Premier League

ERLING HAALAND was drenched in champagne as Manchester City lifted their third consecutive Premier League title this afternoon.Pep Guardiola’s side were crowned champions yesterday when Arsenal lost 1-0 at Nottingham Forest.
Erling Haaland was drenched in champagne by Kyle WalkerCredit: Getty
The Norwegian was drenched as he lifted the trophyCredit: Sky Sports
Haaland hoisted the trophy towards the fansCredit: Sky Sports
As has become a familiar sight in recent years, players and staff, including Guardiola, donned Man City shirts as they received their medals from Prem chief Richard Masters.
Skipper Ilkay Gundogan then hoisted the trophy in front of a gleeful Etihad Stadium.
As confetti rained down, City stars took turns posing with the trophy.
And immediately as Haaland received it, the Norwegian was drenched with champagne.
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The striker then lifted the trophy again in front of the fans, with Kyle Walker continuing to spray him at close range.
Haaland’s Prem success is the first of his City career.
And he has so far scored a record 36 Prem goals this season.
Earlier in the day, Julian Alvarez’s goal had led a much-changed City XI to a 1-0 victory over Chelsea.
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Haaland celebrates his first Prem title successCredit: Reuters
Haaland receives his Prem winners’ medalCredit: Getty
City had received a pre-match guard of honour from the West Londoners.
The perennial champs have now won five of the last six Prem titles.
And they will hope to add two more medals in the coming weeks, with FA Cup and Champions League finals against Manchester United and Inter Milan respectively to come.
Should they win both finals, City will match United’s historic 1999 treble feat.
Guardiola’s men take on Brighton in mid-week, before finishing their Prem campaign with a trip to Brentford.
They will then play Man United at Wembley for FA Cup glory on June 3, and Inter Milan in Istanbul a week later.
The 22-year-old won his first Premier League titleCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Ilkay Gundogan lifted his first title as skipperCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Pep Guardiola kisses his latest Prem medalCredit: Reuters More

CHELSEA were beaten by Manchester City’s second-string as Frank Lampard’s spell as caretaker boss continues to limp towards a sorry end.Rooted in 12th, the Blues appear to be desperate for the season to finish and for Mauricio Pochettino to get his hands on this team.
Frank Lampard’s spell as caretaker boss is limping towards an endCredit: Getty
The West Londoners are in huge need of a clear-out, and many of those that featured against City today could soon be sold.
After Chelsea fell to their latest underwhelming defeat, SunSport’s Etienne Fermie rates each Blues performer on the day.
KEPA ARRIZABALAGA – 5
Had little chance of saving Julian Alvarez’s opener.
Spaniard hardly had a save to make despite City’s dominance.
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Kepa was powerless to keep out Julian Alvarez’s openerCredit: AFP
WESLEY FOFANA – 5
Careless pass led to City’s clinical opener.
Frenchman appeared error-prone and possibly the weakest of Chelsea’s three centre-backs.
THIAGO SILVA – 5
Unable to get near Alvarez as the Argentine bagged City’s first.
The Brazilian is under contract for next season but losing him would not be a huge miss for the Blues.
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Thiago Silva attempts to marshal the defenceCredit: Getty
TREVOH CHALOBAH – 6
Cleared off the line to deny City a second in the first half.
Homegrown defender tried to be brave in possession and stuck to his task defensively.
CESAR AZPILICUETA – 4
Given a torrid time by City starlet Cole Palmer.
Spaniard probably should have been allowed to join Barcelona last summer and is well past his sell by date at Stamford Bridge.
Cesar Azpilicueta’s best days at Chelsea are behind himCredit: Getty
RUBEN LOFTUS-CHEEK – 6
Selected by Lampard despite close links with AC Milan this week.
Provided some excellent driving runs through midfield.
ENZO FERNANDEZ – 6
Was on the end of some strong tackles by Man City’s midfielders.
Argentine tried to get things going for his side but often cut a frustrated figure.
Enzo Fernandez had a difficult assignment in the middle of the parkCredit: Rex
CONOR GALLAGHER – 5
Hit the post with a first half header.
Midfielder was typically industrious but struggled to leave a big imprint on the game.
LEWIS HALL – 5
Brilliant cross to set up Gallagher’s golden chance. Had a fierce left-footed drive denied by Ortega.
Struggled at times defensively but can hardly be blamed for Chelsea’s ills.
RAHEEM STERLING – 7
Unable to beat Ortega when played through one on one. Looked dangerous on the break as he returned to face his former club.
Twisted Kyle Walker inside and out before being denied by a goal line clearance… and the offside flag. A bright outing for the England winger.
Raheem Sterling lined up against his former clubCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
KAI HAVERTZ – 5
Booked for a late tackle on Kalvin Phillips. Played Sterling through with a brilliant through ball.
Languid German drifted in and out of the contest.
SUBSTITUTES
Noni Madueke (for Sterling, 69) – 5
Young winger was unable to get much of a kick after coming on.
Mykhailo Mudryk (for Gallagher, 69) – 5
Like Madueke, Mudryk was unable to get into the game.
Carney Chukwuemeka (for Loftus-Cheek, 81) – N/A
Midfield starlet rewarded with a ten-minute cameo after snubbing the Under-20 World Cup.
Kalidou Koulibaly (for Hall, 81) – N/A
Former Napoli defender made a scarcely noticeable late appearance.
Christian Pulisic (for Havertz, 85) – N/A

