English side Liverpool won the Premier League title on Thursday to
end their 30-year top-flight trophy drought.
Jurgen Klopp’s side have secured the club’s 19th league title, and a first
since 1990 – as the Reds finally confirmed what long looked inevitable during a
dominant season.
Liverpool were confirmed as Premier League champions after Chelsea ended Man
City’s title hopes by defeating them 2-1 at Stamford Bridge in an entertaining
clash full of twists and turns.
Man City had the chance to prolong Liverpool’s 30-year wait at least until
the two sides meet at the Etihad Stadium next week, but the title was within
touching distance when Pulisic gave Frank Lampard’s side a 36th-minute lead.
Kevin De Bruyne’s stunning free-kick in the 55th minute brought City level
and Raheem Sterling hit the post, but their vulnerability on the break was
eventually punished when Fernandinho handled in a desperate 75th-minute
goalmouth scramble.
A dejected Fernandinho was sent off and his countryman Willian sealed the
points and crowned Jurgen Klopp’s dominant league winners with 86 points, with
seven matches remaining.
Former Liverpool legend and captain Steven Gerrard, who came close to
winning the league in 2014, lauded Jurgen Klopp and his players for one of the
best seasons that the club has experienced.
“Congratulations to all @liverpoolfc on winning the Premier
League. Incredible achievement from a fantastic squad of top players. Lead by a
world-class manager and coaching team also a special mention for the backing
from FSG. And lastly and most importantly the fans who have waited 30 years.
Let the party begin,” Gerrard posted on his official Instagram account.
Gerrard, now manager of Scottish giants Rangers, famously slipped to hand
Chelsea the opener of a 2-0 win at Anfield in April 2014 with Liverpool on
course to win the league.
Liverpool, who recorded an impressive 97 points in the 2018/19 season,
almost won the league title after a fantastic season led by a very patient
former Borussia Dortmund tactician, Klopp.
The 2018/19 season was Liverpool’s 127th season in existence, and their 57th
consecutive season in the top flight of English football.
Liverpool finished the league season as runners-up to Manchester City (98
points), to whom they suffered their only league defeat of the season, the
third-highest total in the history of the English top division and the most
points scored by a team without winning the title.
They remained unbeaten at home in the league for the second season in a row
and matched the club record of thirty league wins in a season.
Liverpool will emerge at the Etihad Stadium as champions, with the main bit
of pre-match intrigue now set to revolve around whether a guard of honour is workable
in the novel coronavirus.
Before that, City and Chelsea have away FA Cup quarter-finals on Sunday at
Newcastle United and Leicester respectively.