Despite holding a strong points advantage at the halfway point of the season, a handful of shaky results let Liverpool back into the title race, bringing the lead down to only one point going into the final weekend.
Both teams needed a win, but Liverpool had to hope for an uncharacteristic stumble from the reigning champions in order to poach the top spot. Unfortunately for the Reds, this slip would never come.
That said, City did not make things easy for themselves, conceding to Matty Cash and Phillipe Coutinho on either side of the halftime break. At the same time thirty miles west of the Etihad, Liverpool found themselves 2-1 up over Wolverhampton Wanderers and had one hand firmly on the Cup.
However, Liverpool’s domestic treble celebrations would have to wait another year. Ilkay Gündoğan’s late brace in combination with a cool finish from Rodri saw City drag themselves back into the driver’s seat right at the death, reclaiming the table’s top spot with only ten minutes remaining in the season.
Despite bagging maximum points against Wolverhampton, Liverpool fell short, and Manchester City became champions of England for the sixth time, becoming the second most successful club in the history of the Premier League, second only to their next door neighbors and arch rivals Manchester United.
Guardiola’s side have been dominant all season long, leading the league in both goals scored (99) and clean sheets (21). Unsurprisingly, they can also boast the most wins (29) and the second fewest losses (3). Guardiola’s attacking, possession-based style also shines through in the statistics, recording 26,132 passes, over 2,000 more than second place, and an average possession of 69.55%.
As the title was decided in the dying minutes of the season, a less glamorous yet equally dramatic battle raged at the opposite end of the table. Leeds United and Burnley kicked off their final matches tied on points and in danger of relegation.
Just like at the top of the table, Leeds left it late to secure the points that would guarantee their stay in the Premier League. Jack Harrison blasted a deflected corner past David Raya in the 94th minute to raucous celebration from the Leeds faithful. Jesse March fell to the ground, seemingly overcome by the magnitude of his achievement and, frankly, luck.
Turf Moor sat firmly at the opposite end of the atmospheric spectrum.
The visiting Magpies took the lead after only twenty minutes and doubled their advantage shortly after the break as Callum Wilson bagged a brace. The away fan’s jubilant celebrations seemed to serve as an acknowledgement of Newcastle’s escape from the depths of the table where they spent so much of the season. The scenes in the away end left Burnley fans wondering what could have been following the late sacking of Sean Dyche. Why weren’t they so lucky?
2022’s final week of matches was among the most dramatic in recent memory, as last minute winners decided battles at either end of the table. As we say goodbye to the 2021/22 season, it is time to mark your calendars and start counting down the days until August, when the curtain will raise on a new season and we’ll do it all again.
