UK Edition
Manchester City win back-to-back Premier League titles after surviving early Brighton scare
They did not play Oasis’s Champagne Supernova at the end – instead it was Wonderwall – but this has been a Premier League title race of explosive, intoxicating brightness and it has finally ended with Manchester City as champions. What a stellar performance.
Noel Gallagher was here, smiling broadly amid the celebrations and later dancing around the trophy in the away dressing room, as City captain Vincent Kompany swigged champagne while the rest of us may raise a glass to their achievement and that of a brilliant Liverpool to run them so incredibly close.
For 21 minutes of Sunday afternoon, if the results stood as they were, then Liverpool would have won their first title for 29 years. It has been tiny margins throughout, millimetres over the goal-line, or not, at the Etihad and Turf Moor as the technology proved, for two giants of football who have finished miles ahead of the rest. And so it ended with just a single point separating them and Liverpool losing only one game all season and somehow finishing second. That somehow is City.
Between them these two fine teams have amassed 195 points, the first time two sides have passed 90 points in a season, with City finishing on top with 98. Remarkable and, for Liverpool, cruel. City finished with a 14th successive league victory – no team has ever ended with that perfect sequence in top-flight history - and that in itself is extraordinary.
“We knew for two months we could not lose a point,” Guardiola said and he was right except, actually, it was more than three months with no margin for error and often playing after Liverpool as the lead changed time and again. He has the resources but, wow, he also the resolve.
It was therefore right that this epic title contest felt like it was settled by a wonderful goal, the third one, that cleared the City bench in celebration, with Pep Guardiola punching the air as his anxiety finally flooded away and he knew it was won.
The goal was scored by Riyad Mahrez, City’s record signing at £60 million but a disappointing, bit-part player this campaign, but he dumped Lewis Dunk on his backside with one of those trademark check-backs of his and struck a fierce right-footed shot from the edge of the penalty area that goalkeeper Mat Ryan got a hand to but could not prevent from flying past him and high into the net.
It meant that for the final 27 minutes and for the first time this gruelling season City could relax and drink it all in before they headed back north for more drinks and a homecoming party at the Etihad and after that there is an FA Cup final against Watford on Saturday to prepare for and the prospect of completing an unprecedented domestic treble.
This is their fourth league title in eight seasons and, in winning it, City became the first team to retain the crown since Manchester United in 2009 which means much to Guardiola who is well aware of that record and - especially in a season when the Champions League has again eluded them - was determined to match it.
The fourth goal ran Mahrez’s close. There was wave after wave of pressure, with City unrelenting, before a free-kick was earned by Raheem Sterling. It was more than 25 yards out and Ilkay Gundogan stood over it before bending a powerful free-kick that arced high over the Brighton wall before dipping to beat the despairing dive to his left of Ryan.
And so it was, as it has been throughout - champagne football underlined by a ferocious work ethic and a formidable squad - that determined the result.
There had been a sobering jolt in the first-half, though, when City fell behind not long after Liverpool had gone in front at Anfield. For precisely 83 seconds in fact there was the prospect of City’s world being turned on its head by a header and it was such a poor goal to concede as the old warhorse Glenn Murray stole in at the near post to firmly meet a Pascal Gross corner with his forehead and open the scoring.
The striker was unmarked, except for the token presence of Oleksandr Zinchenko, with Guardiola later conceding that one weakness of this City side is the fact it is still packed with diddymen and may need a bit more height. But it was one of those, the sublime, 5ft 6in David Silva, who created the equaliser as he collected a pass fired into him inside the area by Aymeric Laporte and had the vision and the skill to immediately flick it into the path of Sergio Aguero who applied the low, first-time finish through Ryan’s legs. Not quite as dramatic as the Aguero – or Aguerooooo - moment in 2012 but still pretty timely as it meant there was no chance of City panicking.
The Brighton goal felt like the wake-up call, the slap across the face, the dousing in cold water that City needed because before that they had struggled to create anything and once more appeared nervous - which is again testimony of how hard Liverpool have pushed them after last season’s procession.
