Man City retain crown after dramatic finish
Agencies
MANCHESTER: Manchester City retained the Premier League title in the most dramatic of fashion as they hauled themselves back from 2-0 down to beat Aston Villa 3-2 with three goals in the final 15 minutes on Sunday.
Ilkay Gundogan came off the bench to score twice with Rodri also on target as Pep Guardiola’s men held off Liverpool’s title charge to seal the title by a point.
In scenes reminiscent of the first of City’s now six league titles in 11 seasons when Sergio Aguero scored a 93rd minute winner to deny Manchester
United the title on goal difference, the champions produced a remarkable comeback at the Etihad. Goals from Matty Cash and former Liverpool favourite Philippe Coutinho looked set to gift the Reds the title.
Jurgen Klopp’s men did their job by also coming from a goal down to beat Wolves 3-1 at Anfield, but City’s rescue act ensured Liverpool’s bid for an unprecedented quadruple is over. Gundogan started the comeback as he headed in Raheem Sterling’s cross at the back post. Rodri then side-footed home from outside the box and Gundogan completed the fightback by tapping home Kevin De
Bruyne’s cross at the back post.
Guardiola said before the game he wanted no repeat of Aguero’s legendary late strike a decade ago. But the Catalan was the most relieved man in Manchester as he sealed the 10th league title of his coaching career in just 13 seasons.
Fans swarmed onto the pitch to celebrate and the crossbar at the goal where City scored their goals was snapped under the weight of supporters sitting on it.
Liverpool win, end 2nd
Like the winners, Liverpool too came from a goal down to beat the Wolves 3-1 but it still wasn not enough to earn them their second Premier League title as they finished second.
After going behind to an early Pedro Neto tap in, goals from
Sadio Mane and late strikes from Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson gave the home fans some cheer even if their fate depended on Manchester City.
They finish the season on 92 points, one behind City for the second time in three years but with a League Cup and FA Cup trophy in their cabinet.
Tottenham seal CL spot
Tottenham Hotspur secured Champions League qualification on the final day of the Premier League season by thrashing relegated Norwich City 5-0. Spurs finish on 71 points, two ahead of Arsenal in fifth who will play in next season’s Europa League.