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Mourning at Arsenal: The defeat sealed the title of the competition

Photo: Clive Mason / Getty Images

Manchester City are English football champions for the ninth time. Because second-placed Arsenal FC lost 0-1 (0-1) at Nottingham Forest on Saturday, the Cityzens can no longer be denied first place in the Premier League. Pep Guardiola's side are four points clear of Arsenal, who have just one game left to play. City still had three league games ahead of them on Saturday night. The home game against Chelsea FC on Sunday will be a championship celebration.

Arsenal lost at Forest, which thus secured relegation, thanks to a goal from ex-Union Berlin striker Taiwo Awoniyi (19th minute). The Londoners had led the Premier League table for almost the entire season, but showed nerves in the final spurt. In the last eight games, former Guardiola assistant Mikel Arteta's team have won only twice. On the other hand, defending champions City with star striker Erling Haaland have recently won eleven league games in a row, including the direct duel with Arsenal.

The fifth championship in six years for Manchester City is the first of three possible titles this season. On 3 June, Pep Guardiola and his team will play the FA Cup final against Manchester United. A week later, the Champions League final will take place in Istanbul, where City will face Inter Milan. After Manchester United in 1999, Guardiola's club would be only the second football club from England to achieve the treble of league, cup and premier class.

Liverpool FC is in danger of missing out on qualifying for the Champions League for the first time in seven years. Jurgen Klopp's team did not get beyond a 1-1 (0-1) draw against Aston Villa, while rivals Man United won 1-0 (1-0) in Bournemouth.

With a three-point deficit to third and fourth place and only one game remaining, the 2019 Champions League winners will have to hope that Man United or Newcastle United will lose both their catch-up game and the last game of the season. In the case of Newcastle, Liverpool would also have to make up a seven-goal goal difference deficit.

Klopp only in the stands – Firmino scores in last home game

In his last home game for Liverpool, Roberto Firmino (89th minute) scored the late equaliser at Anfield. The Brazilian, who will leave the club in the summer, thus kept his team at least the minimal chance of reaching the Champions League after Jacob Ramsey (27th) had shot Aston Villa into the lead. The visitors from Birmingham had previously awarded a penalty. After a foul by Ibrahima Konaté on Villa's Ollie Watkins, the fouled man shot the penalty wide of the goal.

Jürgen Klopp had to watch the disappointing draw from the stands. The 55-year-old had been suspended for two games by the English Football Association because he had accused a referee of bias. On the last matchday, Klopp can still stand on the sidelines in Southampton. The coach will be allowed to serve the second part of the ban next season.

ara/dpa