Manchester City pip Liverpool to Premier League title in heart-stopping finale

Manchester, UK - Manchester City staged a sensational comeback from 2-0 down to retain the English Premier League title with a dramatic 3-2 win over Aston Villa on Sunday.

Ilkay Gündogan and his teammates go wild after completing their comeback against Aston Villa.
Ilkay Gündogan and his teammates go wild after completing their comeback against Aston Villa.  © REUTERS

Needing to win to be assured of holding off Liverpool, City were in danger of blowing it as Matty Cash and former Reds star Philippe Coutinho struck at the Etihad Stadium.

Yet Pep Guardiola’s side showed all their champion quality to rally with Ilkay Gündogan coming off the bench to score twice either side of a superb Rodri strike in a mind-blowing five-minute spell.

City had known that second-placed Liverpool, trailing by just a point, could overtake them with victory over Wolves and there were times in the afternoon when they lived on their nerves.

Alex Morgan to play for Team USA in Women's Gold Cup after Mia Fishel injury
Soccer Alex Morgan to play for Team USA in Women's Gold Cup after Mia Fishel injury

When they trailed by two, Liverpool were being held 1-1 and news of another goal at Anfield at that stage, could have been a hammer blow.

Yet in remarkable final-day drama, City cast off the shackles of a miserable first-half display to turn the game around and make Liverpool’s eventual 3-1 just a statistic.

Fans poured onto the field at full time to ecstatically celebrate a fourth championship in five years.

Liverpool so near, yet so far

Jürgen Klopp consoles his players after they come up short in the title race.
Jürgen Klopp consoles his players after they come up short in the title race.  © REUTERS

The afternoon ended up being a crushing disappointment for Liverpool, although Jürgen Klopp's team can still win their third trophy of the season on Saturday when they face Real Madrid in the Champions League final in Paris.

On Sunday, though, they struggled with the emotions of an occasion which bordered on the hysterical at times.

The Reds trailed to an early Pedro Neto goal, before Sadio Mane equalized, but it took until the 84th minute for Mohamed Salah to finally put them in front. Andy Robertson rounded off the scoring soon after, but by that time, Liverpool had already had the miracle dangled before its eyes before being cruelly snatched away again.

Anfield Road gave its heroes a proud send-off as fans now turn their attention to next weekend's big occasion in Paris.

Cover photo: REUTERS

More on Soccer: