The Premier League of 2018-19 has been celebrated by many fans as one of the most intense title races in recent soccer history. This is in no small part because previous seasons have always had a clear winner several games prior to the last match of the year, such as Chelsea’s title win two games before the end of the 2016-17 season, or Manchester City’s 2017-18 title win, which was achieved with six games left in the season. However, this year, the title race came down to the last match, with Manchester City and Liverpool in contention for the lead. Only when Manchester City beat Brighton 4-1, gaining 98 points to Liverpool’s 97, did the team secure their title. The ‘18-19 season was not just a close battle statistically; it was historic in terms of outstanding performances, brilliant managers, and remarkable players.
At the start of the season, Manchester City was the favorite contender for winning the 2018-19 season because of their dominance during the previous year under coach Pep Guardiola. Last season, they grabbed a whopping 100 points, while their closest rival, Manchester United, only had 81. Yet despite starting off the first third of the season undefeated, the typical grind of the winter season, a humiliating penalty miss by Rehab Marez in a 0-0 draw against Liverpool at Anfield, and Chelsea’s 2-0 win over them at Stamford Bridge proved costly to Manchester City’s standing in the league between December and January. Then they lost to Crystal Palace 3-2 at home, Leicester City 2-1 away, and fell as low as third place in the Premier League, below Tottenham Hotspur.
Liverpool, on the other hand, was incredibly successful and consistent for the first half of their season. Under their coach, Jurgen Klopp, they never lost a game and were led by the outstanding defending of their backline, which was commanded by Virgil van Dijk. It seemed that Liverpool was unbeatable, and they were winning under the most bizarre circumstances. For example, during the Merseyside Derby match against Everton, an errant shot took a double crossbar bounce onto the head of Liverpool’s Divock Origi and into the goal to give Liverpool a last-second 1-0 victory.
But Liverpool ultimately failed to do what they needed most to secure their title: beat their rivals, Manchester City, on the pitch. On January 3, Manchester City went up against Liverpool once more at home. The beginning of the match was shaky for Manchester City, despite being at home, evident by a clumsy clearance: Manchester City’s John Stones bounced off of their goalkeeper, Ederson Moraes, towards the goal, only to be cleared off the line by Stones once more just millimeters before going in Manchester City’s goal. Yet Manchester City was not bothered by this near mishap, as their renowned striker, Sergio Aguero, shot at Liverpool’s goal from an improbable angle in the fortieth minute. Liverpool, though, fired back, scoring a masterpiece of a goal in the sixty-third minute off a header from Roberto Firmino via a magnificent cross from Trent Alexander-Arnold to Andrew Robertson and back to the front of the goal. But Manchester City asserted their dominance with a stunning shot to the lower crossbar by Leroy Sane in the seventy-first minute to make the score 2-1.
The game was by far the most influential game all season, giving Manchester City the hope of regaining first place and diminishing the hopes of Liverpool’s first title in twenty-nine years. Although Liverpool never lost another game for the remainder of the season, they tied with many teams, giving Manchester City the opportunity to surge into first. That was exactly what played out on match week twenty-nine. Liverpool tied for the seventh time that season, ironically against Everton at home, while Manchester City beat Bournemouth 1-0 away, finally giving Manchester City first place one point ahead of Liverpool. It stayed that way for the remainder of the season, entitling Manchester City to the Premier League title once more.
The 2018-19 Premier League season was one filled with joy, heartbreak, and suspense. Manchester City, winning their second Premier League title in a row, gave respect to the relentless efforts of Liverpool. Manchester City’s captain Vincent Kompany said, “It was the hardest and most satisfying Premier League ever . . . Liverpool was exceptional this year . . . We played against such a good team all season.” Despite Liverpool’s failure, their coach was far more proud of how much was achieved, stating that it is not the result that they should be judged by, but the memories that they created. As he asked in the Men In Blazers podcast, “What matters in life is did you improve the place you have been in? The house you lived in? Did you improve the mood? Did you bring love?”