Klopp can still hope
Man City makes title fight exciting again
05/16/2022, 08:15 am
Manchester City surprisingly opens the door to the English championship again for Liverpool FC. The defending champion is catching up from a significant deficit, but misses the great chance of a victory that will probably bring the title.
Defending champions Manchester City dropped points in the exciting final sprint of the Premier League, but go into the last matchday as the front runner. At West Ham United, coach Pep Guardiola’s team managed to draw 2-2 (0-2) after a two-goal deficit at half-time. Riyad Mahrez missed a penalty.
A goal from Jack Grealish (49th minute) and an own goal from West Ham’s Vladimir Coufal (69th) saved City at least a point in London. Earlier, Jarrod Bowen (24/45) gave the strong Hammers, where captain Mark Noble played his last game after 18 years at the club, the lead.
In the closing stages, Man City were awarded a penalty after a foul on Gabriel Jesus in the penalty area – and after the referee reviewed the scene again. But Mahrez missed City’s chance to win. Lukasz Fabianski saved his shot.
Man City goes into the last game of the season on Sunday and the long-distance duel with second-placed Liverpool FC with 90 points. Coach Jürgen Klopp’s team, which won the FA Cup on Saturday, will only play the penultimate match day at FC Southampton on Tuesday and can score 89 points with a win there.
Chance of historic four-pack intact
This would preserve the historic chance of reaching the big league final: never before in the great history of Liverpool FC has a coach been able to win four titles in one season. With the FA Cup, Klopp’s ensemble, which Liverpool legend Michael Owen recently ennobled as “the best team I’ve ever seen in a red jersey”, won their second title of the season. Only the championship and the Champions League are still up for grabs. It’s the important titles.
Liverpool and Manchester City have been in a thrilling race for the Premier League title for months. In mid-April, both teams split 2-2 in a direct duel, defending champions Manchester City were able to defend their narrow lead. Most recently, Liverpool FC seemed to have left crucial points behind with a 1-1 draw against Tottenham Hotspur. But now the door to the title has opened a little again. With a win at West Ham, City would have been almost certain of the title thanks to the better goal difference.
On the last day of the game, Manchester City will host Aston Villa, while Liverpool will have to play at home against Wolverhampton at Anfield.