Brighton 1-4 Manchester City: Aguero, Laporte, Mahrez, Gundogan goals give City second successive Premier League
Tune in for live scores, commentary and updates of the Premier League title race as Brighton & Hove Albion hosts champion Manchester City.
Published : May 12, 2019 17:55 IST
| Welcome to Sportstar's live blog of the Premier League fixture between Brighton & Hove Albion Manchester City. |
'CAMPEONES.. OLEEE' chants in the City huddle. What a title race this has been. Take a bow City and Liverpool! Liverpool will feel unlucky to miss out on the title afte losing just once this season.
The referee blows the full time whistle for the last time this season and the celebrations begin as City edges the Liverpool by just a single point! Manchester City becomes the first team to defend the Premier League title after Manchester United in 2008-09 season.
Two minutes of added time for the corks comes off the champagnes at the Amex.
89' A cut back from the right gives Aguero room but his side-footed effort is blocked.
Guardiola and his staff are delighted on the bench. City is well on its way to seal a domestic treble with two titles in the bag. It is in the final of the FA Cup and will face Watford.
85' City just moving the ball around with ease now as City fans sing in the background. Kompany makes way for Nicolas Otamendi. Huge cheers for the City captain.
City is less than 10 minutes away from sealing a back-to-back Premier League title.
Mane scores again for Liverpool, which would most likely seal a win for the Reds. Loud cheers at Anfield despite knowing that the team would only finish second.
Christian Erikesen's goal against Everton is the 1,067 goal of the season making it the highest scoring season involving 20 teams. It was a free-kick strike from Dane, his eighth goal from a direct free-kick since joining in 2013.
Kevin de Bruyne is set to come on for City. David Silva will be the man to make way for him.
73' GOAL! GUNDOGAN!!!! A precision free-kick to add gloss to City's title march! From over 25 yards, the German curves it into the top right corner! That should, should seal the title for Manchester City.
This is the first time this year, Mahrez has both scored and assisted in a game.
Double change for Brighton. Murray and Jahanbhaksh come off for Locadia and Andone.
66' Gundogan with a shot from outside the box and it misses the far corner by a whisker.
64' WHAT A HIT FROM MAHREZ! Is that the goal that clinches the title for City? Mahrez has had a telling impact on this contest after a month's absence from the team. He picks up the ball outside the box, feints to shoot with his left before thumping one with his weaker foot. Ryan managed to get a palm on it but it wasn't enough to stop the ball from rifling into the roof of the net. Wild celebrations in the City camp and the City fans do the Poznan celebrations.
No goals for the last 25 minutes in both matches.
61' Some crisp passing move from City ends with Sterling with a tame shot on the turn inside the box. Easy save for Ryan.
United is two-nil down now... Mendez with another goal to pile more misery on the Red Devils.
57' Aguero connects with the air, not the ball, inside the box, before Gundogan's rasping drive is blocked by a pile of Brighton bodies.
56' Brighton is finding a bit of rhythm here and making things a bit nervy for City at the back.
54' Knockaert's swinging free-kick is met by Dunk, but its way off target! A good opportunity for Brighton.
51' David Silva is penalised for a foul in Brighton's box.
47' City starts on the front foot, but Sterling mis-controls the ball inside the box.
46' We are back for the second period as City goes for the 14th successive in the League to retain its title.
SECOND HALF
| MORE STATS: Sergio Aguero climbs up to sixth in the all-time Premier League scoring charts. 1. Alan Shearer (260) 2. Wayne Rooney (208) 3. Andy Cole (187) 4. Frank Lampard (177) 5. Thierry Henry (175) 6. Sergio Aguero (164) 7. Robbie Fowler (163) |
| STAT: David Silva's assist for Sergio Aguero's goal was his 18th for the Argentine, only three players have assisted another more often in the Premier League; Anderton to Sheringham (20) McManaman to Fowler (20) Lampard to Drogba (24) |
What a first final 45 minutes of the season. Will there be further twists and turns before we blow the final whistle of the 2018-19 season?
45 + 2' Lewis Dunk... almost! The center-back with a Ronaldo-like free-kick which swerves and stings the palms of Ederson. That's the final piece of action from the tantalising first half as the referee blows the whistle.
WOW! Nearly. Wolves Matt Doherty hist the crossbar with a shot against Liverpool at Anfield. It's been reported that Wovles supporters are faking celebrations indicating that City has scored to further rattle the Reds faithful. A touch cruel that.
42' Mahrez's shot from the right is saved at the near post by Ryan.
41' Sterling's dangerous low cross into the box finds no City players on the end of it. City has taken control of this contest now with a surge of attacks.
37' Mahrez denied by Glenn Murray and the ball goes for a corner! GOAL! His resulting corner is turned in by Laporte! A free run for the center-back as Murray fails to mark him, which allows Laporte to thump in a header into the net. Guardiola jumps in joy hugging his assistant Mikel Arteta. Liverpool fans are now finding out about the Laporte goal on their phones.
What a final day we have on our hands with just less than 60 minutes left on the clock!
30' Bernardo Silva denied by Ryan! The winger's powerful header is grabbed low by the 'keeper.
28' CITY EQUALISES! Liverpool fans joy cut short at Anfield as Aguero equalises in style! Straight from the kick-off! David Silva plays Aguero through with a deft flick and the Argentinian side-foots it in between Ryan's legs with his left foot for his 21st goal of the season. He is now one behind by Liverpool's Mohamed Salah in the golden boot race.
