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The 2018/19 Premier League Title Race Could Be Decided By Millimetres

The 2018/19 Premier League Title Race Could Be Decided By Millimetres

The finest of margins...

Josh Lawless

Josh Lawless

One of the closest title races in Premier League history could well be decided by a matter of millimetres courtesy of goal-line technology.

Manchester City and Liverpool have both been frighteningly consistent at the top of the table, with reigning champions City currently on 92 points from 36 games, just a point ahead of Jurgen Klopp's side.

There's only four goals in it in terms of the goal difference between the top two but the fine margins do not stop there.

City's 1-0 win over Burnley in a potential banana-skin fixture at Turf Moor was achieved through Sergio Aguero's 20th goal of the season in the 63rd minute - the goal being given thanks to the alert from goal-line technology coming up on the watch of Paul Tierney.

Clarets defender Matt Lowton got back in to hook the ball clear, and in real-time, it looked as though he might just have done enough to prevent the ball going over the line.

However, replays showed that Aguero's effort had indeed crossed the line - by 29.5 millimetres to be exact - and City returned to the summit as a result.

VAR might not be City's friend but goal-line technology definitely is - after the remarkably close call in the top of the table clash between City and Liverpool at the Etihad in January.

In the first half, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah combined magnificently to put teammate Sadio Mane through on goal, but his shot struck the post.

John Stones tried to clear it off the line but the clearance rebounded off goalkeeper Ederson.

Then, somehow, Stones then managed to react quickly and produce the most incredible goal-line clearance, nutmegging Salah in the process. The ball was just 12mm from being over the line and putting Liverpool 1-0 up in a game they went on to lose 2-1.

Image: PA
Image: PA

It's the Reds' only league defeat this season and if both sides win their remaining two games, that crucial win for City will not only see them celebrating, it will have also stopped Liverpool from having an 'Invincibles' campaign as well as ensuring that Pep Guardiola's side are the only team to have amassed a record 100 points in a single Premier League season.

If City go on to retain the Premier League title they will become the first team to do so since Manchester United in 2008/09 and we reckon goal-line technology might just deserve a winners' medal.

Featured Image Credit:

Topics: Manchester City, Liverpool, Football News, Football, Premier League, Goal-line technology