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It would take some extremely blue-tinted glasses to argue that Manchester City deserve to win the Premier League this season ahead of Liverpool, yet there may still be a world where they remain reigning champions heading into next season.

It is far-fetched, but the longer the Premier League is suspended, the stronger the calls will be to cancel the remaining fixtures and use an alternative method to decide how - or if - the final league standings are decided.

This week France joined the Netherlands in ending their football seasons early after government directives banning sporting events before September. The Eredivisie opted to void the season and not elect a champion, with Ajax and AZ Alkmaar level on points at the top. Ligue 1 are yet to decide how to determine final standings, although PSG were 12 points clear at the top before the season was suspended so there is more justification to awarding the title.

Premier League clubs will hold a conference call later this week to discuss the next steps for finishing their own season, with the hope that it will be possible to complete the remaining 92 fixtures and finish the season through sporting merit.

However, that decision may be taken out of their hands and the decision will have to be made to void the season or decide the final standings another way.

On the face of it, voiding the season would spare City losing their status as Premier League champions and allow them to put their failed title defence behind them. The extra time to prepare for next season would also be more beneficial than a condensed run-in with nothing to play for followed by a reduced pre-season for 2020/21.

But voiding the season would likely see City's Carabao Cup and Community Shield titles scrubbed off, as well as denying them one of their main motivations for next season: a point to prove.

If Liverpool, deservedly, win the Premier League this season, City will be able to use the pain of seeing their rivals take their trophy to fuel the 2021 title challenge.

After Liverpool knocked City out of the Champions League in 2018 so emphatically, Pep Guardiola's men won two and drew one of the next three meetings with the Reds. They were stronger after the experience of seeing Liverpool succeed at their expense.

Another Champions League disappointment followed last season against Tottenham, and there was a noticeable change in determination when the next knockout game came around in March at the Bernabeu. That tie isn't finished, but City produced one of their best-ever European performances to put themselves in pole position to progress.

This is a side who do not like losing, and they rarely make the same mistakes twice.

So in order for the team to be in the right frame of mind to win back their Premier League crown, they need a trophy to win back. And that means Liverpool winning the title this season.

The alternative could be a scorned, trophy-less Liverpool side with a bigger point to prove than City could ever compete with.

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Man City need Liverpool FC to win Premier League to boost 2021 challenge - Manchester Evening News

In the 45-year history of the PBA, a Grand Slam - one team winning all three conferences in a single season - has only been accomplished five times, with Crispa winning in 1976 and 1983, San Miguel in 1989, Alaska in 1996 and San Mig Coffee in 2014. For our latest series, we interviewed one player from each of those Grand Slam teams. We started with the 1976 Redmanizers and followed it up with 1983 squad. Now we move on to the 1989 San Miguel Beermen.

Today's generation of PBA fans know very well their favorite San Miguel Beer idols like June Mar Fajardo, the pro league's only six-time MVP, Terrence Romeo, Arwind Santos, Chris Ross, and Alex Cabagnot, just to name few.

This batch of SMB has been running roughshod over its opponents since coach Leo Austria came on board in 2014. Austria brought his coaching magic to the Beermen's camp, turning the once talented but underachieving squad into the most dominant ballclub today.

San Miguel has in fact, won eight league championships, including five All-Filipino Cup crowns in a row, a feat that could be hard to match in the years to come.

Twice under Austria's watch, San Miguel came close to winning what could have been the second Grand Slam finish in franchise history. But in both instances, Barangay Ginebra thwarted that bid after ruling the season-ending Governors' Cup in 2017 and 2019 behind super import Justin Brownlee.

Former San Miguel star center Ramon Fernandez, who owns numerous individual league records, recognized the dominance of today's version of San Miguel.

But then again, he's got his own story to tell, especially since his 1989 San Miguel team finished the season with aplomb by winning the Grand Slam, making SMB just the second team to achieve the rare feat at that time.

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Black magic

San Miguel's 1989 batch comprised the core of Fernandez, playmaker Hector Calma, Samboy Lim, shooting guard Ricardo Brown, bruising forwards Yves Dignadice and Alvin Teng, and role players Elmer Reyes and Franz Pumaren.

