Liverpool clinch first Premier League title in 30 years after Chelsea hit City - Capital Sports
Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Liverpool fans celebrate after the team won the UEFA Champions League

English Premiership

Liverpool clinch first Premier League title in 30 years after Chelsea hit City

LONDON, United Kingdom, Jun 25 – The inevitable has finally happened and Liverpool have clinched their first English Premier League title in 30 years after holders and second placed Manchester City lost 2-1 to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Thursday night.

Going into Thursday’s game, Liverpool only needed the Cityzens to drop points in either a draw or a defeat and the script rolled down as desired with Pep Guardiola’s men failing to win away in London.

Willian’s VAR awarded penalty in the 78th minute handed Chelsea victory at the Bridge.

City thought they had some lifeline when Kevin de Bruyne’s super whipped freekick curled over the wall and into the net after Christian Pulisic’s opener, but they couldn’t get the winner to delay Liverpool’s party, Chelsea instead getting the final laugh.

With the result, Liverpool have opened an unassailable 23-point lead on top of the standings with seven rounds of matches left.

Liverpool play City in their next match after this weekend’s FA Cup break and it will be left to be seen whether they will offer their rivals a guard of honour.

A huge three points for Frank Lampard’s men moves them within a point of third-placed Leicester and opens a five-point advantage over Manchester United and Wolves in the race to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

As it stands, City are banned from European competition for the next two seasons, but still have aspirations to win the Champions League for the first time when the competition resumes in August.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

However, Guardiola was given another reminder that his side’s defending must improve to compete with Europe’s best.

After a slow start, Chelsea began to enjoy the better of the chances as Olivier Giroud failed to connect with a dangerous Ross Barkley cross before Andreas Christensen’s header was well saved by Ederson.

Two calamitous pieces of defending from Mendy then presented Pulisic with the opener as the Frenchman overhit a pass into Ilkay Gundogan and then dived in to allow the American a clear run on goal.

Pulisic kept his head to slot into the far corner and score his second goal of the restart after a long injury layoff before the coronavirus shutdown.

City responded strongly after a talking to by Guardiola at half-time as they tried to keep Liverpool waiting for at least another week when they face the Reds at the Etihad.

Christian Pulisic celebrates his goal against Manchester City

Chelsea have long since regretted letting De Bruyne go and the Belgian midfielder gave another reminder to the Blues what they are missing by sending a dipping free-kick into the top corner.

City’s strength in depth has been emphasised by the temporary change in rules to allow five substitutions and nine replacements on the bench.

Guardiola introduced Gabriel Jesus and David Silva straight after the equaliser and Chelsea were left clinging on for a spell.

Raheem Sterling nearly capped a brilliant counter-attack from Ederson’s throw out to first time passes from De Bruyne and Jesus only to see his chip over Kepa Arrizabalaga come back off the post.

An uncharacteristic error from Ederson then nearly threw City’s good work away as the Brazilian passed the ball into the path of Mason Mount, who wastefully fired wide.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

Only a stunning goal line clearance from Kyle Walker then denied Pulisic a second after rounding Ederson as City’s defence was again caught flat-footed.

However, City were punished at the third time of asking as after seemingly escaping a goal mouth scramble, VAR was required to see Fernandinho had used a hand to clear.

The Brazilian was given his marching orders and then saw his former international teammate Willian dispatch the penalty confidently into the top corner.

That was the cue for Liverpool fans around the world the celebrate the end of a three-decade wait as they were finally crowned champions of England.

Advertisement

More on Capital Sports

Football

NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 27 – DStv and GOtv subscribers are in for a treat of the world’s best football this week as the 2020-21...

Football

NAIROBI, Kenya, May 25 – There is light at the end of the tunnel. After failed promises over the last three years since its...

Football

NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 6 – Gentrix Shikangwa scored with two minutes left as Vihiga Queens sailed to the final of the CECAFA regional qualifiers...

NFL

NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 13 – Kenya’s history making Daniel Adongo, the first Kenyan to play in America’s National Football League (NFL), is now living...

© 2024 Capital Digital Media. Capital Group Limited. All Rights Reserved