Murray’s next involvement was far less impressive as he allowed Laporte to run free from a corner, swung in by Sterling, and plant a downward header from six yards out that span up off the pitch to beat Ryan and claim the lead.
Right on half-time there was a warning to City, however. It appeared Anthony Knockaert would take a free-kick, conceded by Kompany, but instead Dunk almost caught out Ederson with a well-struck 25-yard shot that the goalkeeper just about pushed out.
So there was no margin and it was clear in the way City went about the second-half that they intended to increase their advantage and end any doubt. Mahrez’s goal achieved that with Gundogan’s strike merely adding further confirmation.
It also allowed Guardiola to run through his substitutions – while Brighton gave a heartfelt send-off to their 38-year-old captain Bruno who is leaving the club. Kompany was also withdrawn and like Bruno was afforded a standing ovation. Was this his final league game for City with his current contract running out next month?
That can wait. Kompany was soon back on, soon leading those celebrations, reacting wildly as his name was finally read out and the trophy placed in his hands as Guardiola watched on, the tension dissipated, his body relaxing. This title race was finally run. “They did a great season,” he later said of Liverpool, adding: “But we did a little bit better.” And that little bit made a big difference.
Bernardo Silva quotes
After last season we didn't think we could do close to the points we did last season. The FA Cup is very important to us because it's a treble that no-one has ever done. It's the first time this club has ever won two Premier League trophies in a row.
After the Newcastle game we thought it was very difficult but then we wont 14 games in a row, which is incredible. We're frustrated with the Champions League but that's normal.
It's very physical, all the teams play direct football with very strong players. Set-pieces it's very difficult to defend. We're happy with our last two seasons and hopefully we get our last title against a strong side.
Now it's time to celebrate.
Yaya Toure tells him he's been the best player and asks how he did that.
I owe it from you to run that much! I had a very good season, I'm very happy with it. I prepared it well because I didn't play as much as I wanted to last season and I'm very happy to be part of this squad. It's never easy to get a place in the starting XI.
To be honest I feel comfortable in both positions. In Benfica I was in the middle, in Monaco on the right, national team I switch, here I switch. I'll play wherever I can do my best.
Pep Guardiola says this was the toughest title he's ever won
A lot. We work a lot. We have to say congratulations to Liverpool and thanks so much because they help us to push and increase our standard. We should do what we have done. Incredible is the reality in the time we realise 198 points. An incredible season for us.
I think last season Man City made the standard higher so that is the level of the Premier League and Liverpool pushed us there. To win the title you must win 14 games in a row. It's incredible to do it after 100 points. Normally you go a little bit down.
Right after no, we imagined they'd beat Leicester at home, have to be calm, seven points. With this Liverpool at that point of the season but we went game by game, I think it's not my feeling, it's the toughest title we have won in all my career by far.
We don't have one player to make the difference, and so we have to do it as a team. That is the secret. We push each other, I push myself, they push me.
It will be tougher but we'll be stronger too. I have the feeling next season we'll come back, we'll try to be who we are right now.
Vinnie Kompany post-match
The most draining one, the first one was happening on the last minute of the season. This one was constantly knowing you have to win, have to perform and we beat one of the all-time greats and I'm proud.
I had no interest. I promise you, if anyone talked to me about Liverpool I woul dhave lost my head, lost my mind. We didn't come this far 14, 15 games in a row. We played Brighton, so happy that when we conceded 1-0 we knew. Big players, big games.
I knew it straight away. The first meeting of the season was about how we retain back to back. I felt the desire from the first game of the season. I'm so proud. They've given everything all season.
He starts everything off, sets the standards. If he's being nice and gives you a tap on the back the team doesn't perform.
I'm desperate, desperate to win the FA Cup next week. I can't tell you. We'll celebrate tonight but after that it's Watford, we'll do everything we can to win this game.
It's 4-1, David came off before me, all good. I'm saying I dunno, it's not on my mind. I want to win, win, win then when the season's finished we'll see. All the outsiders have no say in this, it's between me and my family.
