Liverpool’s coronation is inevitable, but their biggest rivals could’ve delayed the party well into July.
Everton drew 0-0 with their cross-town rivals at Goodison Park on Sunday, which means Liverpool can’t clinch their first-ever Premier League title until Wednesday at the absolute earliest and July 2 at the latest. Had Liverpool won, a Manchester City loss on Monday would’ve sealed the title for the Reds.
Liverpool’s magic number is down to five, so which clinching dates are in play and what combination of results would allow the Reds’ to win their first top-flight title in three decades? Let’s examine some of the possibilities.
Liverpool will clinch Wednesday (June 24) if …
- Burnley beats OR draws Manchester City on Monday
- Liverpool beats Crystal Palace on Wednesday
Liverpool will clinch Thursday (June 25) if …
- Manchester City beats Burnley on Monday
- Liverpool beats Crystal Palace on Wednesday
- Chelsea beats OR draws Manchester City on Thursday
Liverpool will clinch July 2 if …
- Manchester City beats Burnley on Monday
- Liverpool beats Crystal Palace on Wednesday
- Manchester City beats Chelsea on Thursday
- Liverpool beats OR draws Manchester City on July 2
You get the picture, right? In short, Liverpool dropping any points combined with Manchester City failing to do so will prolong the Reds’ clinching date. Liverpool has to beat City on July 2 to avoid extending the clinch date further into next month, but the Reds will wrap up the title no matter what with two more wins.
It would take an epic collapse for Liverpool to not win the title, but supporters surely won’t mind an extra month — excluding the three they missed with the Premier League season suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic — after waiting 30 years to see it happen.
Source:NBC Sports
