Liverpool know that Tottenham have already played a decisive role in the title race ahead of their clash with Man City

The Premier League certainly has a knack for delivering a good narrative. Although Liverpool failed to make it a thrilling three-way title fight before the final day, we were given a scenario where Tottenham hold the bitter fate of rivals Arsenal in their hands.

With Manchester City having a game in hand against Arsenal ahead of the final round of fixtures, they travel to Spurs on Tuesday needing a win to keep the lead in the title race. If Tottenham take as much as a point, the Gunners would only need to win their last game to win the Premier League.

High drama indeed. And it’s a chance for Tottenham to make good on the ‘king-maker’ label handed to it – so far its predicted impact on the title race has failed to materialise, with both Liverpool and Arsenal securing wins against Ange Postecoglou in running.

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But Liverpool can’t remember that Spurs have already played a pivotal role in the title race. As early as September, it was clear that Luis Díaz’s VAR error could have significant ramifications in a season that was already shaping up to be tight at the top.

Although he never called for one, Jürgen Klopp was mocked for suggesting a replay would be the fairest outcome. Yet months later, here we are in a situation where the mistake against Tottenham denied Liverpool the chance to go into the final weekend with their title hopes still intact (the third place finish has now been mathematically confirmed).

We can’t know for sure if Liverpool would have won had Díaz’s goal been given. But he would have been in the driver’s seat to do that.

Just to remind you, this was not your typical referee or even VAR error. It wasn’t the officials who jumped to the wrong conclusion. It was agreed among the video staff that this was a simple case of a goal in play, but a catastrophic error in relaying that information to the team on the pitch meant it was not awarded. The rigid protocol then prevented this immediately identified error from being fixed.

There is no getting away from the fact that Liverpool needed to do more to win the title this season. The “goodbye Klopp” spirit took it some way, but a side still in a rebuilding phase ultimately lacked the quality to go far. But it’s equally undeniable that if this glaring mistake hadn’t happened and the Reds had continued to win, even this flawed team would still be in the championship picture.

It is easy to pick out other incidents that were officially classed as errors, not least the handball that was not given against Martin Ødegaard. But that mitigates the magnitude of Díaz’s mistake, which has not been seen before or since. In the narrative of the season, currently shaped by Spurs vs Man City, it would be wrong to rule out the goal that was marked by an administrative failure – and that, in retrospect, those suggestions of a replay were far from outlandish.