Even with such a star-studded lineup, Fernandez stressed there were no prima donnas in the team, a reason why SMB coach Norman Black could focus on his job of plotting the team's championship run that season.

"Our team during 1989 was a powerhouse team. In fact, our internal joke back then was, even our ballboy can coach our team and win the championship," Fernandez told ESPN5, while laughing in between during the interview.

However, Fernandez, nicknamed "El Presidente", said that joke wasn't meant to disrespect nor belittle the coaching abilities of Black.

2018 San Miguel Beer versus...

1989 San Miguel Beer 1993 Coney Island 1995 Sunkist Orange 2001 San Miguel Beer 2007 Barangay Ginebra 2011 Talk 'N Text

"The great thing about having Norman was he can really focus on getting the best import for the team each conference," recalled Fernandez, who now serves as one of the commissioners of the Philippine Sports Commission.

"Norman can easily talk to the import because one, they speak the same language, and second, he understands what type of import we need for a particular conference," he added.

The 66-year-old Filipino basketball icon said he had high regard for Black, whom he faced numerous times since the American coach served as import in various teams like Tefilin (1981), San Miguel (1982) and Magnolia/SMB (1985-1988).

"As far as coaching, there's no more question about his ability because no player in his right mind would try to question Norman. He never had any problem with the team because everyone was coachable," explained Fernandez, whose bid for a then record fifth PBA MVP was denied when Shell's Benjie Paras won the Rookie of the Year and league MVP in 1989.

In the 45-year history of the PBA, there have been over 120 championship series. We take a look back at the most memorable ones, five from each decade of the league's existence.

1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s

Championship juggernaut

San Miguel kicked off the season by sweeping two-round eliminations of the Open Conference on the way to an immaculate 10-0 record behind import Michael Phelps, who back then was coming off NBA stints with the Seattle Supersonics and Los Angeles Clippers.

The Beermen continued their dominance in the semifinals as they breezed their way to the Finals where they arranged a best-of-seven title series with Shell, which had the do-it-all Bobby Parks as its import.

While Parks was a scoring dynamo, and Paras and Ronnie Magsanoc played their guts out during the Finals, the Turbo Chargers were simply no match for the Beermen's championship experience, talent and firepower as they went on to rule the 1989 Open Conference via a 4-1 series win.

A month after the title conquest, San Miguel resumed its title bid, this time in the All-Filipino Conference, where Fernandez's former team Purefoods emerged as the team to beat.

The Hotdogs rolled on the solid core of Alvin Patrimonio, Jerry Codinera and Jojo Lastimosa. But the Beermen were not far behind. San Miguel and Purefoods eventually arranged a race-to-four-wins championship series.

The championship series offered an interesting subplot as Fernandez faced his former team for the first time since his aborted stint with Purefoods in the 1988 season.

For PBA fans, there's nothing like nostalgia. A handful of ESPN5.com writers present interesting and timeless pieces, tackling a wide range of unique topics.

45 interesting trivia about the PBA Ranking the near-Grand Slam teams Memorable PBA backcourt tandems Memorable PBA frontcourt tandems Greatest PBA 'what-ifs' (1970s-1990s) Greatest PBA 'what-ifs' (2000s-2010s) 5 potential Greatest Players additions Players who became stars after trade

Fernandez admitted he and then Purefoods president and chairman Rene Buhain didn't see eye to eye during his brief stint with the Hotdogs.

The former PBA four-time MVP had led Purefoods to a runner-up finish during the 1988 Open Conference as its playing-coach. He then guided the young Purefoods side to the Finals in the All-Filipino Conference, but was subsequently benched in the title series against Aejo Rhum.

The 65ers of playing coach Robert Jaworski eventually won the All-Filipino crown via a 3-1 series conquest.

From there, Fernandez was traded to San Miguel in a straight swap with Abet Guidaben.

With his troubles from the not-so-distant past with Purefoods as a backdrop, Fernandez played his guts out during the Finals to help the Beermen to a 4-2 series victory.

It was SMB's first All-Filipino crown in the pro league, but more importantly, the Beermen moved one conference away from the Grand Slam.

