Perhaps it was a fitting finish for two of the most consistent teams in the history of English football.
Liverpool won, but so did Manchester City and Pep Guardiola's team became the first team to retain the Premier League title since Manchester United in 2009.
The final margin of the toughest of title races - City's 98 points to Liverpool's 97 - sounded more like a basketball score, but Pep Guardiola's men held on to their lead.
They defeated Brighton 4-1 to finish the season with 14 consecutive wins - no one else has ever ended in such emphatic fashion - and their fourth league title in seven years.
For Liverpool, the 29-year wait goes on despite their 2-0 win over Wolves.
They finished second for the fifth time since they were last champions in 1990. The third-highest points tally in English football was not enough.
For the Reds, the cruelty lay not just in the numbers but the circumstances.
They were top of the virtual standings for 21 minutes yesterday, a period in which they led and City conceded before scoring twice and going to win in emphatic fashion.
The champions made a nervous start. Brighton had scored only twice in nine games, but Glenn Murray headed in his 15th goal of the season from a corner.
It was the first goal City had conceded in five games and the first time they had been behind in the Premier League since January. But theirs was the response of champions as they trailed for only 83 seconds.
A FIGHT UNTIL THE END
It was the hardest and most satisfying Premier League ever. Liverpool were exceptional this year. We've got an incredible desire to overachieve and we're looking forward to the FA Cup final now.
VINCENT KOMPANY, Man City captain on a gruelling but ultimately rewarding season.
£422m
Cost of Manchester City's squad. Their most expensive buy is Algerian winger Riyad Mahrez, who last year signed for £60 million (S$106.3 million) and has been a benchwarmer before he scored in the 4-1 win over Brighton yesterday.
68.1%
City's league-high possession figure.
8
It is the eighth time that the Premier League race has gone down to the final day - and the team who started the day on top have always won the title.
7
Points City trailed Liverpool until they won 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium on Jan 3 in what remains the Reds' only league defeat this season.
Sergio Aguero has a track record of scoring on the final day, deciding the title in the 94th minute in 2012, and he was quick to level with a typically clinical finish after David Silva flicked Aymeric Laporte's pass into his path.
Riyad Mahrez was a surprise selection for just his fourth league start of this year, but Guardiola's choice was justified.
If City's record signing has been a bit-part player for the second half of the campaign, he repaid much of his £60 million (S$106.3 million) fee with two crucial contributions.
He took the corner that Laporte, previously City's biggest buy, headed in before the Algerian delivered a classy goal himself.
Mahrez's October penalty miss at Anfield had threatened to be the defining moment of his season.
Instead, it may be remembered for the shot that nestled in the top corner at the Amex Stadium in the 63rd minute. Thereafter, Ilkay Gundogan curled in a fourth.
City have 198 points in two seasons, including 55 out of 57 in the first half of 2017-18 and 54 from 57 in the second period of this campaign.
They are remarkable statistics and Guardiola, who won his eighth league title in 10 seasons, has warned they will get even better.
The lead had changed hands 32 times in the title race as City and Liverpool had traded wins.
In a way, it did again as, amid false reports in the crowd that Brighton were 2-0 up, Liverpool led against Wolves when Trent Alexander-Arnold's cross took a deflection off Willy Boly and fell to Sadio Mane.
The same pair combined for the second, Mane, with a hint of offside, heading his 26th goal of the season, 22 in the Premier League.
Perhaps even more remarkably, it was a 13th league assist for right-back Alexander-Arnold, a record for a defender.
Virgil van Dijk headed against the bar, while Wolves' Matt Doherty struck the upright. Alisson saved twice from Diogo Jota as Wolves, the scourge of the elite with six wins against the top six, almost equalised before Mane's second.
It took the winger level with teammate Mohamed Salah and Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the scoring stakes. It got Liverpool two shares of the Golden Boot, but that was not the silverware they wanted.
How the final day unfolded
17TH MIN
ADVANTAGE LIVERPOOL
Sadio Mane puts the Reds 1-0 up against Wolves while it is still goal-less at Brighton.
