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LONDON: Manchester City retained the Premier League title in style on Sunday May 12), holding their nerve to come from behind and thrash Brighton to hold off a charging Liverpool after a nailbiting campaign. Pep Guardiola's team won 4-1 at Brighton to finish with 98 points - the second-highest total in Premier League history - as Liverpool beat Wolves 2-0 at Anfield to finish a single, agonising, point adrift. City, who strung together 14 league wins at the end of the season, are the first side to retain the title since their bitter rivals Manchester United managed the feat in 2009, and remain on course for the first domestic treble in English football history. But Guardiola's team did not have it all their own way as they won a fourth English title in eight seasons and the sixth in the club's history. A day of drama on England's south coast was in keeping with an astonishing season in which the lead switched hands time after time. Liverpool drew first blood on … [Read more...] about Football: Man City batter Brighton to retain Premier League title

LONDON: Manchester City have Premier League immortality in their sights as they start their title defence this weekend, but Liverpool's burning desire to get their hands on the trophy will fuel a heavyweight battle for supremacy. In the blue corner, treble winners City are at the peak of their powers and look capable of enjoying a period of sustained dominance not seen since Manchester United earned three successive Premier League titles from 2007 to 2009. But in the red corner, European champions Liverpool, chasing a first English title since 1990, have more than a puncher's chance of ending City's reign after pushing Pep Guardiola's side all the way to the final day last season. The first blows will be landed this week as Liverpool kick off the new Premier League campaign against promoted Norwich at Anfield on Friday, before City head to West Ham on Saturday. Sunday's no-holds-barred Community Shield clash showed the growing rivalry between England's pre-eminent teams, with … [Read more...] about Football: Man City, Liverpool ready for heavyweight Premier League battle

LONDON: Many managers have spent big in their pursuit of glory, but Liverpool coach Juergen Klopp has adopted a different approach ahead of the new season, trusting his current crop to end the club's long wait for a first Premier League crown. In 2008, after Manchester United clinched a second straight league title, chief executive David Gill said: "I think it is the best league in the world and therefore if we want to continue being at the top we have to make sure we look at the squad, improve it." United won the Champions League a few weeks later but still went on to splash the cash on Tottenham Hotspur's Bulgaria striker Dimitar Berbatov despite already possessing forwards Carlos Tevez, Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney. Klopp's approach is very different, with Liverpool having yet to make a major signing in this close season. "Next year there will be another transfer window," Klopp said. "This team is really good and we have invested a lot in it. Now we have to work with … [Read more...] about Football: Continuity key for Liverpool in quest for first Premier League title

LIVERPOOL: Jurgen Klopp said his Liverpool team could not have done anything more after they finished just one point behind defending champions Manchester City in their bid to win the Premier League title. Liverpool beat Wolves 2-0 at Anfield on Sunday (May 12) thanks to two goals from Sadio Mane but City came from behind to win 4-1 at Brighton to keep their noses in front. It meant Liverpool ended the season on 97 points, the third-highest tally in Premier League history, but fell agonisingly short of winning their first English top-flight title since 1990. "People might say we could have done this or that but not really, I don't think (we could have done any more)," Liverpool manager Klopp told Sky Sports. "City were lucky in moments, we were lucky in moments. It was about staying in the race and believing and that's what we did. "When your opponent is City, it's difficult. They couldn't get rid of us and we couldn't get rid of them. Being second in the Premier League is … [Read more...] about Football: Liverpool ‘did all we could’ in Premier League race, says Klopp

LONDON: Tottenham led the way on a busy final day of the Premier League transfer window with deals for Giovani lo Celso and Ryan Sessegnon, while Arsenal strengthened their defence with the signings of Kieran Tierney and David Luiz. Manchester United striker Romelu Lukaku's prolonged transfer to Inter Milan was also completed after the clubs reportedly agreed on a deal that could rise to €80 million (£74 million, US$90 million). Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has been under pressure from manager Mauricio Pochettino to build on the progress made on and off the field as Tottenham moved into a new 62,000-capacity stadium and reached the Champions League final last season. After the club record signing of French international midfielder Tanguy Ndombele, the signings of Lo Celso and Sessegnon add some much-needed depth to a Spurs squad that had previously gone 18 months without a new recruit. Argentine international midfielder Lo Celso has joined on a season-long loan deal from Real … [Read more...] about Football: Tottenham, Arsenal splash cash on Premier League deadline day