But the fans want to know Vinnie!
Yaya Toure steps in.
He's gonna stay don't worry. Two more years!
Then Yaya gets a selfie. It's nice that Sky Sports are paying Yaya to hang out with his pals today. It is genuinely fun to watch though.
Man City fans wanting to celebrate...
This from the Man City press office:
Following the Premier League trophy presentation at the Amex Stadium, Manager Pep Guardiola and the team will return to Manchester, to celebrate with fans at a homecoming event and stage show, which will be hosted in front of the Colin Bell Stand at the Etihad Stadium.
The players will be live on stage with the Premier League trophy at approximately 10pm following their flight from Brighton to Manchester, with doors for the event open to fans from 8:30pm.
Earlier in the day, thousands of fans gathered to watch City clinch the title at a special screening held at the Etihad Stadium’s ‘City Square’.
Vincent Kompany says that was the hardest league to win
Back to back, it was the hardest and most satisfying ever. Liverpool was exceptional this year, I don't mean to rub it in - they didn't deserve to lose. But we played against such a good team all season and until now we were able to stay in front. I'm happy for myself and the fans.
I wasn't. Honestly I didn't know. I heard the Brighton fans sing 1-0 to the Liverpool but we've done it before, were creating chances, imposing our style. The pitch was slow but we kept our style.
It's a group of players, the staff, a desire to over-achieve and over-achieving is difficult. We're looking forward to the FA Cup final - it's unprecedented.
We all chipped in this season. I know the goal you're talking about but I'm thinking how many cleansheets we kept the last 15 games or so. We conceded a set piece today because we are the smallest team in the league.
Yaya Toure's reaction
I think something is special, I think the team has been playing very well and I am happy for them and the City fans.
It's been a long time ago and now I don't see it, that's the thing, that makes it more special, I'm very proud, very happy. The club has spent a lot of money and it's perfect.
98 points
Gary Neville has his take on it:
I've never seen anything like it, I thought over the last few months there'd be twists and turns. He's a special manager, one of the best we've ever seen and he's made those players double champions.
It's a menality. The idea you wake up the day after winning it and go again. He's instilled that idea that one trophy isn't enough.
MANCHESTER CITY WIN THE PREMIER LEAGUE!
Brilliant. Just superb. It's been a long season, for a time it looked out of their reach but one point separates this fantastic Man City team from the best Liverpool side I've ever seen.
This is one of, if not the, best ever Premier League sides. Astonishing achievement.
87 mins - Brighton 1 Man City 4
Nicolas Otamendi comes on to replace Vincent Kompany, who hands the armband to Aguero and walks off with a smile. He gives the away fans a wave... is this a goodbye? Surely not. It does seem a little bit like it. Lots of waves. He picks up Guardiola with a big hug as he leaves the pitch.
GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!
GUNDOGAN SCORES! BRILLIANT FREE-KICK!
That's it! Man City have won the league. It's outstanding. What a hit this is. He lines up the shot and gets perfect bend, whip, power and dip. Couldn't be any better placed and there's plenty of speed on it too - the goalie has no chance.
GOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!
MAHREZZZZZZZZZZZZZ! WHAT A GOAL!
Mahrez has the ball about 25 yards out in a central position, shapes to shoot but fakes onto his right and then stabs the shot with his right boot, putting top spin and power on the shot and taking it past the goalkeeper. Ryan gets a hand to the ball but can't stop it.
62 mins - Brighton 1 Man City 2
Sterling is able to turn in the box and shoot but drags his shot and makes the ball roll at about two miles per hour towards the keeper. Bissouma tries to run past 18 City players at once and, shockingly, doesn't manage it.
Brighton fans are so settled that they can't even be bothered booing Kyle Walker as they have done for the previous 60 minutes.
60 mins - Brighton 1 Man City 2
City open up the Brighton defence a couple of times but are denied by last second blocks. They're back in charge after an extremely brief spell of Brighton attacking.
