Manchester City must win on the final day to lift another Premier League title after Liverpool’s 2-1 comeback win at Southampton. Blues fans were hopeful that Nathan Redmond’s early goal would make their team’s final game, against Aston Villa on Sunday, irrelevant as they would have been crowned champions tonight without kicking a ball.
Even when Takumi Minamino equalised in the first half, it meant a draw would have left City only needing a point against Steven Gerrard’s side, presuming the Merseysiders beat Wolves on the same day. But Joel Matip headed in a strange goal to give Liverpool the victory that means anything less than a win for the Blues will leave it open for Jurgen Klopp’s team to grab the trophy - and stay on course for the Quadruple - at the death.
The result puts Riyad Mahrez ’s late penalty miss at West Ham on Sunday into focus - if that had gone in, City would still only need a point, and maybe not even that, as their goal difference remains better than that of their rivals by six. The fact it ended 2-2 at the London Stadium breathed new life into Liverpool’s challenge, and their response in winning at St Mary’s, three days after adding the FA Cup to the Carabao Cup they won earlier in the season, ensures a nervy final day at the Etihad Stadium.
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Liverpool fans are hoping that their old hero Gerrard, whose famous slip was a key moment in City overhauling Liverpool in the 2013-14 title race, could find redemption by leading his side to a result in Manchester that wins his old side the crown. That narrative is enhanced by the presence of former Liverpool men Philippe Coutinho and Danny Ings in the Villa side.
For City, winning it on the final day would be a fitting way to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Sergio Aguero’s famous goal that saw them clinch the victory they needed to hold off Manchester United.
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