Man City have been crowned 2021/22 Premier League champions after a dramatic final day to the Premier League season.
City, who knew a victory would secure them the title, were 2-0 down to Aston Villa with just 15 minutes remaining, but turned the game around with three goals in five minutes to win 3-2 in thrilling scenes to rival the famous 2012 Premier League title victory.
Liverpool were 3-1 winners against Wolves, but fell short by just a point after a stunning 38-game duel, ending their Quadruple hopes.
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| Pep Guardiola |
City have now won four Premier League titles and eight major trophies under Pep Guardiola since his arrival in the summer of 2016.
Pep: We are legends
Pep Guardiola speaking to Sky Sports:
"The moment we found a goal it changed everything. We are playing in not normal circumstances but you have to handle it.
"Gundogan is the best inside runner we have. We were arriving down the sides and we needed a player with the sense of tempo in the box and he's the best.
"We are legends. When you win the Premier League four times in five seasons it's because these guys are so, so special. We will be remembered. The first title we won with lots of margin, then at Brighton, then winning at home without fans and now with people, it's the best.
"The magnitude of your achievement is defined by the magnitude of your rival. I've never seen a team like Liverpool. I know it's tough but a huge congratulations to them. They help us to be a better team.
"Today is special as it's the fifth anniversary of the Manchester arena attack when 22 people were killed. This is for the families. Today was special."
Analysis: Man City too strong again
Manchester City's consistency was the difference in the Premier League this season. Liverpool have won more games since the turn of the year but the damage was done before then as points leaked away in defeats away to West Ham and Leicester.
Guardiola's side had the odd slip of their own, notably losing to Tottenham on the opening weekend. But they never faltered for long. Winning the next three after that setback, scoring 11 goals without reply. That resilience proved to be a theme.
When the next Premier League defeat arrived against Crystal Palace in late October, City responded by winning their next 12 games in the competition. When Spurs completed the double over them, they thrashed Manchester United in the derby on their Etihad return.
Perhaps most impressively of all, as Liverpool embarked on a relentless run of victories, and that defeat to Real Madrid put the spotlight on their character like never before, City scored five goals in each of their next two games to underscore their dominance.
Joao Cancelo and Rodri, omitted from the Champions League final starting line-up at the end of last season, began this one with a point to prove and were sensational from the start. Kevin De Bruyne took longer to find his best form but was irresistible when he did.
Bernardo Silva was brilliant throughout but another theme of City's season has been that there was always another player ready to step up. Riyad Mahrez was the team's top scorer in all competitions but, incongruously, started only 14 Premier League games.
It was not about one man. Fifteen different players have scored twice or more for Guardiola's side in the Premier League this season. Raheem Sterling was the Premier League player of the month for December. Gabriel Jesus scored six times in April.
In one-off games, Liverpool were their match, drawing twice in the league, and eliminating Manchester City from the FA Cup. But over a long season, once again, no other team was able to do what they could do. Sustained excellence is what has set City apart.
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