MANCHESTER CITY have made history by being crowned Premier League champions for the fourth season in a row.
Pep Guardiola and Co continued their relentless form to wrap up the league title courtesy of a 3-1 victory over West Ham.
Man City leapfrogged the Gunners on Tuesday after beating Tottenham 2-0 in North London.
And they secured the title against the Hammers on the final day.
Phil Foden dashed Arsenal dreams by scoring a screamer after just 79 seconds.
The newly crowned Premier League Player of the Season then doubled City’s advantage by sweeping home Jeremy Doku’s cut-back on 18 minutes.
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Mohammed Kudus did pull one back on the stroke of half time, converting a brilliant, acrobatic strike.
Rodri then calmed any City nerves by restoring their two-goal cushion with a strike from the edge of the box on 59 minutes.
City have become the first team in Premier League history to win four consecutive crowns.
The Etihad outfit have now won the league in six of the last seven seasons – asserting an unprecedented level of dominance on England’s top flight.
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City, as per usual, were near flawless when it mattered most at the end of the season.
Guardiola led his side on a stunning 23-game unbeaten run to ensure they would get their hands on the trophy.
Man City’s five key moments this season
A look at the five key moments in Man City’s title winning campaign…
- Luton 1 – 2 Man City: City bounce back from a run of four games without a win to kick-start their unbeaten run.
- Newcastle 2 – 3 Man City: Kevin De Bruyne returns from injury to come off the bench and inspire a late turnaround against the Magpies.
- Man City 3 – 1 Man Utd: Phil Foden puts on a masterclass as City lay down a marker on their title ambitions and breeze past their local rivals in the process.
- Man City 0 – 0 Arsenal: A goalless draw that, although disappointing, meant City were still keeping pace with the teams around them and could maintain their spot in the title race. A loss could have put Arsenal out of sight of the Cityzens.
- Man City 4 – 1 Aston Villa: Following consecutive draws against title rivals Arsenal and Liverpool, City bounce back with a thumping of Unai Emery’s high-flying Villa to keep the pressure on the Gunners.
In fact, the Cityzens haven’t lost in the league since their 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa back in December of LAST YEAR.
Individual stars helped the club get over the line with Foden’s stunning campaign a standout amongst the squad.
While Erling Haaland scooped the Premier League Golden Boot for a second season in a row and players like Rodri and Kevin De Bruyne stepped up to the plate as they always do.
The efforts of title rivals Arsenal meant City were taken to the final day of the season for the fourth time since their historic first title win in the 2011-12 season.
Over at the Emirates, the Gunners left it late to beat Everton 2-1.
The visitors took a shock lead on 40 minutes, when Idrissa Gueye’s free-kick went in via a heavy deflection off Declan Rice.
Takehiro Tomiyasu equalised just three minutes later, before Kai Havertz grabbed a winner in vain late on.
City’s latest historic season is not over yet, as they have the chance to wrap up a domestic double at Wembley next weekend.
They face neighbours Manchester United in the FA Cup final on Saturday under the famous Wembley arch.
Pep Guardiola now has an astonishing 16 honours to his name during his tenure with City and will want to extend that number to 17 at the home of football.
The Spanish tactician has continued to innovate with his tactics this season as defenders such as John Stones and Josko Gvardiol played advanced roles in his dominant possession-based style.
Gvardiol became a crucial figure in the title run-in, popping up with vital goals from unlikely positions.
While Guardiola was also able to rely on his extensive squad to find the key to unlocking tight defences with the likes of Julian Alvarez, Jeremy Doku, Oscar Bobb and Rico Lewis often called upon from the bench.
Teams to win consecutive Premier League titles
Manchester City have made history as the first team to win four Premier League titles in a row. Here’s a list of all the other successive champions…
4 – Manchester City (2020/21 – 2023/24)
3 – Manchester United (2006/07 – 2008/09)
3 – Manchester United (1998/99 – 2000/01)
2 – Manchester City (2017/18 – 2018/19)
2 – Chelsea (2004/05 – 2005/06)
2 – Manchester United (1995/96 – 1996/97)
2 – Manchester United (1992/93 – 1993/94)
Elsewhere on the final day, Liverpool won 2-0 against Wolves to mark Jurgen Klopp’s Anfield farewell.
Alexis Mac Allister opened the scoring, before Jarell Quansah netted the final goal of the Klopp era.
The Premier League’s relegation battle was a near-formality going into today’s action, given Luton’s gaping goal difference chasm on Nottingham Forest.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side made sure regardless by beating already-relegated Burnley 2-1 at Turf Moor.
Luton were unable to bow out of the top flight with a win, falling 4-2 at home to Fulham.
Fourth-placed Aston Villa looked a side on the beach, as they were smashed 5-0 at Crystal Palace after having already clinched Champions League qualification.
In-form marksman Jean-Philippe Mateta bagged a hat-trick at Selhurst Park, with Eberechi Eze netting the other two.
Tottenham clinched fifth-place by comfortably winning 3-0 at Sheffield United.
Dejan Kulusevski was at the double for Ange Postecoglou’s men, with Pedro Porro grabbing their other goal against the sorry Blades.
A Moises Caicedo belter and further strike from Raheem Sterling, before Benoit Badiashile’s own goal, saw Chelsea beat Bournemouth 2-1 at Stamford Bridge to confirm finishing sixth.
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Newcastle will enter the Conference League next season if Man Utd lose the FA Cup final, after winning 4-2 at Brentford to clinch seventh.
The Red Devils, meanwhile, finished eighth despite triumphing 2-0 at Brighton courtesy of goals by Diogo Dalot and Rasmus Hojlund.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