Meanwhile...
It's 2-0 to Cardiff. Thought the Man City fans reading this might enjoy that.
It's still 1-0 to Liverpool at Anfield though. Guardiola is in the 'stride around rubbing head' zone.
57 mins - Brighton 1 Man City 2
Boos ring out as Ederson catches the ball having had it passed back to him but the referee doesn't see anything wrong. City have lowered the tempo a bit, Guardiola won't be happy. It's allowed Brighton to get into the game a little more. Bissouma chips a ball over the top towards Knockaert... but Ederson rushes out and catches. He's looked wobbly all day, Ederson. Needs to calm the head.
54 mins - Brighton 1 Man City 2
Silva is getting wound-up because he keeps giving away silly little free-kicks. Brighton have won another in the City half and can send the Big Lads forward to attack it. Wide left so the ball needs to be curled into the box.
It's curled outwards, Dunk gets one v one with Zinchenko at the back post and heads over the bar.
48 mins - Brighton 1 Man City 2
There's some suggestion from Gary Neville that Brighton are deliberately not watering the pitch so it's drier and less suited to City's passing football. A switched pass is beautifully controlled by Mahrez on the right, he tricks his way inside to shoot, blocked, Knockaert wins it and tries a backheel towards his own box! What's he doing?! City are on it... but can't force a shot. That was a huge chance.
Yaya Toure is saying a lot of words without actually saying anything
"I think for me, when I was seeing Mahrez on the side and yeh Raheem in the middle it was like three in the middle. I used to see when he was playing on the right at Leicester."
He's been asked by Jamie Redknapp whether moving Mahrez to right has made City better.
How the game looks
As expected, Man City are in control of possession and the pitch. Brighton are focusing 67 per cent of their attacks down the right, presumably to take on Zinchenko who isn't a left back.
Brighton clearly setup to deal with an invasion, Man City just hurling creative players forward.
HALF TIME
Dunk hits the kick... like David Luiz... and IT'S FLYING TOWARDS GOAL! Jeeeez what a save. Ederson had to read the flight of the ball there and even though it's not far from where he's standing, manages to push it over. That was travelling but there's no time for a corner.
The referee blows his whistle.
37 mins - Brighton 1 Man City 1
- This is the first time since 8th December (0-2 v Chelsea) that Man City haven't scored the first goal in a PL game.
Sterling has switched to the left wing now, I think Guardiola's scrapped the original plan. Mahrez is easily bundled off the ball and Brighton can counter but Aguero fouls at halfway to stop the move.
The ball is hit long and headed over by Duffy, never troubling the goalkeeper. Brighton were clever there again - City play a high line at free-kicks a long distance from their goal, so the ball was passed sideways, slowed down and then crossed in to catch them out.
30 mins - Brighton 1 Man City 1
Guardiola is urging his wide players to stay on the touchlines - they're being drawn inside and that's reducing space to play in. City are on the attack again, there's a bit more zip to the passing now.
Zinchenko overlaps, crosses at the line and it beats everyone. BERNARDO IS THERE! SAVED! Just saved.
GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLL!!!!
AGUERRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
It's 1-1! Wow. Wowowowow. Aguero has equalised immediately!
This is brilliant from David Silva, who flicks a little pass through to Aguero, who is just onside, and he slots beneath the goalkeeper! City were behind for under 90 seconds.
27 mins - Brighton 0 Man City 0
Gross takes on Zinchenko on the right and wins a throw for Brighton. Bruno comes to take it and gets a warm reception from the fans stood/sat behind him. The throw is launched in, a shot from the edge of the box off the clearance and Brighton have a corner. Ederson can't keep it in play.
Duffy is organising the attack, crowding the six yard box.
24 mins - Brighton 0 Man City 0
Brighton are keeping their back four in place, the second four is going ball-side to ensure all the players aren't knackered and the team keeps its shape and then a forward and a striker presses the man on the ball. It's really, incredibly tough to break down. Very smart from Chris Hughton.