The Reinforced Conference though became the most challenging stretch for San Miguel. The Beermen struggled with Keith Smart, the team's original import, who lasted just the first round of eliminations and had to be replaced by NBA journeyman Ennis Whatley.

The Beermen though regrouped to book the semis after ending 1-2 in the standings with the Hotdogs with similar 6-4 records.

But SMB went on to win six of its last eight games from there to book the Finals seat.

Aejo Rhum, on the other hand, squeaked past Purefoods, 113-112 in their knockout game for the last Finals berth to arrange a titular duel with San Miguel.

ESPN5.com identifies 45 talented imports throughout the PBA's existence who have left indelible marks on Filipino hoop fans.

1970s edition 1980s edition 1990s edition 2000s edition 2010s edition

Other features:PBA imports who have won an NCAA titleNBA champions who played in the PBA

Although San Miguel had to deal with a scoring demon in Aejo Rhum import Carlos Briggs, who earned his reputation after recording 80 or more points three times during the conference, San Miguel emerged on top just the same.

Briggs, the Reinforced Conference Best Import, closed out the title series with an eye-popping Finals average of 64.6 points. But San Miguel saved its best in the finals, playing like a well-oiled machine behind the heads-up plays of Whatley, Brown, Lim Calma and Fernandez.

The Beermen eventually dominated the Rhum Masters, 4-1 in the Finals to complete their Grand Slam mission.

"Winning the Grand Slam is really hard. The health of the players is very critical. Certainly, you need to be intact for the whole season to make that happen, though for our team then, Ricky Brown had his own share of injuries, while Samboy missed some games also," shared Fernandez, who concluded his PBA career with 19 championships and a spot in the PBA's 40 Greatest Players.

San Miguel finished the 1989 season with a 50-21 win-loss record, with Fernandez and Calma being named to the Mythical First Team and Reyes and Teng making the Second Team. Teng was also named to the All-Defensive Team.

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'Powerhouse team': Mon Fernandez reflects on SMB's 1989 Grand Slam - ESPN

I SAW a post the other day about that day being the international day for goalkeepers. Thats interesting. Goalkeepers are a unique bunch and boy can they make or break a team. That post had me recalling some of the most memorable goalkeeping moments/personas I encountered in Cebu. Sorry, no active keepers here, you guys still have a career ahead of you.

1. Paolo Pascual. Yep, hes the son of my friend but thats not the reason why I always say hes my favorite. Ive seen this guy develop from a pudgy first grader to a pro. And, one of his memorable outings for me was when as a 16-year-old, or was it 17, he took rejected everything Joshua Fegidero had to give. During that season, the former national team could score at will, but at that game he couldnt. There was one sequence when after a save, Paolo had to run back and parry out a follow-up. This is his best performance, a coach, whose team has lost many a final to Paolo, told me that time. And thats the ultimate compliment.

2. Fr. Leo Dizon. Paolos the youngest on my list and on the opposite end is Fr. Leo Dizon. And the only reason I remember his name was when my former boss Jack Biantan told me that the starting keeper in the mens final was a 40-something priest. Seriously? I told Jack, who loved to joke. And I think he acquainted himself well in that final.

3. Ace Mangohig. Love him, hate him but Ace, the Hiroshi keeper, was one entertaining dude. Come to think of it, he was, for me the most entertaining keeper that Ive ever seen in my two decades covering football. Yep, he had antics that led to his coaches getting more white hairs but boy he did back it up with his saves. I can just imagine, if Ace was active now, his moments would go viral.

4. Crazy Global Keeper. If Ace had his antics, that crazy Global FC keeper in the AFC Presidents Cup in Cebu was just plain crazy. His awkwardness in the pre-game warm-ups made me think whoever scouted him must have needed his glasses checked but it was his actions in his last game that confirmed it. Late into a knockout game, if youre trailing, you may expect the keeper to go up field, but the crazy dude collected a cross and dribbled the ball upfield in the first half! He was promptly substituted and I was told in jest when I saw him missing in the post-game dinner that he was sent straight to the airport.

