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On the beach: Manchester City break Liverpool hearts to win Premier League

Manchester City have won their second successive Premier League title, after beating Brighton &am...



On the beach: Manchester City...
Soccer

On the beach: Manchester City break Liverpool hearts to win Premier League

Manchester City have won their second successive Premier League title, after beating Brighton & Hove Albion 4-1 at the Amex this afternoon.

Pep Guardiola and his side finished a scintillating Premier League title race with Liverpool just one point behind after beating Wolves 2-0 at Anfield this afternoon.

This, however, far from tells the entire story.

Brighton provided more than enough shocks for any Manchester City fan to handle, with Glenn Murray scoring with the faintest of touches from a Pascal Gross corner on 27 minutes, having learned that Sadio Mane had already put Liverpool into the lead elsewhere.

Liverpool and Brighton's joy turned out to be short-lived, with Sergio Aguero equalising almost immediately, a minute later.

Manchester City were not long waiting for the nose ahead, as Aymeric Laporte convincingly headed home from a pinpoint Riyad Mahrez corner.

Into the second half, City were barely troubled before Riyad Mahrez rifled one towards the top corner, Matt Ryan getting a hand to it but unable to keep it from the back of the net.

At this point, Blues' fans nerves turned to celebrations as it became clear that Brighton would likely have no answer for the relentless attacking intent of Manchester City.

Ilkay Gundogan added a fourth with a magnificent free-kick, with it hard to ignore the Harlem Globetrotters approach the match as it edged past the point of no return.

Manchester City prevail

Pep Guardiola's men have been worthy winners, arguably improving their technical excellence from last season despite finishing two points shy of last season's tally.

The difference this season has been adding total guile and ever-more calmness under pressure, as typified by their reaction on the English south coast, under pressure from a Liverpool side chasing them to finish with 97 points.

Futile as it is to decide on turning points, it is difficult to avoid the January night that City prevailed over their title challengers at the Etihad, where Leroy Sane's goal prevented Liverpool from opening a ten point lead had they won.

Guardiola has already paid great tribute to Jurgen Klopp's side, saying that Liverpool of this season are among the two best sides that he has ever faced, aside from Luis Enrique's Barcelona side in 2014-15.

But it is Manchester City that are the top of the tree when it matters.

For a season when they have missed arguably their best player in Kevin De Bruyne for the majority of the season, it has been an immaculate performance, and very difficult to see these two teams not dominating again for the season to come.

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City Guardiola Jurgen Klopp Klopp Liverpool Manchester City Pep Guardiola Premier League