THIS probably wasn’t quite what Rafael Benitez had in mind when imploring his team to go down fighting in the race for the title.

On the weekend in which their championship aspirations were finally put to bed, it didn’t require an ugly altercation between Jamie Carragher and Alvaro Arbeloa to illustrate Liverpool’s frustration at missing out on the Premier League’s ultimate prize.

Manchester United’s goalless draw against Arsenal 24 hours earlier provided confirmation of the news the Anfield faithful were dreading but had privately accepted for weeks.

Having run their bitter North West rivals so close for so long, it’s been a tough ask for Liverpool to accept falling short while witnessing United move alongside them on 18 league titles.

Perhaps that lingering sense of regret at what might have been contributed to the unseemly bust-up between Carragher and Arbeloa 10 minutes from time that threatened to overshadow a routine victory yesterday.

It was completely out of character for a squad that has fostered such a strong bond during an absorbing but ultimately futile attempt to chase down Sir Alex Ferguson’s side, the Scot no doubt lapping up the sight of his beaten foes squabbling while he basked in the glory of another title triumph.

Benitez, in trademark fashion, sought the positives from an unnecessary situation and rightly found one in praising the character of his team and their refusal to throw in the towel.

Such willingness to go toe-to-toe with United – if not each other – will stand the Anfield outfit in good stead for future title challenges.

And while they have no silverware to show for their sterling efforts this season, Liverpool have at least been racking up the landmarks.

This victory, sealed by goals in either half from Steven Gerrard and Dirk Kuyt, moved Benitez’s men on to a best-ever 83 points in a Premier League season and equalled the club record of 13 away wins in a league campaign which was set 104 years ago.