Liverpool will end the Premier League season as the best runners-up English football has ever seen, after Manchester City’s victory over Brighton meant their 2-0 win over Wolves was not enough to lift the title.

Sadio Mane’s brace proved enough for the three points at Anfield and sees Liverpool end the season with a monumental 97 points, just one point behind champions Man City.

For 21 minutes on the final afternoon of the season, it looked like there would be a final twist in the title race as Liverpool led and City did not, but ultimately it proved a false hope.

Jurgen Klopp’s side’s only defeat of the league season came at Man City on January 3 and they could still end the season with silverware, if they beat Tottenham in the Champions League final, but they have fallen just short of ending the club’s 29-year wait for a title.

They were given a rousing reception from their fans at the final whistle though, who recognised that there was not much else their latest batch of heroes could have done.  

Liverpool were able to call on Mohamed Salah again, after the forward missed their dramatic Champions League victory over Barcelona, and the Egyptian nearly found himself clear inside 20 seconds.

If there were any pre-game nerves, Liverpool did not show them in the opening stages. Divock Origi saw the first shot of the game kept out by Rui Patricio, as Wolves struggled to get out of their half in the first ten minutes.

They made their fast-start count on 17 minutes and it was no surprise to see both Mane and Trent Alexander-Arnold involved. The latter’s low cross deflected into the path of Mane, who made no mistake in sweeping the ball home from ten yards out. 

Andy Robertson stung the hands of Patricio with a fierce drive from 25-yards, before Anfield erupted as Brighton took the lead against Manchester City. That lead lasted just 90 seconds and, completely coincidentally, as City went ahead at Brighton ten minutes later, Liverpool began to show nerves.

That allowed Wolves to create their best opening of the half in the dying stages, Diogo Jota teeing up full-back Matt Doherty down the right. He thundered an effort against the bar and Anfield breathed a sigh of relief as it bounced over and the half-time whistle went.

Wolves were back on the front-foot at the start of the second half, enjoying the lion’s share of possession and probing Liverpool. Doherty then,delayed a cross, which meant Liverpool were able to recover and block Jonny Otto’s eventual shot, before Raul Jimenez scuffed an effort wide.  

Liverpool’s Champions League hero Divock Origi then blazed over when presented with a good chance in the box, as news filtered through that Man City had doubled their advantage at Brighton and would deny the Reds the title.

Alisson was forced to rush off his line and deny Jota, as Wolves fans enjoyed rubbing salt in Liverpool’s wounds with a number of mocking songs, only for the Reds to have the final say at Anfield.