27TH MIN
ADVANTAGE LIVERPOOL
Brighton take a shock 1-0 lead thanks to Glenn Murray's near-post header from a corner. But 83 seconds later...
28TH MIN
ADVANTAGE LIVERPOOL
Huge sigh of relief from City fans as Sergio Aguero equalises.
38TH MIN
ADVANTAGE MAN CITY
Towering header by Aymeric Laporte puts City 2-1 ahead and back in control of their destiny.
63RD MIN
ADVANTAGE MAN CITY
After a wonderful piece of skill by Riyad Mahrez, the champions are 3-1 up and have one hand on the trophy.
72ND MIN
ADVANTAGE MAN CITY
Stunning free kick from Ilkay Gundogan. The long wait goes on for Liverpool.
Gylfi Sigurdsson deepened Cardiff City's Premier League relegation fears with two well-taken goals in Everton's 3-0 victory in the Welsh capital on Tuesday. A first half low on quality was illuminated by one flowing move in the 41st minute which ended with Sigurdsson firing low into the corner after being picked out by Seamus Coleman.
Sigurdsson double helps Everton sink Cardiff
Experienced Liverpool making a big statement, says Jurgen Klopp. India World Cup team; Experienced Liverpool making a big statement, says Jurgen Klopp Football greats Cristiano Ronaldo,
Experienced Liverpool making a big statement, says Klopp
Read Kahoot! blog for latest product news, articles on the future of learning, tips from teachers, as well as exciting new games!
Depay fires Dutch past Belarus in Euro 2020 qualifying opener March 23, 2019 ROTTERDAM, Netherlands (AFP) - Memphis Depay dazzled for the Netherlands with a brace and two assists as they cruised past Belarus 4-0 in their opening Euro 2020 qualifier early yesterday despite having to play the final 20 minutes with 10 men.
Depay fires Dutch past Belarus in Euro 2020 qualifying opener
worldsoccertalk.com/2019/03/21/depay-fires-dutch-past-belarus-in-euro-2020-qualifying-opener/
Depay fires Dutch past Belarus in Euro 2020 qualifying opener AFP March 21, 2019 AFP No Comments Rotterdam (Netherlands) (AFP) - Memphis Depay dazzled for the Netherlands with a brace and two assists as they cruised past Belarus 4-0 in their opening Euro 2020 qualifier on Thursday despite having to play the final 20 minutes with 10 men.
Depay fires Dutch past Belarus in Euro 2020 qualifying opener
Rio Ferdinand has been linked with the director of football role at Manchester United. I'll be discussing this and much more on the slowest growing Manchester United YouTube channel in the
How David De Gea went from 11st liability to the - The Sun
PARMA, Italy (Reuters) - Fabio Quagliarella became Italy's oldest goalscorer as his double helped Roberto Mancini's rejuvenated side thrash 10-man Liechtenstein 6-0 in their second Euro 2020
Football: Veteran Quagliarella helps rejuvenated Italy thrash
Manchester City to play pre-season game in Japan for the first time as club announces friendly against sister side Yokohama F. Marinos. Manchester City will make a first visit to Japan this coming
Soccer Football - Premier League - West Ham United v Watford - London Stadium, London, Britain - December 22, 2018 Watford's Troy Deeney celebrates scoring their first goal REUTERS/Eddie Keogh
Football: Deeney and Deulofeu seal Watford win at West Ham
Feb 12, 2019 · Gordon Banks, England's 1966 World Cup winning goalkeeper, has died aged 81. A statement released by his family via one of his former clubs Stoke City said: "It is with great sadness that we
Gordon Banks dies: tributes paid to England World Cup-winning
Search for missing Cardiff City's Emiliano Sala resumes in
Ronaldo could face ex-team United in ICC S'pore. Published. 2 hours ago. This year's ICC in Singapore is set to take place at the National Stadium over the July 19-21 weekend and will feature
Football: Juventus superstar Cristiano Ronaldo could face
Premier League: Liverpool Back On Top With Win Over Tottenham, Chelsea Defeat Cardiff City Updated: 31 March 2019 23:09 IST A 2-1 win over Cardiff City keeps sixth placed Chelsea in contention for
Cardiff City v Chelsea betting preview: Free Premier League
watch champions league live streaming pc
watch live soccer game today
watch champions league draw live streaming free
watch champions league live streaming juventus
watch soccer aid live stream
apps to watch live streaming soccer
watch coppa america live streaming quality
watch champions league live streaming live free