5. Unnamed keeper. Now this is a bit tragic. Every time theres talk of the best keepers in Cebu, I want to include this guys name, but I dont. The things he could do between the post was a marvel despite his small frame. But all of that is forgotten, because he holds the distinction of being the only guy who was banner news in the sports pages and banner news in the news pages a few weeks later.

The last time I chatted with him, I asked him how he was. Regrets were there, of course, and our conversations are usually ended by him saying, Ayaw saba nag chat ta, lisud na masakpan ta naa ko cell phone. Sige ra ba sila raid.

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Limpag: Moments that keep - Yahoo Philippines News

CONOR WHELAN says inter-county players would need to be given more than two weeks of collective training before returning to action.

And given the uncertainty over when games will resume, the Galway hurling star does not believe it is unthinkable to even see the Championship run off in the last quarter of the year.

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He said: I do think the Championship is going to be played. I think a lot of it depends over the next two weeks, how this pandemic goes.

Right now the country is shut down, if they shut down the country for another two or three weeks after the cut off date next week then thats going to have a big impact.

But I can see it being feasible playing it later on in the year. Obviously youd have an issue with club championships then and different things like that.

But you know, I think we do have a lot of floodlit venues around the country and I think we do have our headquarters in Croke Park which is also under lights and Croke Park could take games most of the year round.

So I dont think it would be out of the question to play it later on in the year. Look, ideally everyone wants this pandemic to pass and just to go back to the way things were.

Hopefully that would be in July, in an ideal set of circumstances, but currently all we can do is kind of speculate and guess.

But I dont think it wouldnt be feasible to play it later on in the year.

I think that is something that probably will be talked about, if this pandemic draws on longer.

But whenever games do resume, Whelan reckons players will need to be afforded more than two weeks of preparation beforehand.

He added: To be honest with you, I dont think two weeks is adequate time.

Like, if you are telling me in two weeks that were going to be playing our first round championship game whether its round robin a straight knockout you can probably take the week before the game out of it.

"You are not going to get any level of training done the week of a game, because obviously you need to bring back down the intensity and the load that week.

So really you are talking one week of collective training.

What can you do in a week? Three sessions.

And then you are going out playing in a knockout game, hypothetically speaking, or if you are playing a round-robin game, if you lose your first game you are under serious pressure.

"So I dont think two weeks is adequate, I think four weeks in the current circumstances would probably be ideal at the moment.

Obviously wed all like to get a bit longer, but I think four weeks would be adequate time, wed have three weeks of good hard training together and then the week of the game wed be able to bring the load back down.

I think its not even about collective training, I think its just about getting the group back together, getting everyone on the same wavelength and everybody pulling in the same direction.

We broke up two weeks ago and I suppose for players it is difficult to be training away on your own, youre probably not able to do the same level of training as you would be able to collectively.

I suppose four weeks would afford you an opportunity to get sharper and maybe get up to a certain level, that two weeks definitely wouldnt.

Whelan is currently teaching English and History in Ballygar and while he is teaching his students remotely during the shutdown, the Kinvara man admits it can be tricky.

He added: Im teaching in Microsoft Team there at home so that is fairly difficult, some students are having issues with IT and no access to internet in some homes and in others through a lack of either wanting to do it or finding it difficult to do it, isolated on their own.

Thats extremely difficult for teachers to be able to manage all that but were just trying to do the best we can and hopefully well get the chance to pick it up again.

But you definitely wouldnt be satisfied with the level of teaching that youre able to do online but I suppose you just have to do the most with what you have.

Im extremely fortunate that I dont have any exam years. I have fifth years all right so thats fairly important that they get a high level of education in regards to doing their exams next year.

The number one priority in the school at the moment is exam students.

Leaving Cert students, obviously its a very difficult time for them. Theyre kind of left in the unknown I suppose really.

Whelan tries to keep himself busy during the days by working and keeping as active as possible.

He said: Just trying to keep a consistent routine, really. Probably getting up at 8.15 or 8.30 every morning, make myself breakfast, a smoothie and an omelette or something like that and maybe going into Kinvara and getting a coffee.

