 |
Juventus gave its fans celebrating a third successive Serie A title another reason to revel in Turin by beating Atalanta 1-0 on Monday. Juventus clinched its 30th league title the day before when second-place Roma lost 4-1 at Catania. There was little excitement on the pitch at Juventus Stadium until Simone Padoin scored against his former club to break the deadlock and keep Antonio Conte’s side on course to become the first Serie A club to reach the 100-point barrier. (AFP-Yonhap) |
LONDON (AP) ― Luis Suarez dropped into a crouch after the final whistle and sobbed, his chest heaving, until Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard walked over, pulled him up and tried to console him.
The star forward pulled his jersey over his face, not wanting the world to see, and Gerrard tried to wave off a television cameraman. That elusive 19th title, so close eight days earlier, was now so far away.
Liverpool wasted a three-goal lead in the final 16 minutes, crushing its Premier League title hopes with a 3-3 tie at Crystal Palace on Monday night that put Manchester City in prime position to win its second championship in three seasons.
“We needed to win tonight, so I think Manchester City will go on to win the two games,” Liverpool manager Brendan Rogers said. “They’ll be champions.”
Liverpool (25-6-6) has 81 points going into Sunday’s finale at home against Newcastle. City (25-6-5), one point back in second place, hosts Aston Villa on Wednesday and West Ham on Sunday.
Liverpool, which last won the league in 1990, built a 3-0 lead by the 55th minute on goals by Joe Allen, Daniel Sturridge and Suarez, who tied the Premier League record of 31 goals in a 38-game season.
But Palace rallied in stunning fashion. Damian Delaney scored in the 79th minute on 25-yard left-footed shot that deflected off a leg of defender Glen Johnson and left goalkeeper Simon Mignolet no chance to stop it.
Two minutes later, Yannick Bolasie picked up the ball just outside his own penalty area, made a 70-yard dash down the left flank and squared the ball to an unmarked Dwight Gayle. He beat Mignolet with a right-footed shot just inside the far post from about 12 yards.
Then Joe Ward’s long pass from the midfield stripe was met in the 88th by Glenn Murray. He chested the ball into the path of an unrushing Gayle, who slotted home from near the penalty spot. Palace (13-19-5), just 11th in the 20-team league, then held on through five minutes of stoppage time.