watch live streaming of premier league football
watch champions league live streaming putlockers
watch soccer online free streaming live app
watch coppa america live streaming india
watch soccer online free streaming live world cup
watch champions league live streaming xfinity
watch coppa america live streaming mexico
watch champions league live streaming crictime
watch coppa america live streaming in india
watch live streaming soccer games
watch coppa america live streaming hd free
watch real madrid vs juventus live streaming of champions league
watch coppa america live streaming zip
watch champions league live streaming now free
watch coppa america live streaming direct
watch karnataka premier league live streaming
watch champions league live streaming now
watch live stream soccer games online free
watch coppa america live streaming live free
watch coppa america live streaming vf
watch soccer online free streaming live bbc
watch soccer live streaming xbox one
watch usa soccer live stream online
watch coppa america live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch barclays premier league live streaming online free
khan tv pw watch indian premier league 2018 live streaming
watch live soccer game barcelona vs real madrid
watch premier league live streaming quality
cpl 2018 live streaming watch caribbean premier league t20 2018
watch the premier league live stream
watch arsenal southampton premier league live stream
how to watch uefa champions league live streaming
watch soccer online free streaming live arabic
free live football streams watch live streaming tv premier league
watch premier league live streaming live free
watch soccer games online free streaming live
watch premier league live streaming free
watch coppa america live streaming espn
super soccer tv live streaming napoli vs juventus
watch champions league live streaming manchester united
watch epl live streaming on iphone
watch champions league live streaming malaysia
watch soccer live streaming juventus vs manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming now
watch coppa america live streaming gratis
watch champions league live streaming zee tv
watch champions league live streaming live
super soccer tv live streaming persib
watch champions league live stream gratis
watch soccer online free streaming live iphone
watch coppa america live streaming xfinity
watch soccer online free streaming live manchester united
watch sky sports premier league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming yify
watch premier league matches live streaming
watch premier league live streaming juventus
watch the champions league live stream
watch champions league draw live streaming
watch champions league live streaming match
watch soccer online free streaming live canada
watch soccer live streaming juventus
watch champions league soccer live streaming
watch premier league live in stream
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online youtube
watch coppa america live streaming zee5
watch soccer online free streaming live in english
watch soccer games live stream free app
watch soccer saturday live stream
watch live english premier league online free streaming
watch coppa america live streaming dailymotion
watch coppa america live streaming total sportek
watch coppa america live streaming ufc
watch coppa america live streaming youtube
watch sky sports premier league online free streaming live
watch uefa champions league live streaming youtube
soccer tv live net stream
watch soccer live streaming reddit
watch champions league live streaming espn
watch soccer live - live football streaming
watch champions league final live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming spain
#leomessi #manchestercity #oasisofficial #arsenalfantv #footballdubai #mensnightout #klopp #afcnews #oasisandbeatles #ronaldo #mancity #lfc #mancityvsliverpool #Barcelona #ignoranza #oasisengland #liverpool #manunited #cappucino #valcea #frasirap #messi #champion #football #zinedinezidane #24x7 #salah #calciatoribrutti #Vip45 #433skills #lovefootball #vandijk #beatifulgame #england #thomasmeunier #Sunday #BMW #freekicks #bundesliga #Fcb #footballmemes #romania #hoffenhiem #goodday #thebeatles #crossfit #acmilan #cristianoronaldo #noelgallagher #footballfans
Keine Kommentare:
Kommentar veröffentlichen