Premier League Live: Manchester City or Liverpool? Who will clinch the title?

Premier League Highlights: A comeback for the ages. Manchester City was trailing 2-0 till the 75 minute and then the floodgates have opened. They scored three goals in a matter of five minutes to make it 3-2.

Just when Etihad began to mourn, Pep Guardiola made a pair of tactical substitutions. Ilkay Gundogan replaced Bernardo Silva and Raheem Sterling displaced Riyad Mahrez. The ploy reaped instant rewards as Gundgan and Sterling combined to pull a goal back. Sterling was introduced for width and the Gundogan for spatial awareness, and anticipation inside the box, which is more akin to classical poacher. Past seasons have seen him being employed as double pivot at the base of midfield, but since the middle of the last season, he has been retooled as a box-to-box midfielder with an eye for the goal. And how that move has come to benefit his team when it has mattered the most. Both his goals were classical No 9 ones. Who said City does not have a striker?

Meanwhile, Spurs hold on to fourth place, Manchester United lose but will play in Europa League next season and Burnley is relegated after losing against Newcastle United.

Live Blog22:45 (IST)22 May 2022Wonderwall on full volume tonight

Manchester City fans will enjoy this win. Have a good night. Liverpool fans still have the Champions League final to look forward to next Sunday. But their dream of winning a treble will remain a dream for now.

22:30 (IST)22 May 2022Manchester United fans at Selhurst Park are a happy bunch

A loud roar erupted at the away end at Selhurst Park. Manchester United continued to be poor and down by a goal against Crystal Palace. The cheer serenaded Ilkay Gundogan`s third goal for Manchester City against Aston Villa at Etihad, which took Pep Guardiola`s team within sniffing distance of their fourth Premier League title in five years. City were trailing by two goals and United fans were shuddering at the possibility of Liverpool completing the domestic treble and going for the quadruple. United won the treble in 1999, annexing the league, FA Cup and the Champions League. Till this day, it remains the biggest achievement by an English side in club football. 

-- Shamik

22:28 (IST)22 May 2022Manchester City are champions!

It is all over. City has defended the title in a dramatic fashion. This is their eighth league title. You cannot script this. City fans invade the ground. 

22:22 (IST)22 May 2022City look to wind down the clock

Remember City vs QPR in 2012? This was by the same scoreline they won on the final day. Only a Villa goal would mean City will fail to defend their title. But the Blues look to wind down the clock and ensure the scoreline stays this way. We have four minutes added time left in this epic tie. 

22:18 (IST)22 May 2022Liverpool scores

Mo Salah scores for Liverpool. There is still hope. Villa needs to equalise and make it 3-3. Only that would ensure Liverpool`s 20th title

22:14 (IST)22 May 2022Manchester City score three in five mins

You have to see it to believe it. City has staged a brilliant comeback. Down by two goals till the 75 minute and then the floodgates have opened, 

22:11 (IST)22 May 2022Manchester City makes it 2-2

Another goal by Rodri makes it 2-2. What is happening? Etihad is up on its feet. Unbelievable. City has pulled a rabbit out of thin air. Just minutes back they were trailing Aston Villa 2-0.

22:10 (IST)22 May 2022City make it 2-1

City has finally found the net thanks to substitute Gundogan.

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Suryakumar Yadav and Mohammad Rizwan remain top 2 in ICC rankings for T20IsMore from Sports >>22:08 (IST)22 May 2022Liverpool still search for that winning goal

Meanwhile, at Anfield, Wolves have come close to taking the lead in a span of five minutes. Korean striker Hwang and Jiminez with both the chances. 

22:01 (IST)22 May 2022Aston Villa scores!

Countinhooooooooo! Former Liverpool player scores against Manchester City. This is now Liverpool`s title to lose. Ederson was stranded in goal. What a stunning goal by the Brazilian.  City are still top of the league on goal difference, though that will change if Liverpool take the lead at Anfield.

21:58 (IST)22 May 2022Mahrez miss might haunt Manchester City

Raheem Sterling replaced a surprisingly flat Mahrez sometime back. Remember that penalty miss by Mahrez against West Ham United? Manchester City wouldn`t have found themselves in this situation had he scored and the team won that night. But all things said, City are still on course to win the title if things remain this way. However, only a Liverpool goal would change all that.

21:53 (IST)22 May 2022As things stand

21:47 (IST)22 May 2022Another chance wasted by Aston Villa

City defence caught sleeping. Ollie Watkins was through on goal, again, but his shot goes inches wide off the post. Etihad breathes easy.  However, surprisingly the flag went up but replays showed he was onside in his own half. Had he scored, VAR would have given Villa the goal.

21:43 (IST)22 May 2022Manchester City search for goal

And we are back. Manchester City continue to search for that elusive equaliser. Rodri takes a shot but it goes whistling past the goal post. 

21:28 (IST)22 May 2022Halftime

It is halftime at stadiums across England. As things stand Man City are on course to defending their title, Spurs are holding on to fourth place, Manchester United drop to a Europa Conference League place and Leeds United, goalless at Brentford, are out of relegation spots, with Burnley trailing by a goal to Newcastle.

21:22 (IST)22 May 2022Manchester City fans need to play 12th man

Manchester City isn`t really known for its atmosphere. More than once, rival fans have mocked their counterparts for their hushed silences when the team has its back to the wall. Earlier this season, `Emptyhad` jokes did rounds, a dig at an empty Etihad for some games during the season. During a nervy season finale, they haven`t gone silent. At least immediately. As soon as Aston Villa scored, City fans roared and tried to lift the spirit of their teams with chants of `Come on City` echoing around the stadium.

21:19 (IST)22 May 2022Manchester United slip against Crystal Palace

As it stands, Manchester United are going down to the Europa Conference League, thanks to some comical defending from Diago Dalot that allowed Wilfried Zaha to score Crystal Palace`s opener. From the Selhurst Park director`s box, United`s new manager Erik ten Hag is getting a feel of the task at hand, which at the moment looks an impossible job. For a change, United started the game on a positive note, but yet again, a lack of cohesion in the midfield and a porous defence is costing the side dear. Meanwhile, West Ham United have taken the lead at Brighton. 

21:15 (IST)22 May 2022Chance for Villa

Ollie Watkins found himself 1v1 against Ederson but Stones recovers to stop the Villa striker from taking a shot at the target. City need to respond quickly! They have 5 shots but none of them were on target. 

21:09 (IST)22 May 2022Aston Villa score!

Aston Villa take the lead at Etihad. Man City fans are in disbelief. A brilliant cross from the left from Digne finds Cash inside the box, who heads past a leaping Ederson. As things stand City are still top of the league on goal difference.

21:05 (IST)22 May 2022Leeds United goal ruled out

Must not be easy being a Leeds United fan. Got promoted to the Premier League in front of empty stands at Elland Road in the middle of the pandemic. Played most of their tremendous first season in the top flight after 16 years behind closed doors. When crowds returned, they suddenly went from being magnificent to miserable. And now, when they celebrate a goal that could`ve kept them up, the joy is short-lived as Gelhard`s goal is ruled out for offside.