Final-day title deciders show Liverpool must defy history to overtake Man City

VINCENT Kompany may not have only won three precious points for Manchester City on Monday night.

Indeed, if the Premier League past is a reliable guide, the Etihad skipper may just have delivered Pep Guardiola the title.

The win means a victory at Brighton on Sunday will confirm City as champions, retaining the crown for the first time in their history.

This weekend will be the eighth time the Prem title has been decided on the final day.

On all the previous seven, the side going into the last match ahead has held on to win the crown.

1994-95

Blackburn knew a win at Anfield would confirm their remarkable rise and few expected Kenny Dalglish’s former side Liverpool not to do him a favour.

Instead, the Reds came back from a goal down to win through Jamie Redknapp’s injury-time free-kick, opening the door for Manchester United.

But a stunning performance by West Ham keeper Ludek Miklosko kept United at bay time and again and the 1-1 draw was not enough to wrest the title from Blackburn’s hands.

1995-96

United had reeled in Newcastle after trailing by 12 and despite the “grey kit” fiasco at Southampton were two points ahead with one to play.

Newcastle needed to beat Spurs at St James’ Park and hope for a Middlesbrough win over United.

Neither materialised, with United cruising home 3-0 and Tottenham nicking a point on Tyneside.

1998-99

Arsenal were in the box seat but a midweek defeat at Leeds meant they had to better United’s result - with the extra twist that Feregie’s men were playing Spurs at Old Trafford.

Tottenham gave their rivals hope when they went in front before a David Beckham cross-shot levelled.

Andy Cole then hooked United ahead before Kanu score the only goal against Villa at Highbury as part one of what was to prove a remarkable Treble was won by a point.

2007-08

Chelsea’s failure to hold on for three points at home to Wigan meant they trailed by an insurmountable goal difference deficit heading into the final weekend.

But United did what they needed to do against Wigan while Avram Grant saw his side held to a 1-1 home draw by Bolton.

Chelsea’s frustration at the near-miss was compounded by a John Terry slip in Moscow two weeks later.

2009-10

This time it was Chelsea with the advantage going into the final game following their crucial victory at Old Trafford.

United did all they could, thumping Stoke 4-0.

But Chelsea did twice as well, pumping eight past a hapless Wigan to clock up a then-record 103 goals for the season and win by a point. The FA Cup was added a week later.

2011-12

The closest a side has come to blowing it on the final day - which made it all the sweeter for City fans.

A solitary Kompany goal was also the catalyst, his header in the rearranged derby taking City above United for the first time since early March.

But with United winning at Sunderland, QPR - led by former City boss Mark Hughes - were 2-1 up going into injury-time.

City fans were streaming out as Edin Dzeko headed in the equaliser and many still missed Sergio Aguero’s glory moment. Not that they’d let you know that.

2013-14

Another last day City win, but no drama this time as they simply had too much for West Ham.

Liverpool, left rueing that Steven Gerrard slip against Chelsea and surrendering a 3-0 lead at Crystal Palace, came back from a goal down to beat Newcastle.

But it did not matter, goals from Samir Nasri and Kompany securing the 2-0 win to confirm the title for Manuel Pellegrini.

Indeed, you have to go back to 1989 - three years before the creation of the Premier League - for the lead to change hands in the final game.

That, of course, is a match forever seared into the memory of both Liverpool and Arsenal fans.

George Graham’s side needed a two-goal win at Anfield, in a match delayed until six days after the FA Cup Final as a result of the Hillsborough disaster.

Alan Smith headed home but the game was entering stoppage time when Michael Thomas drove into the box to steal the trophy as the Liverpool ribbons were being prepared to be put on it.