10 mins - Brighton 0 Man City 0
Some loose passes in midfield from City and Brighton are latching onto them! Brighton counter again and Jahanbakhsh (I've double checked that a lot of times to make sure it's spelled correctly) hits a decent effort from 25 yards which is wide of the post. City starting to get nervous.
8 mins - Brighton 0 Man City 0
Brighton defending along their 18 yard line in a 4-5-1 one, waiting to hit City on the counter. City have started with energy, pressing high but Brighton want to attack too and have started well.
It's a strange shape from City, I'm still trying to figure it out. There's a diamond at the back but other than that it looks like forwards are just trying whatever they can to find space.
4 mins - Brighton 0 Man City 0
City are making the pitch really wide, Zinchenko is playing though the middle when City go forward. Sterling roams in the middle of the final third, Brighton get everyone behind the ball and there's no space to even think near the box. A blocked shot from Gundogan gives a chance to break but Bernardo goes on a dribble into the box... still going... STILL GOING! He's down but that's a decent tackle.
2 mins - Brighton 0 Man City 0
It looks like Guardiola's made another tactical tweak for a must-win game. Mahrez is wide left, Sterling on the right - maybe even as a 10 - with Bernardo wide right. Bruno deals with Mahrez in the corner early on and gets some songs sung at him by the Brighton fans. He's 38 years old, so to still be playing at full-back is pretty nuts.
Elsewhere in the league
I quite like that Spurs are doing this:
You can follow all the action from Liverpool vs Wolves in our other liveblog by the way. Alan Tyers is a lot funnier than me and he's typing words over there.
Yaya Toure is answering questions he isn't being asked
Where were you when Aguero scored that goal? (Toure had a hamstring injury and ran on the pitch to celebrate)
I'm just here to make it clear that I love football and I've been starting doing my coaching license but full time coach, is not what I'm thinking about now. I'm ready to take a new step for a new challenge.
What
I want to know who brought the 90s back
Even when I wore things that looked like this in the 90s I knew it was dated and I was about eight years old. Yet now it's all cool. The amount of folk I see walking around east London dressed like they're at a costume party.
Anyway, this Man City training top is actually pretty snazzy. Snazzy is quite a 90s word.
Did Yaya Toure know Kompany could smash a ball?
Never. I was surprised! It was unbelievable, when I saw him score it was amazing. I was a little emotional, injuries, he always gives his best, for me he's the captain.
Pep is the kind of manager who knows what he's doing. Mahrez has not had much games, this team has everything. This guy can play or this one. What I wish today is they win the game, that's all.
Why the passing tempo is so important
The Brighton shape is a little off in this but the point remains the same. When Brighton put the walls of defence up, City have to stay patient and make sure they don't rush passes forwards to give it away. City need to switch it from side to side to create gaps in the Brighton defence, and from there they can fire vertical balls between players to allow their forwards to get in behind.
Brighton will be really dangerous on the counter-attack and from set-pieces. City can't send too many players forward to try and dominate the opposition half for fear of being hit on the break, but they need players forward to break down such a defensive team!
Pep's looking relaxed
I'd imagine this happy, relaxed pose will evaporate about 10 minutes in if his team are rolling the ball about. Then we'll get the full roster of whirlwind tactical instructions.
Yaya Toure isn't overly confident either:
To be honest the game is in the hands of City, this Brighton team scares me a little bit but that not much. Let's do this.
How Brighton will lineup
It looks like Brighton are in a 4-5-1 (4-3-3 in attack) but the general gist of this stands up. Just swap the back four with a central three - they won't send bodies forward for much of this game. Far too risky.
That said, there's nothing to lose so why not go on the attack? You never know.
Riyad Mahrez starts
A weird one this. Presumably this will put Sterling on the left wing, Mahrez on the right and Bernardo in midfield behind them. Brighton are going to DEFEND all game long so having Sterling on that left will mean Zinchenko overlaps and lets Sterling move inside the pitch closer to Aguero. Mahrez's job is creating chances out of nothing, maybe hitting a 20 yarder into the top corner and doing what Bernardo has been doing... but he's not been great this season and when given a chance in the team has often tried too hard. Leroy Sane is an option off the bench.
