Manchester City won an unprecedented fourth straight Premier League title with a 3-1 win over West Ham United on Sunday to pip rivals Arsenal on the final day of a thrilling season.
Two glorious early goals from league player of the season Phil Foden created a party atmosphere in the sunshine at the Etihad Stadium before a stunning bicycle kick from Mohammed Kudus before half-time brought West Ham briefly into the game.
Phil Foden opened the scoring for Manchester City in just the second minute against West Ham.Credit: AP
But Rodri sealed the victory with a low 59th-minute shot from outside the area, giving Pep Guardiola’s side a sixth title in seven years.
City have the chance of winning the double as they face Manchester United in the FA Cup final next Saturday.
In one of the closest title races in Premier League history, Arsenal could have taken the championship had City dropped points, but the Londoners’ 2-1 win in their game against Everton was in vain, leaving them two points behind.
Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham beat the Championship-bound Sheffield United 3-0 to stay ahead of Chelsea and claim automatic qualification into the second-tier Europa League.
The result helped Spurs finish with 66 points, two points below fourth-placed Aston Villa and three points above Chelsea.
Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham Hotspur denied Chelsea fifth place with a win over relegated Sheffield United.Credit: Getty Images
Dejan Kulusevski netted twice with a goal in each half while Pedro Porro also scored with a thunderbolt which gave Sheffield goalkeeper Wes Foderingham no chance of making a save.
The Blades, whose relegation was confirmed last month, finished the season with the worst defensive record in Premier League history after they conceded 104 goals in 38 games.
Elsewhere, Liverpool beat Wolves 2-0 in a dead rubber, Jurgen Klopp’s side having already secured third place in his final season at the club. Likewise, Aston Villa had previously claimed the last Champions League place, their 5-0 defeat at Crystal Palace having no effect on the final standings as they finished 14 points adrift of Liverpool.
Manchester United finished eighth on the table despite a 2-0 win at Brighton. United could still secure second-tier European football if they beat City in the FA Cup final.
Meanwhile, Brentford suffered a 4-2 loss to Newcastle and Nottingham Forest beat Burnley 2-1.
Burnley, Luton Town and Sheffield United all played their last games in the Premier League after being relegated.
Leicester and Ipswich will replace them in the Premier League, having won promotion from the Championship. They will be joined by either Leeds or Southampton, who will play off for the final spot on May 26.
AP, Reuters
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