How 11mm decided the craziest Premier League title race ever
John Stones will go down in Manchester City folklore after the former Everton player’s insane goal-line clearance back in January ultimately proved the difference in the Premier League title race.
City claimed the title on Sunday and finally ended Liverpool’s relentless attempt to dethrone them as they hit back from a goal down to crush Brighton and Hove Albion 4-1.
City ended the season with 98 points, just two shy of last season’s record-breaking 100, while Liverpool’s 2-0 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers saw them end on 97 — by far the largest tally for a Premier League runners-up.
But it could have been so different had Stones not saved City against Liverpool on January 3.
City won that match 2-1, but it was very nearly a 2-2 draw.
The match was just 17 minutes old when Stones produced a remarkable clearance to deny Liverpool, with VAR showing just how close the ball came to crossing the line.
According to the Goal Decision System, 21.9cm of the ball had crossed the line, but an astonishing 11mm hadn’t.
Had the goal counted and the game finished a 2-2 draw, Liverpool probably would have finished on 98 points and City 96.
A lot might have changed in the games following, and there was probably countless moments throughout the season that could have gone either way.
But after one of the closest title races in EPL history, Liverpool will look back on this pesky 11mm that cost them.
Fans certainly haven’t forgotten about it:
John Stones, Everton legend. pic.twitter.com/Zew6tsOCAE
— We’re Everton FC (@WereEvertonFC) May 12, 2019
Everton selling John Stones to City knowing that he will clear a goal off the line and deny their biggest rivals getting their first ever PL trophy pic.twitter.com/xYQRhD4KW1
— π (@Leroyology) May 12, 2019
Thank you, John Stones! https://t.co/lZxTLRWn1k
— Sean Kent (@seankent) May 12, 2019
John Stones won City the league with that clearance
— Killua Zoldyck (@J1orJase) May 12, 2019
John Stones is a hero pic.twitter.com/2Cywnpbu17
— Matthew Gaskell (@Matthewgaskell1) May 12, 2019
Big fan of the fact John Stones has single handedly saved the world from anarchy. Give that man a knighthood. pic.twitter.com/5fjjFlq8C0
— Robert Mathers (@Robert_Mathers8) May 12, 2019
‘They pushed us’
City have now won four league titles in eight seasons but boss Guardiola said this championship win was the toughest of his glittering career to date.
“We worked a lot,” he said. “I have to say congratulations to Liverpool of course. Thank you so much. They helped to push us and to increase our standards from last season.
“To compete against this team pushed us to do what we have done. It’s incredible, 198 points in two seasons.”
Liverpool boss Klopp, when asked if there was anything else his team could have done this season, said on Sky Sports: “Not really.
“I know people will find always something and they tell us here the point, there the point.
“To get 97, 98 points… It’s not always about outplaying the opponent, it’s about staying in the race, staying on track, keep believing. That is what we did. I think it was for them difficult to get rid of us and we couldn’t get rid of them.
“Being second in the Premier League is not exactly what I wanted to be tonight, but we take that. It is for us the first step, that is how we see it. It was the first step (for) this team.”
with AAP