Then, coming out home and giving a hand around the house and doing a few chores, trying to get a gym session done then tearing into the schoolwork.

So I spend about two or three hours on the schoolwork because they all submit their work.

They take a photograph of the work theyve done because theyve written it into their copy and submit it online, so I have to try and download that and print it out and look over it and review it and write back some feedback for the students.

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And then if they are any students who havent submitted work I have to try to track them down and see whats going on so thats a very tedious process and it takes a fair chunk out of my day.

And then I try to get some activity in the evening whether thats going to the ball wall or going for a run, just trying to stay fit and healthy at the same time adhering to the distancing guidelines.

l Conor Whelan was speaking at the launch of Patrick Bourke Menswear Kings of the Game campaign.

See more here:
Galways hurling ace Conor Whelan says teams would need four weeks to prepare for a return to Championship - The Irish Sun

Pele once called football the beautiful game, but it isnt always as attractive to watch as that famous line makes it out to be.

Many games of football dont adhere to that adage. Some matches are so ugly, violent and dirty that they enter the history books, gaining notoriety for their hideousness.

A bit of physicality is expected, indeed sometimes encouraged, in football, but it can go too far. A rush of blood to the head, a lust for revenge, a mistimed tackle or a referee who is simply out of his depth can lead to a match that embodies only brutality and savagery.

Often we are grimly fascinated by these events, but they are rarely spectacles worth watching. Sometimes we wish they had never happened at all.

Quite possibly one of the worst World Cup spectacles of the past 30 years, Portugal and Netherlands last-16 encounter stands as one of the most unwatchable matches in the competitions history, even if it wasnt allthat violent. Rather, this knockout game was an ugly contest that featured very little actual football, plenty of fouls and a card-happy referee.

The backdrop to this was FIFAs attempt at stamping out violent and cynical fouling before the tournament began, which amounted to ordering the officials to yellow card just about everything. The flaw in this strategy should have been obvious from the moment it was suggested: if everything is a booking, then you just end up with more bookings, inadvertently punish good tackles, and are still no closer to solving the problem.

This match exposed the failings of this approach in the cold light of day, as referee Valentin Ivanov issued a record 16 yellow cards and four red cards. Naturally it was Mark van Bommel who set the ball rolling, receiving a yellow for a cynical foul inside the first two minutes, while Costinha was the first to get his marching orders for a second bookable offence a completely brainless handball just before half-time.

The second-half descended into pure chaos. Luis Figo headbutted Van Bommel, which led to Luis Felipe Scolaris famous line, Jesus Christ may be able to turn the other cheek, but Luis Figo is not Jesus Christ. Khalid Boulahrouz received a second caution in the 63rd minute, Wesley Sneijder was booked during a touchline brawl, and Deco also received his second yellow with 12 minutes remaining.

Giovanni van Bronckhorsts injury-time sending off was the icing on top of an extremely bitterly tasting cake that finished with nine men apiece and a 1-0 win for the Portuguese. The famous image of Van Bronckhorst, Deco and Boulahrouz sitting on the steps of the stand as the game played out was described as the bad boys corner by commentator Gary Bloom.

Tino Asprilla: The mercurial Colombian who charmed Newcastle

An ill-tempered First Division affair that led to the first ever abandonment of an English Football League game, Sheffield United versus West Bromwich Albion has its own special place in the annals of football history.

The match did display at least some sense of fine football before descending into absurdity, with splendid goals from Scott Dobie and Derek McInnes giving the Baggies a 2-0 lead. The game got off to a wretched start for the Blades, however, as goalkeeper Simon Tracey was sent off for deliberate handball in the ninth minute. Peter Ndlovu was the sacrificial substitute to get a new goalie on the field.

After conceding the second goal, United manager Neil Warnock made a double substitution in the 64th minute, but in a matter of moments both subs were back off the pitch. George Santos committed one of the worst two-footed lunges youll ever see, a tackle that was surely revenge for the shattered cheekbone Johnson had inflicted on him a year previously. Fellow sub Patrick Suffo was sent off in the subsequent melee for headbutting McInnes. Unsurprisingly neither ever played for the club again.

