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.
Manager Maurizio Sarri says Chelsea's slow starts to the second half are becoming a "big problem", after they beat Slavia Prague to reach the Europa League semi-finals.
Spain's top flight football league La Liga said on Tuesday that several football players had been arrested as part of an investigation it instigated for suspected match fixing. At least two of the
Growing match-fixing probe in tennis snares more players
Yorke, 47, admitted: "Of course this is the biggest test for Ole so far. "Spurs have got a great side. But this United team is playing without fear now, so they should have no fear going to
Key quotes: The Ole Gunnar Solskjaer philosophy | Manchester
May 13, 2019 · Manchester City have retained their title through a manager persuading players to reach into areas of unexplored potential put four past Brighton, they were providing the climax to the run of
Liverpool's great hope is that Manchester City are not only
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS 0 LIVERPOOL 2. December 21, 2018 / 10:43 PM / 4 months ago. UPDATE 2-Soccer-Liverpool seal Christmas top spot as Salah and Van Dijk sink Wolves
Salah and Van Dijk seal Christmas top spot for Liverpool
Lakers coach Luke Walton called out several players for their selfish approach Saturday, leading to a heated exchange with some veterans, sources told ESPN. people are always emotional after a
Three-pointers: Takeaways from the Rockets' loss to the
Liverpool seal Christmas top spot as Salah and Van Dijk sink Wolves. Liverpool seal Christmas top spot as Salah and Van Dijk sink Wolves Liverpool seal Christmas top spot as Salah and Van Dijk
UPDATE 2-Soccer-Liverpool seal Christmas top spot as Salah
PARIS • Brazil and Paris Saint-Germain forward Neymar yesterday denied raping a woman who accused him of sexually assaulting her at a Paris hotel, with his father claiming he was the victim of
Neymar denies raping woman in Paris luxury hotel, dad calls
Weary feet to blame for England's fall, Football News & Top
A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on February 12, 2019, with the headline 'United will attack PSG, vows Solskjaer'. Print Edition | Subscribe.
United will attack PSG, vows Solskjaer - theworldnews.net
Karim Benzema shot Real Madrid to within two points of La Liga leaders Barcelona with the winner in a scrappy 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano, while countryman Antoine Griezmann fired a brace in a 3-2
Real Madrid, Atletico close in on Barcelona | Football News
Neymar 'cried for two days' after new foot injury | Philstar.com
watch uefa champions league live streaming youtube
watch soccer online free streaming live uk
watch coppa america live streaming spain
watch champions league final online free live streaming
watch champions league live streaming canada
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming free online
watch usa soccer live stream online
watch premier league live streaming online - soccer portal
watch coppa america live streaming jamaica
watch premier league live streaming free
watch coppa america live streaming world
watch coppa america live streaming video
watch coppa america live streaming putlockers
watch english premier league live streaming free
watch coppa america live streaming free online
watch soccer live streaming reddit
watch hd soccer live streaming free
watch coppa america live streaming mobile
where to watch champions league live streaming
watch coppa america live streaming ronaldo 7
watch soccer live stream app
watch coppa america live streaming manchester united
watch uefa champions league quarter final draw live streaming
watch champions league live streaming xbox one
watch soccer am live stream
watch coppa america live streaming nz
watch soccer live streaming qatar vs philippines
watch coppa america live streaming cricfree
watch live streaming soccer games
watch karnataka premier league live streaming
watch live streaming of premier league football
watch soccer aid live stream online
watch coppa america live streaming zip
watch coppa america live streaming india
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online india
watch coppa america live streaming australia
watch premier league live streaming youtube
super soccer tv live streaming napoli vs juventus
watch iceland soccer live stream
watch coppa america live streaming espn
watch coppa america live streaming portugal
watch the premier league live stream
watch premier league live streaming jamaica
watch coppa america live streaming qatar
watch premier league live streaming xfinity
watch coppa america live streaming uk
watch uefa champions league draw live streaming
watch premier league stream reddit
watch champions league live streaming xfinity
live ipl live streaming- watch indian premier league 2013 online
watch coppa america live streaming in india
watch soccer online free streaming live liverpool
watch coppa america live streaming gratis
watch coppa america live streaming english
watch coppa america live streaming xfinity
watch coppa america live streaming hd
watch champions league live streaming zee tv
watch soccer live stream hunter
watch soccer online free streaming live bbc
watch soccer live football streaming - ronaldo7.net
watch soccer online free live streaming livetv ru
watch champions league live streaming now free
watch coppa america live streaming xbox
watch champions league live streaming juventus
watch soccer online free streaming live no registration
watch coppa america live streaming sctv
watch coppa america live streaming sub eng
watch soccer live streaming xfinity
super soccer tv live streaming indonesia
watch soccer online free streaming live manchester united
watch coppa america live streaming eng
watch soccer live streaming zimbabwe
watch coppa america live streaming vf
watch live streaming soccer online espn3
watch soccer live streaming juventus
watch soccer online free streaming live south africa
watch champions league live streaming match
watch champions league live streaming vf
free live football streams watch live streaming tv premier league
watch soccer games online free streaming live
where to watch premier league live streaming
watch champions league soccer live streaming
watch soccer live streaming kenya vs ethiopia
free watch soccer live streaming
watch uefa champions league live streaming free online
watch soccer online free streaming live youtube
watch sky sports premier league online free streaming live
watch sky sports premier league live stream
watch coppa america live streaming online
watch epl live streaming free no sign up
watch usa soccer live stream
watch premier league live streaming quality
#messi #goal #battuteepiche #fcbarcelona #oasisengland #lionelmessi #footballmeme #GarageCafeDxb #firmino #BMW #comico #ignoranza #henderson #soccermemes #juventus #jadwalbolahariini #liverpoolfans #commento #realmadridcf #coffeebreak #livesports #commentimemorabili #rockstar #Suarez #bestshishacafedubai #mane #nutmeg #manchestercity #manchestercity #Vip45 #manchestercity #girlsniteout #frasirap #sixtimes #sunderlandafc #realmadrid #mensnightout #24x7 #soccer #champion #ballondor #soccerbible #oasis #hotcoffee #england #klopp #Celtic #boxing #neymar #liverpoolcity #salah #noelgallagher #liverpool #gym #insegreto #bayervshoffenheim #watchlive #conference #mancity #manunited #arsenalfantv #barcelona #pagani #roadtrip #liverpool #seriea #fut #beatifulgame #sumbertv #chocolate #lfc #league1 #comics #footballstreaming #championship #romania #Barca #ucl #livestreams #realmadrid #kroenkeout #freekicks #midnight #leicestercity #Fcb #oasisandbeatles #paulmcartney #golf
0 Comments