American winger hardly had a kick after replacing Havertz.
Subs not used: Mendy, Felix, Ziyech, D. Fofana More

THE party had started the night before but the appetite for celebration was still strong.Victory for Nottingham Forest against Arsenal less than 24 hours earlier had confirmed Manchester City were keeping the Premier League trophy for a third straight season.
Julian Alvarez scored his 17th Manchester City goal to break the deadlockCredit: AFP
Alvarez starred for the champions as they celebrated their title triumphCredit: AFP
Man City were in party mood at the Etihad on Sunday afternoonCredit: AP
The Man City fans did the Poznan as they celebrated the title triumphCredit: AFP
They have deserved it, they have been brilliant.
This Man City is arguably the best team English football has ever seen.
Across town they will say otherwise.
There was a slight air that Arsenal result had snatched away City’s big moment.
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The fans really wanted to have to win it with victory on this scorching afternoon.
After all they love a bit of drama here, like last season when, needing to win their final game, they were 2-0 down at home to Aston Villa before scoring three in the final 15 minutes.
And of course there will always be 2012 and Agueroooo.
But the Gunners epic choke had taken the life out of this title fight some time ago.
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Man City were given a guard of honour by the Chelsea players before the gameCredit: Richard Pelham / The Sun
Mikel Arteta had said that their visit to the Etihad on April 26th would not define the season.
It did.
That 4-1 victory as the master Pep Guardiola demolished apprentice Arteta’s side finished Arsenal off after three successive draws prior to that encounter.
The North London side were eight points clear on April 7th and back then tickets for their final game at home to Wolves were going on the black market for up to £53,000.
They might not be able to give them away as the planned celebration becomes a wake.
City, by contrast, are getting used to these joyous afternoons in the sun.
Indeed, from the first whistle everyone just seemed to be killing time until the gleaming Premier League trophy was awarded.
Arsenal’s capitulation had enabled Guardiola to rapidly change his plans for this game, replacing all bar two of the players who had taken down Real Madrid in such incredible fashion here last Wednesday night.
Even Kalvin Phillips got a game, his first start in the league since his £45million switch from Leeds last summer.
The players may change but the style remains the same.
What City do with a football really is a thing of beauty.
Even their second team was too much for a woeful Chelsea who have disgracefully downed tools under Frank Lampard.
That is seven defeats in nine games since his return.
City were ahead after just 12 minutes when Wesley Fofana’s loose pass out from the back went straight to Cole Palmer.
He charged forward and fed Julian Alvarez whose low shot back across the goalkeeper found the far corner.
When Phil Foden controlled a long ball from Phillips he almost pulled off the spectacular with a looping volley that went just wide of the far post.
Chelsea had a chance when former City title winner Raheem Sterling got through one-on-one but was denied by the outstretched boot of goalkeeper Stefan Ortega.
Pep Guardiola inflicted another defeat on Chelsea’s interim boss Frank LampardCredit: AP
Then when Lewis Hall crossed to the far post Conor Gallagher’s header came back off the post.
Into the second-half and Phillips almost doubled City’s lead with a header from Riyad Mahrez’s free kick which hit the inside of the post and shot across the line.
Sterling had a shot cleared off the line by sub John Stones but was flagged offside in any case.
Alvarez thought he had a second but the goal was ruled out for a handball by Mahrez who provided the assist.
One of the loudest cheers of the afternoon came when Erling Haaland was brought on for the last 16 minutes – what a season.
And that was that as what resembled a pre-season fizzled out and the silverware was brought out.
Yes Arsenal blew it, but blew it because the sight of City in their wing mirrors going through the gears proved too much in the end.
City’s last defeat in any competition came way back on February 5th when they lost 1-0 at Spurs.
They are unbeaten in 24 and this was their 12th league win in a row.
Such remorselessness used to be the domain of the team in the red half of the city.
Now they are just happy to finish in the top four.
How the tables have turned in this city in just over a decade.
This hat-trick of titles means City join Huddersfield (1924-26), Arsenal (1933-35), Liverpool (1982-84) and United (1999-2001, 2007-09) to achieve such a feat.
It is five in six years under Guardiola and you sense that as long as he stays that figure will only rise while the rest breathlessly try to keep up.
Attention now turns to the second leg of the treble and that FA Cup final date with Manchester United.
Then of course it is the Holy Grail – the Champions League and Inter Milan in the final.
You sense this time – unlike two years ago against Chelsea – there will be no mistakes.