Dobie made it 3-0 with 13 minutes remaining, before the real farce began. Michael Brown limped off soon after, before Robert Ullathorne went off with injury five minutes later. With United down to six men, the referee had no other option to call a halt to proceedings.

The Football League awarded West Brom the win and the three points, while Sheffield were fined 10,000, Suffo given a six game ban and a 3000 fine for violent conduct, Santos a six game ban and Warnock fined 300 for improper conduct towards the fourth official.

Albion manager Gary Megson was spot on in his estimation of the match, referring to it as all that crap.

Peter Ndlovu: The Premier Leagues first ever African footballer

When Chelsea faced Leeds United in the 1970 FA Cup final, the match finished 2-2 after extra-time and both sides engaged in a lap of honour around the Wembley pitch. The field was in such a rotten condition afterwards, though, that the replay had to be played at Old Trafford, and the atmosphere was considerably less good-natured.

Dave Sextons London outfit were considered as flashy and flamboyant southerners, while the Peacocks had gained a reputation as Dirty Leeds under Don Revie for their negative and cynical approach. The contrast in styles and geography added spice to this encounter and the return fixture became one of the most iconic matches in English football, for good and bad reasons.

The two teams were later praised for competing in such a determined manner in a highly competitive match, but were also criticised for being so overtly physical. Chelseas Ron Chopper Harris lived up to his name by kicking Eddie Gray in the back of the knee, while Eddie McCreadie completed a flying kick on Billy Bremners head.

And those were only the most notable incidents in the game; Hutchinson and Norman Hunter also traded punches and Jack Charlton kneed and headbutted Peter Osgood, with plenty more niggle throughout the decider as well.

Modern-day referee David Elleray reviewed the match in 1997, according toWikipedia, and concluded that the sides would have received six red cards and twenty yellow cards between them, in the modern era of football. And yet, Chelseas Ian Hutchinson was the only one to get booked through the 90 minutes.

The Blues won the replay 2-1 to secure their first ever FA Cup win having only lead the tie once across both matches.

The now defunct Intercontinental Cup saw the winners of the European Cup and Copa Libertadores face off in a two-legged tie every year. The most infamous edition of the competition came in 1967 when Glasgow Celtic faced Racing Club from Argentina.

The Hoops won the first leg at home 1-0 in an encounter fraught with cynical fouling and spitting, but the second leg was no better, ending 2-1 to Racing. With the tie level at one win apiece, a play-off had to be played to decide the winner, with Uruguayan capital Montevideo chosen as the neutral venue.

It was an utter disaster as a game and spectacle, as Racing set out to cynically foul their way through the match. Paraguayan referee Rodolfo Perez Osorio lost complete control of proceedings, while Celtic lost their cool and composure, retaliating to their opponents incitements.

Its a bad sign when riot police have to intervene on the pitch, as four Celtic and two Racing players were sent off. The Argentine outfit won the tie 1-0 in the end.

Juninho overcame the monstrous cold to become a 90s Boro legend

Everyone thinks back to Netherlands versus Portugal when it comes to the dirtiest World Cup matches, but the most violent of them all happened in 1962 when Italy took on Chile and not a single card was dished out.

Prior to the group stage encounter, the Italian press had some unsavoury words for the host nation, which amped up the animosity ahead of kick-off. The contest was more of a precursor to MMA fighting than a football match with filthy tackles, flying kicks and punches being thrown right throughout the 90 minutes.

The game remarkably reached a conclusion without the need for it to be abandoned, as Chile ran out 1-0 winners, but it would have a far-reaching effect on the sport. Referee Ken Aston was officiating that day and he was appointed Head of Refereeing for the 1966 World Cup in England, and following another tournament replete with nasty challenges, he came up with a solution.

While driving his car one day he stopped at some traffic lights, inspiring him with an idea that would change the game forever: red and yellow cards. The 1970 World Cup was the first tournament to introduce cards, giving referees a new means to stamp their authority on the game.

Read: The Battle of Oriel Park When The Troubles and football collided

See Also: The English clubs with the most points gained since 1888

Excerpt from:
Five of the most brutal, violent matches in football history - The Football Faithful