Premier League
EPL: WILL LIVERPOOL TOPPLE CITY AT FINISH POINT?
BY MUYIWA AKINTUNDE
Finally, the last day of the frenetic English Premier League 2018/19 season is here!
And for the eighth time in the EPL history, the title will be decided on the last day. On the seven previous occasions, the team on top of the table going into the last Matchday won the league. Manchester City have a point advantage over Liverpool.
Liverpool themselves were the last team to blow an advantage on the last day of the league in the old English Football First Division era when Arsenal won 2-0 at Anfield to lift the title in 1989.
This has been an extraordinary season for Liverpool during which they reach the UEFA Champions League final for the second time in a row, and in contention for the EPL title.
With the least number of defeats – only one to Manchester City – in the nine-month-long campaign and the third highest points tally in EPL history, the Reds of Anfield would not have needed to fight from a point behind City but for a series of draw games at a point in the term.
The race has been fierce between both sides, City winning their last 13 domestic league fixtures and Liverpool successful in eight of their last games. They have both not lost in the league since January.
Disappointed by their ousting by Tottenham in the Champions League quarter-finals, Pep Guardiola’s squad have their fate in their hands to win the next most important trophy. They know that lifting the League Cup – and another crown through the FA Cup – will not be enough to please their fans at the end of the season.
Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool also have all to play for. It will be so disappointing if such an impressive side end the season without a trophy, although they are 90 minutes away from Champions League glory and can still topple City at the finish line.
Liverpool have not won the EPL in its present format which started in 1992. They were last champions of England 29 years ago winning the then English Football League First Division beating Aston Villa to lift their 18th domestic league title.
The Reds came closest five seasons ago in the Luis Suárez era pushing Manchester City to the wire but finishing two points behind the Citizens. Then, Liverpool had led the league two weeks to the end but a loss and a draw in their last three matches, plus City claiming their final five matches gave the Manchester club a two-point advantage in the end.
Manchester City will remember the 2011/12 season, the last time the title was decided on the last day. By the final game on May 13, 2012, City and Manchester United of Sir Alex Ferguson were deadlocked on 86 points with the former having goal difference advantage – plus 63 against plus 55.
Roberto Mancini’s City played host to Queens Park Rangers, while United were away to Sunderland. Twenty minutes into the game at the Stadium of Light, Wayne Rooney had shot United ahead and on top of the league table. Twenty-nine minutes later, Pablo Zabaleta scored to get City back on the tabletop, only for Djibril Cisse to stun City nine minutes later and level scores, while United maintained their lead over Sunderland.
Despite going one man down with Joey Barton earning a red card, QPR shot ahead of City through Jamie Mackie in the 66th minutes. United fans went wild as their side maintained their one-nil result at Sunderland and were therefore three points clear of City going into the last 24 minutes of regulation time.
It was not until added time that City turned things around, first with Edin Dzeko levelling up in two minutes of added time. United’s match at the Stadium of Light ended ahead of City’s but their players and fans had to concentrate on the drama at the Etihad Stadium.
Sergio Leonel Agüero then pulled the trigger in five minutes of added time with perhaps the last kick of the match to deliver City’s first EPL as the club last won the then English Football League First Division in 1968.
For the other teams, the battle for Champions League places is virtually over. Whatever happens at the King Power Stadium against Leicester City, Chelsea are already in the top four, and even have the opportunity of returning to the elite European club competition through the Europa if they beat Arsenal in the final on May 29 in Baku.
It looks straightforward for Spurs as well ending up among the top four. But it’s not all over as their three points and plus eight goal advantage over fifth placed Arsenal can still be cancelled this last day. Should that seemingly impossible happen, Tottenham will only feature in the Champions League next season if they win it on June 1 in Madrid (versus Liverpool).
For Arsenal, a fifth placed finish is not even guaranteed as Manchester City are only a point behind. Only victory over Chelsea in Baku will return the Gunners to the Champions League since the 2016/17 season.
If they end up in fifth and fail to win the Europa Cup, Arsenal will feature in Europa League at the group stage only if Manchester City win the FA Cup, otherwise it will be Watford (City’s FA Cup final opponents) who will be in the group stage and Arsenal drop to the second qualifying round, which will be their starting point should they come sixth and not win Europa Cup.
United are guaranteed Europa League Football next season – either in the group stage (if they topple Arsenal at No 5 and City win the FA Cup) – or the second qualifying phase if they end up sixth or fifth plus Watford lifting the FA Cup.
Watford will only feature in the Europa League if they beat Manchester City at Wembley in the FA Cup final on Saturday.
The seventh place in the EPL, which goes to Wolves, is also significant. If City claim the FA Cup, the Hornets will start from the second round qualifying round but will be elevated to the group stage should honours go to Wolves with the sixth placed team dropping to the second round qualifiers.
This is one of the rare season closing day that there will be no relegation battle. Huddersfield Town, Fulham and Cardiff City are all playing their last EPL fixtures having already been relegated.
The fixtures…
- Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester City
- Burnley v Arsenal
- Crystal Palace v AFC Bournemouth
- Fulham v Newcastle United
- Leicester City v Chelsea
- Liverpool v Wolverhampton Wanderers
- Manchester United v Cardiff City
- Southampton v Huddersfield Town
- Tottenham v Everton
- Watford v West Ham United (all 3pm)
Liverpool will have to wait for a few more days to be crowned Premier League champions despite a 1-0 victory at Leicester City after Arsenal kept their slender hopes just about alive with a 4-0 romp at 10-man Ipswich Town on Sunday.
