Manchester City are the Premier League champions.
But that statement does not go anywhere near conveying this epic title race although it did feel so right that the goal that sealed it, the third one, the one that cleared the City bench in celebration, with Pep Guardiola punching the air, was a beauty.
But then City’s contest with Liverpool has been a thing of beauty all season and even on this final day there was a final twist. For 21 minutes Liverpool were champions, as they scored and Brighton took the lead here, but the new world order restored itself with goals by Sergio Aguero, Aymeric Laporte and that wonderful strike by Riyad Mahrez before Ilkay Gundogan’s almost equally as stunning free-kick.
It meant City claimed a fourth title in eight seasons and, in so doing, became the first team to retain it since Manchester United in 2009 which means a lot to manager Pep Guardiola.
They also became the first team to end a top-flight season with 14 consecutive victories, breaking Arsenal’s record from 2002.
It has been that stunning and it has taken such a stunning effort to beat Liverpool by just a point. Between them the two fine sides have 195 points, the first time two teams have passed 90 points in a season, with City finishing on top with 98. Incredible.
And so the lead at the top of the table changed again, during the game, with Brighton taking the lead. The Amex erupted. It came from a corner, conceded by goalkeeper Ederson, with Glenn Murray stealing in at the near post to head home. City were caught out. Murray had gone untracked, left by Oleksandr Zinchenko who surely should not have been marking him, and it summed up the flatness of the opening period from the champions-elect; they did appear nervous and lacking sharpness.
Final score: Brighton 1-4 Manchester City.
Photo: Dubai CP, Sheikh Hamdan rejoices with Man City on their #PremierLeague win tonight.
UP MAN CITY!
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