Manchester City retained their Premiership title at Liverpool’s expense by beating Aston Villa 3-2 in a breathless final day on Sunday after falling 2-0 with fifteen minutes to go.
The Reds unsuccessfully dominated Wolverhampton (3-1) after conceding their first goal after 3 minutes. They fall a point behind their rivals after being 12 down at the start of 2022. With a week to go before the C1 final against Real Madrid, they bid farewell to their dream of a foursome after their FA Cup and LaLiga wins.
Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City had always won the games of the 38th match day and was therefore the favorite before the kick-off of the last round. But just like an exciting season, the last day, which could only bring happiness between two teams that would have become great champions, was full of excitement, tension and contrasting emotions.
In fact, City are almost a miracle, a bit like ten years ago when Sergio Agüero gave them their first league title with an injury-time goal against QPR (3-2).
City didn’t go far ahead in the 69th minute when Aston Villa, coached by Steven Gerrard, the Reds’ emblematic captain in the 2000s, made it 2-0 through goals from Matty Cash (37′) and Brazilian Philippe Countinho. another former Anfield Road (69th).
Salah and his co-scorer
Pep Guardiola’s men have struggled to threaten Robin Olsen’s cages so far.
But Gündogan, who came on just before the Villans’ second goal, changed the course of the game. The German reduced the gap (2-1, 76′) before Rodri equalized two minutes later.
The Etihad definitely capsized when Gündogan scored the winning goal (81st) that put the Citizens out of Liverpool’s reach.
A cruel epilogue for the Reds who believed in it from afar.
Without Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah, who were rested at the start, they were surprised by Pedro Neto, well served by Raul Jimenez (0-1, 3′).
Sadio Mané quickly made it possible to catch up (1-1, 24th), but it was only in the last ten minutes that Salah, who came into play in the 58th minute, gave the lead (2-1, 84th) and Andy Robertson increased it distance (3:1, 89th).
They will now be looking for a hat-trick in the cups, having lifted the FA and League Cups, when they take on Real Madrid in the Champions League final in Paris in six days’ time.
Behind them, Chelsea secured third place by beating relegated Watford (2-1) and it was Tottenham who won the fourth ticket to the C1 by beating bottom Norwich (5-0).
Double goalscorer Son Heung-min (4-0, 70′ and 5-0, 75′) ended the season as top scorer, tied with Salah (23 goals).
United stick to the C3
Arsenal, 5th, will have to settle for the Europa League despite their huge win over Everton (5-1) who secured mid-week holdouts.
Manchester United will also go to C3 with any luck.
After a 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace, the Red Devils stayed sixth thanks to a defeat by West Ham in Brighton when they led 1-0 through a goal from Michail Antonio just before half-time.
The Hammers play in the Europa League Conference.
Bottom of the table, Leeds narrowly secured their place in the top flight.
On the same line as Burnley before that day but with a much worse goal difference, Marcelo Bielsa’s former club won 2-1 in Brentford thanks to a penalty by ex-Rennais Raphinha (58′) and a goal by Jack Harrisson after extra time ( 90′ + 4), while Brentford had equalized through Sergi Canos (78′).
At the same time, Burnley could do nothing at home against Newcastle and a brace from Callum Wilson, author of 1-0 in the 20th, on penalties, then 2-0 in the 61st, despite Maxwel Cornet’s reduction in the score 20 minutes from time.