Pep’s superstars crowned champs after greatest EPL season in history
THEY deserve to be remembered as the best champions in the Premier League era.
Manchester City retained the English title in the greatest season in history and that should go down as Pep Guardiola’s crowning achievement.
They were pushed to the limit by an outstanding Liverpool, forcing Guardiola’s men to go through boundaries they did not reach even in last year’s recordbreaking campaign.
Quite how Liverpool can get 97 points, lose just one game all season and still not win the title is incredible. But it should not just be viewed as Liverpool being the best runners-up in history but also as how good City have been to finish above them.
This season has been unique, two teams out on their own, miles ahead of the rest in every sense.
City could yet win the domestic Treble while Liverpool could be crowned European champions.
The duel between the Reds and City is what will set this year apart as Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp have gone toe-to-toe.
Liverpool were seven points clear as New Year dawned and could have gone 10 clear if they had won at the Etihad on January 3. Lesser teams would have cracked under the pressure.
Up until that point, the Anfield men had looked favourites for the title yet City’s win sowed the seeds of doubt and perhaps that was the biggest turning point in this incredible battle.
The leadership has changed a record 32 times over the course of the season – albeit several weekends where Liverpool have played first – and the frantic chase has been as remarkable as it has been thrilling.
Liverpool’s worst run was four draws in the space of six games, the stalemate at Everton on March 3 was ultimately the day when they lost control of the title race.
From then on, City have been relentless, a winning machine as, since losing at Newcastle on January 29, they have won 14 games in a row and done it in style.
Raheem Sterling has been voted the Football Writers’ Player of the Year, Sergio Aguero and Bernardo Silva would have taken individual gongs in any other season.
The speed, movement and flow of their football has been exceptional all year long.
Vincent Kompany scored perhaps the most iconic goal of the season when his 28-yard screamer flew into the top corner against Leicester last Monday.
Every time there has been a challenge, City have risen to it. They are so far ahead of the rest.
Even when Brighton had the temerity to take the lead at the AmEx on the final day when, for all of 83 seconds with Liverpool winning and City losing, Klopp was back in pole position.
But after Glenn Murray’s 27th-minute opener was quickly cancelled out, there was only going to be one winner and the only question was by how much. That has been the story of City’s season.
Aguero scored the equaliser after 28 minutes, turning brilliantly on to David Silva’s flick before despatching the ball through keeper Mat Ryan’s legs.
Aymeric Laporte headed home to put them ahead after 38 minutes from Riyad Mahrez’s corner and