27' BRIGHTON SCORES!! OH MY HEAVENS! GLENN MURRAY SCORES FOR THE SEAGULLS AGAINST THE CHAMPIONS! City fans are stunned! Gross's inswinging corner is headed in by Murray after getting ahead of Zinchenko.
United is 1-0 down at home against relegated Cardiff City after a goal from Nathaniel Mendez-Laing.
23' Mahrez, free on the left, outs in a low cross but Ryan palms it away from the crowded penalty area.
20' City hasn't hit its stride yet here. They have passed around just outside Brighton's box but haven't been able to find a way to have a clean strike at goal.
Brighton fans with the LIVE updates for City players by signing '1-0 to Liverpool'
Liverpool in front! Sadio Mane sweeps home a passing move to put Liverpool ahead. Brighton fans let out a big cheer. Will City start to panic yet? As it stands, Liverpool is top of the points table and will be crowned champions.
City will be inching for the opening goal here in order to stretch the game early on. It has struggled to score many goals in recent games, with three 1-0 wins in four matches.
15' Mahrez's effort from outside the box is deflected and is saved by Matt Ryan.
No goals yet at Anfield between Liverpool and Wolves.
11' Sterling cross into the box for Aguero, who could direct his header on target.
Spurs has taken the lead against Everton through Eric Dier in the third minute at the Lane. Jonjo Shelvey and Ayoze Perez have given Newcastle a 2-0 lead against Fulham.
10' Aguero cuts inside just outside the box but his shot is blocked!
9' City has fiven the ball away cheaply quite often in the early minutes. Knockaert steals the ball and releases Jahanbakhsh on the left. The winger cuts in and unleashes a shot from outside the box, which wsn't wide of City's goal. A big 'oooh' goes around the Amex. A concerned Guardiola looks on from crouched on the sidelines.
It's been an even start so far with City having most of the possession. Brighton has had its forward forays without threatening the City defenders. The Seagulls will need to try and hit the visitor on the counter.
4' Bernardo Silva dribbles into the box but Bissouma gets the tackle before he could get his shot away. A vital block from the midfielder to deny the early goal.
3' Raheem Sterling's surge into Brighton's box is cut short but City retrieve the ball again.
1' Brighton kicks off from left to right. as City aims for a fourth title in eight seasons.
We are just less than two hours away from end of the season and crowning a champion. Both Brighton and City players make their way to the middle.
FIRST HALF
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Right then. The title race is set for a thrilling climax with two unrelenting teams — Manchester City and Liverpool — fighting till the end. Manchester City has won 13 on the trot in the final stretch; no team has won 13 consecutive matches at this stage. City sits on top with 95 points needing one more win at Brighton and Hove Albion to retain its title.
City's nearest challenger Liverpool has kept pace with eight successive wins after its 0-0 draw against Everton on March 3. Liverpool will look to make sure it pushes City to the brink by getting the three important points against Wolves at Anfield.
You can follow the LIVE action of the events unfolding at Anfield over here .
| STAT: No team has lost the Premier League title after going into the final day of the season on top of the table. |
There is slight chance — odds of 63,000-1 — that both City and Liverpool could end level on points, goal difference, goals scored and goals conceded. To whom will the title go to in such instance? Read more to find out .
Unless the results force the remote possibility of a playoff, the Premier League trophy will be lifted at either the Amex Stadium or Anfield on Sunday. But where will it be kept? Read more to find out .
The Premier League title race has seen so many nerve-wracking finishes in its 27-year history. Remember the 'Aguerooooo' finish in 2012, the Manchester United and Chelsea rivalry between the seasons 2007 and 2010? Here are some thrilling title race stories and how they panned out.
Interesting selection in Riyad Mahrez in the starting XI from manager Pep Guardiola. His last start for City came on April 3rd against Cardiff City. This will also be his fourth league start of the year. City has the luxury to call on Kevin de Bruyne from the bench, who returns from injury after his injury against Tottenham last month.
Guardiola: “One more game. We will try to do our best, and the players will decide what we deserve. We are here to try to win the title. [Why did you pick Riyad Mahrez, Pep?] His quality, his personality, his lack of fear. We know Brighton will defend deep so we will need quality in small spaces. If we score four goals in the first 10 minutes it would be incredible. I don’t know, honestly, what is going to happen.”
2007/08: # MUFC 2008/09: # MUFC 2009/10: # CFC 2010/11: # MUFC 2011/12: # MCFC 2012/13: # MUFC 2013/14: # MCFC
2014/15: # CFC
2015/16 # LCFC
2016/17 # CFC
2017/18 # MCFC Man City is aiming for the Premier League's first back-to-back titles in a decade.
| STAT: Man City haven’t lost on the final day of a Premier League season since 2012-13, when Chris Hughton’s Norwich won 3-2 at the Etihad. |
| In other news, we are also just less than 10 minutes away from the toss of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2019) final between Mumbai Indians and Chennai Super Kings. Follow the LIVE updates here . |
TEAMS Brighton XI: Ryan; Bruno, Duffy, Dunk, Bernardo; Knockaert, Kayal, Bissouma, Jahanbakhsh; Gross, Murray Subs: Button, Burn, Bong, Montoya, Molumby, Locadia, Andone Man City XI: Ederson; Walker, Kompany, Laporte, Zinchenko; Gundogan, Silva, Mahrez; Sterling, Aguero, Bernardo Subs: Muric, Danilo, Stones, De Bruyne, Sané, Otamendi, Jesus |