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Then, as has often happened this season, we didn't get the rub of the green. We conceded a goal that took a massive deflection, and before we could come to terms with that we fell further behind to a goal of real quality.
That was it really. There was no way we were coming back from two goals behind against Liverpool. The last two goals can almost be discounted although yet again we fell foul of a poor assistant's decision when the fourth was allowed to stand despite being offside.
It was the day we were relegated. What had seemed to be a likely conclusion to the season was finally confirmed and yet at the end the players received the most incredible ovation from the Turf Moor crowd who had themselves turned in a memorable performance in the stands for the full ninety minutes.
I've been critical recently at the atmosphere in Turf Moor. Away from home it has continued to be good, and it was so evident again at Hull and Sunderland. But the sustained support yesterday from start to finish, and beyond, was just what it was like earlier in the season.
I should have been absolutely gutted leaving the Turf. I'd just seen us relegated, a first relegation in fifteen years, and yet I felt lifted by the whole experience both on and off the pitch.
Manager Brian Laws made just the one change from the side that lost at Sunderland. With David Nugent fit again he returned for Chris Eagles and so we had the same eleven on the pitch who had won at Hull two weeks ago.
Once again the Premier League had made some late changes to the referees due to Chris Foy being unable to take charge of the Birmingham derby. Martin Atkinson, who should have been at Burnley, was hurried down there and with Lee Mason stepping in at Goodison Park we were 'lumbered' with Phil Dowd who should have refereed the Everton v Fulham game.
After a quiet first few minutes the Clarets really got a grip on the game. We knew we had to win our last three games, an extremely tall order, and we went for it here with some considerable enthusiasm and quality.
There were times in the first half when our football was so good we made Liverpool, in need of the points themselves for different reasons, look very ordinary. We looked secure at the back where Michael Duff was again in outstanding form.
In the midfield, Wade Elliott was making those forward runs again whilst alongside him Jack Cork was playing as well as at any time during his loan at Turf Moor.
Then in front of them were our three forward players who were all on top form. David Nugent was causing Liverpool all sorts of problems coming in from the left, Steven Fletcher was showing some real quality in the middle and Martin Paterson was giving the visitors a torrid time on our right.
You just sensed a goal had to come, but time and again it eluded us. Fletcher placed a header over the bar, no mean effort given that his shirt was almost being ripped off. Poor Dowd, struggling to get up and down the pitch, was in no position to see it. Mind you, that didn't stop him when Tony Hibbert and Herman Hreidarsson went diving.
Probably our best chance came with half time approaching. Another right wing cross found Cork in space. He kept his header down but it was just too close to Pepe Reina and the chance was gone.
Scoreless at half time, but make no mistake we'd been the better side and the scoreline didn't do our performance justice. Surely if we could continue after the break we could go on and win it.
The second half started as the first half ended. Yet again Dowd missed a really good penalty shout, this time for handball, as we continued to take the game to the visitors.
Then disaster struck. Gerrard got in a shot from just outside the box. It took a massive deflection off Leon Cort leaving Brian Jensen absolutely helpless. He could only watch as the ball went into the corner to his right.
It was so undeserved, so cruel, but we've got used to that this season. Seven minutes later our Premier League dream was well and truly over and this time Gerrard showed real class with his finish.
I thought, ahead of the season, that we would concede goals of such quality that there would be little we could do about it. It hasn't happened in truth with probably Robbie Blake's against Manchester United one of the few coming into that category.
But when Alberto Aquiline slipped and the ball fell to Gerrard, his first time shot flew into the net. Jensen wasn't far away, but in truth two goalkeepers wouldn't have stopped it.
At that point it really was all over. There was a hushed silence around the ground but it didn't last very long. The Burnley fans got behind the team and it lifted the entire place.
We came close to pulling one back when Fletcher hit the post, even though there was a suspicion of hand ball. The constantly whinging Jamie Carragher thought so as he opted to berate Dowd without punishment.
Maxi Rodriguez got clear on the right to add a third and into stoppage time Ryan Babel added a fourth that was so clearly offside.
Burnley 0 Liverpool 4 - what a complete nonsense of a scoreline.
It's all ifs and buts right now. If only we'd got something against Portsmouth or Wolves. The truth is we didn't and we didn't get enough points to stay up. It's Championship football again for us next season.
Chairman Barry Kilby has said we are going down strong. We all need to remain strong to try and get back in this league. It's not all it's made out to be but it sure as hell is the place we want to be. We've tasted it, and I for one want it again.
There have certainly been some poor performances of late but there really could have been no complaints about the way we played yesterday. I just hope we can turn in another couple of good performances before we say our farewell. And it is farewell, not goodbye.
The teams were;
Burnley: Brian Jensen, Tyrone Mears, Leon Cort, Michael Duff, Danny Fox, Wade Elliott, Graham Alexander (Robbie Blake 64), Jack Cork, Martin Paterson (Chris Eagles 71), Steven Fletcher, David Nugent (Steven Thompson 77). Subs not used: Nicky Weaver, Steven Caldwell, Andre Bikey, Jay Rodriguez.
Yellow Cards: Jack Cork, Michael Duff.
Liverpool Pepe Reina, Glen Johnson, Jamie Carragher, Daniel Ayala, Daniel Agger (Lucas 78), Steven Gerrard (Daniel Pacheco 82), Javier Mascherano, Maxi Rodriguez, Alberto Aquilani, Ryan Babel, Dirk Kuyt (Yossi Benayoun 48). Subs not used: Diego Cavalieri, Sotirios Kyrgiakos, Philipp Degan, Nabil El Zhar.
Yellow Cards: Steven Gerrard.
Referee: Phil Dowd (Stoke-on-Trent).
Attendance: 21,553.