Manchester City have been crowned 2018-19 Premier League champions after a 4-1 win against Brighton.Pep Guardiola’s side entered Sunday knowing that three points would be enough to reclaim the title, having been pushed all the way by Liverpool.
Both sides entered the game with just a point separating them, with City holding the advantage on 95 points.
But Liverpool drew first blood with an early goal against Wolves through Sadio Mane.
The Senegalese forward made it 1-0 in the 17th minute when he turned home Trent Alexander-Arnold’s cross.
It was just the start that Liverpool needed, with City struggling to exert themselves against Brighton.
There was no doubt plenty of anxiety among the City supporters as they prayed for an opener – and one did come. But it was Brighton who scored it.
HOW THE FINAL DAY PANNED OUT
Glenn Murray turned home from Pascal Gross’ corner to send Brighton and Liverpool supporters wild.
But Brighton’s lead lasted less than 90 seconds – 83, to be exact – with Sergio Aguero netting an instant reply.
It’s not the first time that the Argentinian has scored an important goal on the final day of the season and he delivered when City needed him to once again.
City began to up their game and they turned the game around in the 38th minute.
Aymeric Laporte climbed highest to head home from Riyad Mahrez’s corner – it was the perfect response to going behind.
Those were the scores at half-time – Man City winning 2-1, Liverpool winning 1-0 – following an action-packed first 45 minutes.
And when Mahrez turned from provider to goalscorer in the 64th minute, it seemed inevitable that the title was theirs.
The Algerian fired home a cracking effort from outside the box that Brighton goalkeeper Mat Ryan was unable to keep out.
Guardiola’s celebration on the touchline was exuberant. He knew at that point that the title was in the bag.