What drama!
Yes, it was always going to be an afternoon of twists n’ turns, tension and tummy-tingling Premier League highlights but was anyone expecting the script to be delivered quite like this.
From the moment the team sheets came in, the focus began and gave some potential indication of what was to come.
For the Premier League champions, John Stones started at the back for Manchester City, while Fernandinho was also in the side for his final game for the club.
For second placed Liverpool, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk were on the bench.
Moving from the title race to the Champions League chasers, and Harry Kane started for Tottenham despite some illness concerns earlier in the week – sparking comparisons when the two north London giants were vying for fourth spot in 2006 and luckless Spurs were hit by a bout of food positioning.
Arsenal, meanwhile, were without Takehiro Tomiyasu through injury, while Manchester United, looking to seal sixth spot and a place in the Europa League ahead of West Ham, were without Cristiano Ronaldo.
Meanwhile, down at the bottom, Leeds went on the attack at Brentford, selecting only one established midfielder in Kalvin Phillips with young forwards Sam Greenwood and Joe Geldhart in the side.
And then there was the ‘what if’ thought at the back of the mind as ex-Claret Chris Wood was named on the bench for Newcastle at the club he left in January, Burnley.
Then the talking stopped and the action began!
Two minutes in and Anfield was stunned when a long clearance from Jose Sa caught out the home defence and Raul Jimenez had all the time in the world to pick out the unmarked Pedro Neto who tapped home his first goal of the season.
It was to be one of Neto’s few involvements as he had left the fray injured by the midway point of the first half, lasting slightly longer than Joelinton as Newcastle suffered a blow inside 10 minutes with the Brazilian needing to leave the field on a stretcher.
Back in the race for the Champions League, it was all but game over as Spurs took a 16th minute lead at relegated Norwich City through Dejan Kulusevski, doubled on the half hour by Kane and Spurs were well on their way.
That meant Arsenal were always playing catch-up, despite scoring twice in quick succession through a Gabriel Martinelli penalty and the in-form Eddie Nketiah, on their way to a 5-1 success.
Back at the bottom and there was drama at both ends of the country.
As a VAR review for a handball went against Burnley – Callum Wilson slotted in the resulting penalty – it was almost a double Leeds celebration as Gelhardt had the ball in the Brentford net, only to be ruled offside by a whisker.
Back to the title race and Liverpool were level as a Thiago flick-on was finished clinically by Sadio Mane.
The mood on Merseyside lifted even more when Lucas Digne’s cross from the left was headed in by fellow full-back Matty Cash and Villa had a half-time lead at the Etihad.
Meanwhile, United – watched by new boss Erik Ten Hag – and West Ham switched sixth and seventh place in a matter of minutes as former United man Wilfried Zaha fired the Eagles in front with a touch of class, while around the same time Michail Antonio was hammering home for the Hammers at Brighton.
Half-time and it was advantage City (just), Spurs, West Ham and Leeds in the key areas.
There were enforced changes at Anfield during the break with James Milner on for the injured Thiago and veteran John Ruddy on in goal for the injured Jose Sa for the visitors.
The first big moment of the second half came on the south coast five minutes after the restart when Joel Veltman’s shot inexplicably went through the legs of Lukasz Fabianski and Brighton were level at West Ham.
Then at the bottom, a key few minutes.
Raphinha – Leeds’ player of the season – was fouled in the box and duly dusted himself to rifle home an equaliser. At around the same time, Allan Saint-Maximin’s low ball was converted by Wilson for his second.
Quick question: how high could Newcastle have finished had he not missed virtually the whole second half of the season?
Back to the final day drama and Liverpool’s dream scenario as Villa, managed by Steven Gerrard, doubled their lead through a sublime goal from former fans’ favourite Philippe Coutinho.
It seemed Liverpool were the title favourites; Spurs were in top four command – confirmed as Son Heung-Min hit a quick fire double as Spurs ran riot – and Leeds were safe, even when Maxwell Cornet puled one back for the Clarets.
Then the most amazing six minutes ever witnessed at the Etihad! Six, mad, magic and monumental minutes.
Substitute Raheem Sterling crossed from the right and fellow sub Ilkay Gundogan headed in from close range.
Almost immediately, another sub, Oleksandr Zinchenko pulled the back to Rodri on the edge of the box and he drilled into the bottom left corner.
And, with the country catching its breath, there was still time for the majestic Kevin de Bruyne, the newly crowned Premier League player of the year, to whip in a sumptuous delivery from the right and, incredibly, there was Gundogan again!
City had come from two goals down to win a league contest for the first time since 2005 and Anfield, joyous a matter of moments earlier, was stunned.
The goal Liverpool craved duly arrived six minutes from time as sub Salah bundled the ball home, a goal which ensured he shared the Golden Boot with Son.
Indeed, Andy Robertson also added a third, but alas, it was not enough.
With all the focus at the top, it was barely noticed that Brighton scored two late goals to secure their best ever league finish – and the Europa Conference League for West Ham.
How this United side finished sixth after being, at times, appalling, is for another day.
The tension at the bottom still had another twist as Brentford levelled through Sergi Canos who was sent off within two minutes for a second booking.
With Kristoffer Ajer off injured and the Bees having used all three subs, Leeds were facing nine men in their survival battle and it paid dividends in stoppage time when a half-volley by Jack Harrison ensured they were safe.
One last stand. Leeds players, fans and staff went wild!
Against the odds, they had survived.
Back at Eastlands, City players, fans and staff also went wild.
2-0 down with quarter of an hour remaining.
Dare I say it, an even better achievement than the climax of 2012 when they were playing a 10-man QPR side which knew it was safe from relegation in the closing stages.
Wild scenes, incredible response, the character of champions.
That’s why they’re champions.
That’s all folks. And before you know it, you’ll be studying the SBOTOP Premier League betting odds for next season!
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