It’s the iconic moment that will be replayed thousands of times between now and next May, but the team who will lift the Premier League title still remains unknown.
A much-changed Liverpool side came from behind to beat Southampton 2-1 on Tuesday night, meaning that for the second time in four years, their battle with Manchester City will go to the final day. As in 2019, both sides are still in contention for English football’s biggest prize, with City strong favourites to get the job done.
A win over Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, will ensure the Etihad Stadium keeps the Premier League trophy for the fourth time in five seasons. But should Pep Guardiola’s side slip up, Liverpool could be waiting to pounce, facing out-of-form Wolves at Anfield.
And with just a point between the sides, the league has decided that officials will be across both games, with Prem CEO Richard Masters in Manchester and interim chairman Peter McCormick on Merseyside. A replica trophy will be with McCormick in Liverpool, as will 40 blank medals ready to be engraved.
City will have the genuine article in their stadium, with plans for both the medals and trophy to be engraved with the correct clubs and names after the event. Plans are in place should either side come out victorious and will be given the same presentation, with a “community champion” handing the respective captain the silverware.
Liverpool have defied the odds to take the title race to the final day, having overturned a double-digit points gap, as well as reaching all three major finals. The latest of those finals saw them lift the FA Cup after a penalty shootout, forcing Jurgen Klopp into wholesale changes for the league clash with the Saints.
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Nathan Redmond opened the scoring for Southampton, raising the possibility that City could win the title without kicking another ball. But goals from Takumi Minamino and Joel Matip kept the gap at a point, although the current leaders have a hefty advantage in terms of goal difference.
The odds may be stacked against his side, but Jurgen Klopp is remaining hopeful and insists he wouldn’t be calling it over, if the shoe was on the foot: “If I was in the other situation, then I don’t feel like I am champion already, that is how it is,” Klopp said.
“From my point of view, in second you are thinking that of course City will win that game. But it is football. We have to first win our game. It is not like we are talking about Wolves like they are not there. It is possible, not likely but possible. That is enough.”
A Liverpool title success would buck recent history however, with no Premier League leaders ever surrendering the league having gone into the final day on top. The last time such an incident occurred was the Reds themselves in 1989, when Michael Thomas’ infamous late goal saw Arsenal pip them to post in dramatic fashion.
