CITY IS CROWNED CHAMPIONS OF ENGLAND AS THE PREMIER LEAGUE SEASON FINALE ENDS IN DRAMATIC FASHION.
Written by AIGBOKHAEBHO OKHUELEIGBE on May 23, 2022
The 2021/22 English Premier League season went down to the wire as many of its followers had envisaged, with final day games taking centre stage simultaneously across the ten venues in England.
Defending champions Manchester City needed to dig deep to come from two goals down against Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium to win the game 3: 1 which guaranteed their 6th premiership title.
24-year-old Polish defender had put Aston Villa ahead in the 37th, converting Luas Digne’s cross before Philippe Coutinho, who just made his loan move from FC Barcelona permanent, doubled the Villans’ lead on 69 minutes. Substitute IIkay Gundogan struck twice either side of a Rodri equaliser, as three Manchester City goals in six minutes earned a remarkable 3:2 turnaround win that saw them win the title in dramatic fashion.
Rivals Liverpool did not help their title quest as they also came from behind to defeat Wolverhampton Wanderers three one at Anfield, but it wasn’t enough to secure them the League title they last won in 2020.
The Reds had a nightmare start at Anfield, falling behind in the 3rd minute to Pedro Neto’s close-range finish. They equalised in the 24th minute, thanks to Sadio Mane who slotted past Jose Sa after a Thiago superb flick. Substitute Mohamed Salah scored his 23rd goal of the season which earned him the golden boots award in the 84th minute, before Scottish captain Andy Robertson put the match to bed late on.
The final day drama is similar to events that happened in 2019, where the fight went down to the final day of the season as Liverpool eventually lost it to Manchester City by just a point, to ensure Josep Guardiola clinched his second EPL title at the time.
In 2019, Manchester City clinched the title with 98 points winning 32 times in 38 matches losing 4 times, and drawing twice. Liverpool closely followed in the second position with 97 points losing just once and drawing 7 times after winning 30 of the 38 matches.
Manchester City has now taken their Premier League trophy haul to six with Pep Guardiola clinching four in his five years at the Etihad.
Elsewhere, Heung Min Son struck twice in a 5 nil thumping of relegated Norwich City by Spurs to join Salah in winning the golden boots award. Tottenham cemented their Champions League status for next season with this victory, after an up and down tussle with London rivals, Arsenal FC toward the tail-end of the season.
Burnley was relegated on the final day of the season, joining Watford in the Championship for next season, after losing 2:1 to Newcastle United, whose Penultimate victory over Arsenal effectively condemned the Gunners to Europa League football for next season.
EDITOR: OKHUELEIGBE JAMESBEST.
