Football: Rodgers concedes title after Liverpool blown away

Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers conceded the Premier League title to Manchester City after his side’s hopes of being crowned champions suffered a huge blow in a stunning 3-3 draw away to Crystal Palace. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers conceded the Premier League title to Manchester City after his side’s hopes of being crowned champions suffered a huge blow in a stunning 3-3 draw away to Crystal Palace. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

LONDON (AFP) - Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers conceded the Premier League title to Manchester City after his side's hopes of being crowned champions suffered a huge blow in a stunning 3-3 draw away to Crystal Palace.

Rodgers' men somehow squandered a three-goal lead with just 11 minutes remaining at Selhurst Park. The draw did see Liverpool return to the top of the table but left them just one point clear of second-placed Manchester City.

But City have two games, at home to Aston Villa and West Ham on Wednesday and Sunday, still to play compared to the Merseysiders' one against Newcastle at Anfield this weekend.

"It's very disappointing. Those were three poor goals we conceded," Rodgers told Sky Sports. "We needed to win tonight.

"I think Manchester City will go and win the title, and they will be champions." He added: "For 75 minutes it was an outstanding performance, we got the goals.

"We're very disappointed with how we conceded the three goals, it was real poor defending." The Reds were coasting to victory in south London at 3-0 up with 11 minutes left after goals from Joe Allen and two in two second-half minutes from strikers Daniel Sturridge and Luis Suarez.

The Uruguayan was equalling the Premier League record for a 38-game season with his 31st goal of the campaign.

But a Palace side safe from relegation, and with seemingly nothing to play for, turned the match on its head with Dwight Gayle scoring twice after Damien Delaney's 79th minute deflected shot brought them back into the match.

Come full time an inconsolable Suarez was in tears and so too were some of Liverpool's travelling fans as the prospect of a first English Championship in 24 years started to disappear before their eyes.

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