With 115 Premier League charges surrounding the club’s financial affairs, the fight will then be for the men in suits.
But for now it is the men in boots who make sure that dreams continue to come true in blue. More

FORMER Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott has revealed AEK Athens ultras waited for him by his car after a derby defeat to Olympiacos.The ex-England international, 40, won two Premier League titles with the Sky Blues during his five-year stay at the Etihad.
Joleon Lescott won Premier League titles with Manchester City in 2012 and 2014Credit: Times Newspapers Ltd
The AEK Athens fans were unforgiving towards Lescott following a derby defeatCredit: Kenny Ramsay – The Sun Glasgow
He left in 2014, following up his time at Man City with short spells at West Brom and Aston Villa.
Lescott then signed for Greek side AEK Athens in 2016, but would play just four matches for them before ending his career at Sunderland the following year.
Yet he still has a rather worrying tale from his time on the continent.
It came after a defeat to rivals Olympiacos, with AEK’s die-hard fans choosing to intimidate him in the parking lot following the result.
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Speaking in his role with AceOdds, Lescott told Daily Star Sport: “A lot of stuff was unexpected, or just stuff I wasn’t used to!
“I remember for the derby game, we played Olympiacos, and the fans come to the hotel that we stay in and are in the reception area.
“Then the captain come and knocked on my door, and was like: ‘we’re going downstairs, the fans are here’.
“When I say fans, I don’t just mean a couple of them looking for autographs, it’s the ultras with flares in reception.
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“I had a routine before games, just do what I needed to do; chill, ice, and recover. And I was like: ‘Oh yeah? Na, I’ll leave it.’ He said: ‘No, I’m not asking. We’re going down’.
“So we went down there and it was going off. They were singing and chanting and obviously letting us know how important this game was.
“And then equally we lost the game, but we had a few days off, so I was going home. So my car was in the car park, and then we came back, and they were waiting. All the ultras were waiting there.
“But as we got off the coach, I could go the other way to get to my car and go to the airport. So I didn’t see the outcome of that. That was a pretty new experience, I should say.
“But overall, players and staff members were good. The majority of them were great, the ones that I worked with – but a different, very different experience.”
Lescott racked up 26 caps for England and was selected in Roy Hodgson’s squad for Euro 2012.
He even scored in the Three Lions’ opening group game in a 1-1 draw with France.
Nowadays he can be seen on BT Sport as a regular pundit for Premier League and Champions League games.
Lescott played just four times for AEK Athens More