And if the story was only an eternal restart?
In May 2012, Sergio Agüero offered the title to Cityzens by equalizing against QPR after additional time, under the nose and beard of their biggest opponent, Manchester United.
And ten years later, the scenario repeated itself.
The competitor is no longer the same, but the rivalry with Liverpool is shaping more and more, as the two teams have been rolling in England for five years.
Before this 38th day of the Premier League, Cityzens and Reds were neck and neck in the standings: 90 points for one, 89 for the other.
As in 2012 and 2019, the identity of the new king of England was to be revealed during the final match of the season in the league.
The teammates of Kevin De Bruyne, voted the best PL player, faced Aston Villa, coached by the former glory of Liverpool, Steven Gerrard.
Jürgen Klopp's men, meanwhile, challenged Wolverhampton.
Here is the story of this crazy race for the title minute by minute.
3rd minute:
The first big thunderclap of the evening takes place at Anfield.
Wolverhampton opened the scoring thanks to Pedro Neto, on a pass from Raul Jimenez (0-1).
A score that suits Manchester City, not worried in the game by the Villans, and which temporarily takes a 2-point lead in the standings.
GOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLL!!
pic.twitter.com/erqMk5tTia
— Wolves (@Wolves) May 22, 2022
24th minute:
Sadio Mané equalizes against Wolverhampton (1-1).
The Senegalese scored his 16th goal of the season in the league, after a magical heel from Thiago Alcantara.
At that time, the Reds were only a small point behind the Cityzens in the standings.
37th minute:
And amazement invades the Etihad Stadium!
On a very good cross from Lucas Digne, Matthew Cash opened the scoring against Pep Guardiola's men (0-1).
The Cityzens, nervous, imprecise and without a solution (no shots on target since the start of the match) no longer have any margin for error: they have the same number of points as Liverpool in the Premier League standings (90 points), but remain virtual champions on goal difference.
Manchester City fans were unhappy with their team's performance.
PA Wire/PA Images
49th minute:
As a sign of fate, the Reds' will-o'-the-wisp, Sadio Mané, is denied a goal by the referee.
The Senegalese scores by stealing his ball but he is signaled offside.
The Reds were therefore virtually champions for thirty short seconds… before the invalidation of this goal.
68th minute:
At the Etihad, Manchester City sinks and no longer responds.
Former Reds player Philippe Coutinho controls the ball beautifully, eliminates Aymeric Laporte and deceives Ederson (0-2).
At this time, Pep Guardiola's men are stunned.
They remain champions in goal average, but a goal from Liverpool, very offensive and dominating, would dampen the hopes of the Cityzens.
Former Liverpool player Philippe Coutinho scored against Manchester City on Sunday.
76th minute:
the goal of hope.
Entering the game a few minutes earlier in place of Bernardo Silva, Ilkay Gündogan reduced the score with a header against Aston Villa (1-2).
Hope is back in the ranks of the Skyblues, who however remain under threat from the Reds.
Ilkay Gundogan scored the goal that kept hope alive in the Cityzen ranks.
79th minute:
This is called having character.
In three short minutes, the defending champions rock the game.
Rodri equalized against Aston Villa and allowed his team to regain a point lead over Liverpool (91 for City, 90 for the Reds).
Rodri netted his seventh goal of the season as he equalized against Aston Villa.
81st minute:
And finally Ilkay Gündogan dons the savior costume.
Like Kun Agüero in 2012. On a cross from Kevin De Bruyne, the German scores in the empty goal and allows his team to be virtually champions (3-2).
Pep Guardiola's men are three points ahead (93) of the Reds (91) and are ten minutes away from their fourth title in five years.
Etihad's explosion of joy when İlkay Gündoğan gives City the lead 😍
👉 3 goals in 6 minutes: the Cityzens went for their title in the most beautiful way
▶️ https://t.co/ SvrNRkpXf1 pic.twitter.com/JaLCrgO4bZ
– Canal Football Club (@CanalFootClub) May 22, 2022
83rd minute:
Mohamed Salah scores from a corner and allows Liverpool to lead against Wolverhampton.
The Egyptian, the Premier League's top scorer, keeps hope alive at Anfield.
Indeed, if Steven Gerrard's team scores against Manchester City, the Reds would be titled.
89th minute:
Andrew Robertson participates in the festival of his team by worsening the score (3-1).
But the heart is not at the party, since the crown of England is moving away… In the standings, Manchester City has 93 points, Liverpool, 92.
Andrew Robertson (left) scored Liverpool's third goal against Wolverhampton.
PA Wire/PA Images
90 + 4th minute:
“Habemus Papam!
".
After overthrowing Aston Villa (3-2), Manchester City won its eighth English league title.
Liverpool's victory at the same time against Wolverhampton (3-1) does not change anything, the Reds remain a point behind.
Pep Guardiola, in tears at the final whistle, is crowned for the fourth time, thus overtaking Arsene Wenger and José Mourinho (3).
The supporters invade the lawn to celebrate this victory.
Oops 😬 pic.twitter.com/9PLbeDG59r
– Canal Football Club (@CanalFootClub) May 22, 2022