Trent Alexander-Arnold came off the bench to score Liverpool’s winner in the 76th minute at the King Power Stadium to restore their 13-point lead at the top with five games left.
While Liverpool can almost taste a record-equalling 20th English crown, Leicester’s defeat confirmed their relegation back to the Championship after just one season.
The Midlands club have now been relegated from England’s top flight a record 13 times.
Chelsea secured a massive win in their bid to qualify for the Champions League as they came from behind to beat Fulham 2-1 at Craven Cottage with Pedro Neto scoring in stoppage time.
The win pushed Chelsea above Nottingham Forest in to fifth place, the last spot for qualification to the Champions League, although Forest play at Tottenham Hotspur on Monday.
Chelsea have 57 points from 33 games, two behind third-placed Newcastle United and one behind Manchester City. Forest and Aston Villa are level with Chelsea on 57 points.
Wolverhampton Wanderers guaranteed their safety as they beat Manchester United 1-0 at Old Trafford. Pablo Sarabia’s stunning free kick wrapped up a fifth successive league win, the first time Wolves have achieved that in the top flight since 1970.
Liverpool were wasteful at Leicester with numerous chances going begging and Mohamed Salah suffering a frustrating afternoon including hitting both posts with an early shot.
Salah hit the woodwork again moments before the ball came out to Alexander-Arnold who fired a left-footed shot through the crowd to give his side the points — ripping off his shirt and celebrating wildly with the travelling fans.
“We just keep going, mentally we’re really strong,” manager Arne Slot, whose side could be crowned champions if Arsenal lose at home to Crystal Palace on Wednesday, told Sky Sports.
“They enjoy playing football and it helps when you are playing for something special. Today (Alexander-Arnold) knows when it matters most he can just bring a bit more which is something all the top, top players have.”
DISTANT SECOND
If Arsenal avoid defeat by Palace, Slot’s side will seal the title if they beat Tottenham Hotspur at home next Sunday.
“We will focus on Tottenham and looking forward again to a home game and I think the stadium will be full,” Slot, who can become the first Dutch manager to win the English title, said. “It’s a nice game to look forward to.”
Liverpool have 79 points with Arsenal a distant second on 66. Arsenal may have their eyes now on a Champions League semi-final against Paris St Germain, but they showed against Ipswich they will not hand over the title to Liverpool.
Leandro Trossard opened the scoring early on and Gabriel Martinelli made it 2-0 after a delightful flick by Mikel Merino.
Ipswich were reduced to 10 men before halftime as Leif Davis crudely raked his studs down the back of Bukayo Saka’s calf and the second half was academic.
Trossard grabbed his second in the 69th minute and Ethan Nwaneri added a late fourth to leave Ipswich stuck in 18th place on 21 points. They will be relegated if they drop points again or 17th-placed West Ham United pick up one more point from their remaining five games.
Chelsea were heading for a damaging defeat at neighbours Fulham as the hosts led with Alex Iwobi’s 20th-minute goal.
Substitute Tyrique George equalised with an instinctive shot in the 83rd minute, his first Premier League goal, before winger Neto swivelled and unleashed a thunderous strike in stoppage time to send the away fans wild.
Manchester United reached the Europa League semi-final with an astonishing comeback win against French club Olympique Lyonnais on Thursday but their Premier League woes returned against Wolves.
They are in 14th place and have now lost eight Premier League home games this season, their most defeats at Old Trafford in a league campaign since 1962-63.
“Wolves scored in the only opportunity they had. we had many chances, and we didn’t score. If you don’t score goals, you are not going to win games,” manager Ruben Amorim said.
-Reuters
Egyptian outlet, Ahram, has reported that Mohamed Salah has signed a new contract with Liverpool, extending his stay at Anfield beyond the 2024-25 season as he prepares for what could be the final chapter of a storied career with the club.
While the terms of the agreement were not disclosed, British media reports indicate the 32-year-old forward has signed a two-year extension, keeping him at the club until at least 2027.
Salah, who joined Liverpool from AS Roma in 2017, has become a modern-day icon at Anfield.
The Egyptian international has scored 243 goals in 394 appearances—third on the club’s all-time scorers list—and has helped the Reds secure seven major trophies, including the Premier League and Champions League titles.
“I had my best years here,” Salah told the club’s website. “Hopefully it’s going to be 10. I signed because I believe we can still win big trophies together.”
He has maintained his prolific form this season, scoring 32 goals and providing 22 assists in 45 appearances across all competitions. His 27 Premier League goals currently lead the division.
During his time with Liverpool, Salah has won the Premier League Golden Boot three times, been named the PFA Players’ Player of the Year twice, and claimed two FWA Footballer of the Year awards.
Now entering the latter stages of his career, Salah remains focused on adding more silverware to his collection and further cementing his legacy at Liverpool.
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Leicester City’s Jeremy Monga, who became the second-youngest Premier League player when he made his senior debut in Monday’s 3-0 loss to Newcastle United, had to wear a blank shirt because it is sponsored by an online cryptocurrency gaming platform.
Britain’s Gambling Act 2005, which underwent a review in 2020, prohibits players under 18 from wearing kits displaying gambling sponsors. Monga, an England U16 international, made his senior debut at 15 years 271 days old.
Arsenal’s Ethan Nwaneri remains the youngest Premier League player in history, having debuted in the competition when he was 90 days younger than Monga.
Leicester, who suffered an eighth straight loss in the league without scoring a goal, are 19th in the standings, 15 points below the safety zone.
-Reuters
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