The 2018/19 title race was arguably the most enthralling, neck-and-neck title race ever seen in the Premier League. Man City and Liverpool pushed each other to the absolute limit, and that resulted in the most nerve-racking, drama-filled title race. Ultimately, it was City who got their first, but only by a single point. Liverpool held a five point advantage in February, but Pep Guardiola’s relentless machine snatched the title from their grasp.
This season’s title race is set to go down a similar route, with Liverpool closing the gap back to one point. If we get even half the drama we got in 2018/19, we could be in for a fitting finale. It’s the last international break of the season, and it gives us time to catch our breathes and take a lookback at one of the highest quality title races ever seen.
Nothing to separate after a third of the season
After the first 10 games, City and Liverpool were only separated by goal difference. But after a 1-1 draw at Emirates, Jurgen Klopp’s men fell two points behind the early pace setters. But the Reds weren’t undone and went top for the first time when City lost 2-0 at Chelsea. City’s shocking 2-3 loss to Crystal Palace meant Liverpool went into Christmas four points ahead of their rivals. That lead increased to seven points by turn of the year as Guardiola endured a damaging festive period.
City beat Liverpool in crucial title match
The New Year’s first fixture proved to be a turning point in this title race. City hosted Liverpool, knowing anything other than a win would allow Klopp’s men to run away with it. And they won 2-1, Leroy Sane scoring the winning goal to reduce the arrears to four points.
Man City start their relentless streak that powered them to the title
It continued like that until matchweek 24, where City dropped points, as it turned out, for the last time. Newcastle United scored an unexpected 2-1 win over the Cityzens, but Liverpool couldn’t capitalize the next day, as they were held at home by Leicester City. That left Liverpool with a five point lead instead of seven points, with 14 games to go.
Even five points seemed like a sufficient buffer, but it was reduced to just one point after the Reds dropped points at West Ham and Manchester United. And with City winning all their games, Liverpool relinquished top spot with a stalemate at Goodison Park in matchweek 29. So, City regained top spot with a five-match winning streak, one point ahead of Liverpool.
From that point on, no team could afford any slip ups and remarkably, none of them did. Both teams had to win out of necessity and found ways of doing it week in week out. It meant the gap remained just one point, and Vincent Kompany’s stunning long range strike against Leicester maintained his team’s advantage going into the final day.
Final day: Liverpool miss out
On the final day, as was the case for eight weeks, both had to win to give themselves a chance. City were away at Brighton, while Liverpool hosted Wolves. The final day threatened to deliver one last twist when Brighton took a shock lead, after the Reds had gone ahead in their game. But Sergio Aguero, the man who knows how to win titles on the final day, immediately equalized and Aymeric Laporte soon established a telling lead.
Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez joined the party in the second half, rendering Sadio Mane’s brace at Anfield immaterial. And so, City successfully managed to defend their title, winning 14 consecutive games, by a solitary point. The Anfield crowd that craved Premier League glory for 29 years had to settle for second, despite seeing their team amass 97 points, 32 wins, and just the one loss. In the end that one defeat proved vital, the 2-1 loss at City in 2019’s first game.
What tale will this season’s title race tell? Will history repeat itself, or will we see another twist? Either way, we can hope for a thrilling end to the season.