THE TV companies spend a lot of money on the rights for the Premier League with the expectation that a title race will still be unresolved by at least April.

Now their paying subscribers may be wondering whether their monthly bill is worth it after this dismal mess of a season – and the trundle of a three months that await us with so little suspense at the top or bottom of the league.

All around the country dogs are going to be exhausted by their extended walks on Sundays; coffee shops will sell more second lattes and B&Q can expect an increase in sales for DIY tools. That ceiling you have been meaning to paint for ten years will finally get licked.

Sure, Liverpool can be crowned champions already, but they take the prize as probably the Premier League’s most basic winners in a season of glaring overall weakness.

Unless we decide that Jurgen Klopp didn’t know what he was doing all along, then it’s just the same players that failed for Liverpool last season winning the league this time. This must mean their success is purely hinged on everybody getting worse, rather than Liverpool improving – as there were no new signings.

It’s a theory that bears true. Manchester City found out that they were much shorter on ideas than they thought once Rodri got injured and Haaland missed a few.

Chelsea are still grappling with a giant squad but a wafer defence and keeper troubles.

Manchester United and Spurs flirted with relegation, while Newcastle and Villa can be the league’s most exciting teams one minute and a shambles the next.

That only left Arsenal, who had already shot themselves in a foot by buying endless full backs instead of a striker – a problem compounded by injuries. The squad management at the Emirates was appalling from the summer onwards, just when the Gunners should have been graduating into stronger title contenders. So… Liverpool win by process of elimination.

They are not particularly exciting to watch and they’d get battered by Arsenal’s Invincibles or City’s Centurions But being the least worst is something, so give them their medals.