Leaking goals and tears in similar amounts - nobody who witnessed the scenes from Selhurst Park Monday could not have a sense of sympathy for Liverpool as the title slipped from their grasp. Their misery completed 24-hours later as the Etihad was reminded yet again why, for many, Yaya Toure and not Luis Suarez is the player of the year this season. Falling at a final fence is a BPL curse which has quivered the bottom lip of even Sir Alex Ferguson previously. Most famously, 2 years ago when added time heroics ensured the name Manchester City was etched onto the famous trophy for a first time. With just West Ham standing in the way, Manchester City appear the overwhelming favourites of securing a second title in three years. Not so fast. West Ham has gatecrashed a BPL parade previously. Before the top tier of English football turned into the global juggernaut it has now become, a bus parked by West Ham in the final match of the 1994/95 season denied Manchester United the title as the teams played out a 1-1 draw. With United denied the win, it was Blackburn managed by Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish who won the league. Even after they suffered defeat at the hands of his old club on the final day of the season. After waking up this morning to the headlines he would be fired, West Hams much maligned Sam Allardyce, who just a few weeks ago witnessed his own fans turn on him following their win over Hull, will be chomping at the bit to prove his naysayers wrong and end the season on a winning note. Its not like West Ham has not got form this season when it comes to destroying the plans of top clubs. Jose Mourinho branding their football as 19th Century following a dire Stamford Bridge stalemate back in January. With the relegation places all decided and handed out to teams who believed a managerial change was needed to inject survival into their BPL life, all attention Sunday will be on the Etihad and Anfield. Brendan Rogers put his best brave face on earlier today at his pre-match press conference when he emphatically stated the title race was not over. With not a hint of irony on his face, Rodgers singled out Andy Carroll, a player he immediately discarded after taking over at Anfield in summer 2013, as Manchester Citys destroyer. Its not known if it was Rodgers who addressed the Liverpool dressing room in the aftermath of the Selhurst Park devastation. It may well have been Dr. Steven Peters the renowned psychiatrist who Steven Gerrard credited recently as saving his career following an injury the Liverpool captain suffered in 2010. Drafted in by Roy Hodgson as part of Englands backroom staff for the World Cup, Peters has been working with Liverpool since last fall. He is widely credited with the rehabilitation and rejuvenation of Luis Suarez this season. Stevens theory holds that the secret to success is in effective management of our "Inner Chimp" - that emotive part of the brain which affects our ability to make rational choices and decisions. Manuel Pellegrini likely didnt have full control of his inner chimp when he proclaimed shortly after Wednesdays Aston Villa triumph, "Of course I expect to win the title because now we are top of the table." Being top of the table has been a poisoned chalice all season long. Manchester City leapfrogging Liverpool was the 25th such change at the top since opening day last August. Arsenal has spent the longest period on top, followed by Chelsea, then Liverpool. Manchester City has spent less than two weeks at the BPL summit. Remarkably, if just for 48-hours, even David Moyes experienced top-spot euphoria. As Liverpool still has a remote chance of been crowned champions come noon hour on the east coast Sunday, very early in the morning the Premier League trophy will arrive at Anfield. En route it is not likely going to drive past the homes of Luis Suarez or Steven Gerrard. Much folly and merriment has been made of Gerrards slip allowing for Demba Ba to score Chelseas opener a fortnight ago. Video and images of which, could shadow and stalk the Liverpool captain the remainder of his playing days and after. With the curtain about to come down on a season which has had more twists and turns than a John La Carré best seller - there is no player more deserving of a winners medal than Gerrard. Even Ferguson, who we learned earlier in the season had less than complimentary words for Gerrard in his autobiography, will likely be cheering for Liverpool under his breath and that a quiet hush comes over his old noisy neighbour Sunday. Noel.Butler@BellMedia.ca @TheSoccerNoel On Sunday, beginning with a pre-game show on TSN 2 at 9:30am et / 6:30am pt TSN, TSN Radio and TSN.ca has you fully covered for the exciting BPL season finale. Reggie Wayne Colts Jersey . 