Bernardo Silva really wants to win today
So do all the players tbf but here are some direct quotes from Bernardo, who has been outstanding this season.
“Well I played only one game in each competition so it didn’t mean as much as it would right now for me,” says Bernardo. “But, yeah, to win three, all the domestic competitions, is so difficult because we play in one of the most competitive leagues. We play against fantastic teams, especially this season against this Liverpool team that was unbelievable. It was very tough for us. Hopefully we can win this last game and celebrate the title.
“In Portugal, I celebrated more as a fan because I am a Benfica fan, than as a player because I trained three or four times with them, played five minutes in each game so it didn’t mean as much as a player as, for example, this season will if we win all the competitions.
“We haven’t done it yet, two games to go, we have to focus on Sunday because it is an amazing achievement if we win back-to-back titles.”
A combined Man City-Liverpool XI
This is Jamie Carragher's take on it. You can read our other writers' efforts by clicking on this.
It's Premium so you need a login. One of those costs £1 a week for a Sport subscription, like Netflix but for reading football analysis and comment.
Since you're asking, my combined team would probably be...
Ederson; Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk, Laporte, Robertson; Bernardo Silva, Fernandinho, David Silva; Sadio Mane, Sergio Aguero, Mo Salah.
But my player of the season was Raheem Sterling... so this doesn't make sense. Gaaaaarrrhghghg I don't know. The good thing is this isn't real and I could just delete it before pressing publish. Yet here I am, about to hit publish.
Man City transfer news
You may have missed this from yesterday but Man City Women's star Nikita Parris announced she's leaving the club in the summer. City Women won a double but missed out on the league this season. The men's team can better that with a brilliant treble if they manage to win today.
It's the big one
Hello! Can you believe it?! The season is almost over and at 5pm this evening we will know who the Premier League champions are. Liverpool are desperate, Man City have control - both sides deserve it. Only one can lift the trophy and that the actual cup is at Brighton while a replica sits in Anfield says a lot.
Pep Guardiola has tried to stress throughout this season just how incredible the 100 points haul of 2017/18 was and has a bee in his bonnet that the media favour a Liverpool win today despite leading the best title race we've seen in years. Maybe ever, certainly in my 33 years of existence anyway.
Wolves are obviously a better side than Brighton and Liverpool have the more difficult opponent as a result but the roar of Anfield, the nothing-to-lose feeling the players will have as they do all that's possible to have a chance of winning and the high they'll be after the most amazing Champions League comeback midweek means City cannot stay too patient today. If Brighton are holding them into the final 15 minutes the nerves will not only start to fray but come apart.
Brighton's gameplan will be to sit deep, defend in numbers and frustrate Man City. We've seen it work before - if City don't pass the ball quickly enough and don't approach the game with the fire necessary, they can be held at a road block and slowed down even more. Brighton will break at speed and try to win set pieces up the pitch to send the cavalry of Lewis Dunk and Glenn Murray in search of the goal that could decide the title.
That's another thing that's relevant. Brighton have nothing to play for on the face of it other than professional pride. The season's done, they've survived, avoiding a hiding would be nice. I didn't mean that poem but I like it.
However, suddenly having the eyes of the world watching can help medium footballers step up a level or five and cause upsets. We've seen giant killings in the cup competitions for decades and this match has the feeling of a final, a one-off where anything could happen. The lack of pressure might play perfectly into Brighton's hands, help them make smart, calculated decisions and allow first touches and passing to go exactly where intended.
More likely is that City score after two minutes and go on to win 5-0. I have no idea what's going to happen today but City have been beaten by worse teams than Brighton and, as will be their biggest concern, held to 0-0 scorelines an awful lot this season.
Kick off is a 3pm, team news will be with us at 2pm. Stick around for all the build up and then live updates and analysis!