard ran through on goal. The Arsenal fans in the Anfield Road stand lurched forward in anticipation. Somewhere in the great gantry in the sky, Brian Moore was clearing his throat. It’s up for grabs now! Alas, the Premier League was denied what would surely have been one of its all‑time great moments by Ødegaard dragging his shot wide. Also, to be fair, by the 15-point gap between Arsenal and Liverpool.

And for all the rich entertainment on display here, it was hard for the neutral to ignore the sheer dizzying gulf between how important this could have been, and how important it actually was. Goals and cards, intrigue and controversy, late drama in both penalty areas: this was a game with everything you could possibly want from a title decider, except an actual title to decide.