1. Did the Senators trade the wrong goalie? Lets make one thing clear: The Ottawa Senators acquired Ben Bishop from the St. Louis Blues for one reason and one reason alone. Johnny Unitas Youth Jersey . Sami Vatanen had a goal and an assist and Anaheim used a four-goal first period to extend their winning streak to six games with a 5-2 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Tuesday night. http://www.coltsofficialstore.us/authentic-khari-willis-colts-jersey/ .The surgery was performed by Dr. William Meyers at the Vincera Institute in Philadelphia.Letestu had three goals and two assists in nine games before being injured in late October.The 29-year-old has 54 goals and 65 assists in 273 career NHL games, including 39 goals and 51 assists in 188 games with the Blue Jackets. Andrew Luck Colts Jersey . -- Zach Johnson is like most players at the World Challenge, not sure whether hes still playing in 2013 or if hes in the middle of the new wraparound season that officially started in October. Malik Hooker Youth Jersey . It was just business as usual for the Thunder at home. Durant scored 32 points and the Thunder beat the Bulls 107-95 on Thursday night for their eighth straight win.AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- Brandon Jennings made the most of his first game with the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night. Brad Stevens third game with the Boston Celtics was just like his first two. Jennings had 14 points and four steals in 31 minutes and Andre Drummond and Josh Smith added 15 points each to help the Pistons keep the Celtics and their first-year coach winless with an 87-77 victory. "Im ready to play now," Jennings said after missing the teams first two games and most of the preseason with a jaw fracture related to a wisdom tooth. The Pistons (2-1) trailed 65-63 early in the fourth quarter but went on a 10-0 run to take the lead for good and win their second home game in as many tries. Drummond added 12 rebounds for his second straight double-double and Greg Monroe grabbed 10. Jennings had two steals after the Celtics cut the lead to 79-77 with less than 2 minutes to play. He got the first steal to Rodney Stuckey, who was fouled and made two free throws to give the Pistons some breathing room. Detroit held Boston scoreless the rest of the way. "It was good to see him out there and the effect he can have on the team," coach Maurice Cheeks said of Jennings. "He brings a little electricity to a game." Rookie Kelly Olynyk scored 15 points and Avery Bradley and Jordan Crawford added 13 each for the Celtics (0-3). "We had stretches where we played well defensively," Olynyk said, "but there were too many times when they got away with a couple of big runs." The Pistons outscored the Celtics 10-5 in the last 5 minutes of the first half andd took a 45-35 lead.dddddddddddd Boston made just five field goals in the second quarter and had that many turnovers. The Celtics finished with 24 turnovers and Detroit had 21. Cheeks said turnovers -- the Pistons had 60 in their first three games -- remain a concern. "Our defence is usually pretty good but when we have turnovers, its tough to get back and defend," he said. "Its something we have to keep working on." Detroit was much more effective on the glass, where it outrebounded Boston 44-37. "We had our opportunities," Stevens said. "They pounded us in the paint all night and that really hurt us." Detroit outscored Boston 54-38 down low. Jennings, who came to Detroit during the off-season in a sign-and-trade deal with Milwaukee, wore a facemask that covered his chin. He took the mask off in the fourth quarter because it was uncomfortable. His jaw remains closed with a series of bands while the fracture heals. "Im not used to playing with something on my face so it was my decision to take it off," he said. He fell to the court after colliding with Brandon Bass in the final seconds of the first half but showed no ill effects when he returned for the third quarter. NOTES: Crawford was assessed a technical foul by referee Sean Corbin midway through the fourth quarter. ... Detroit F Charlie Villanueva (left shoulder) missed his third straight game. ... Detroit wore navy jerseys with "Motor City" in place of the teams name. The salute to the regions automotive heritage will be worn nine more times this season. ' ' '
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