Brighton 1 Manchester City 4 : Premier League Champions

Despite the fact nerves were riding high, Pep Guardiola still managed to inflict a surprise upon the Manchester City fans as he selected Riyad Mahrez for the important match away at Brighton.

Manchester City fans were a bundle of nervous energy as they waited for the last game of the season to kick off. City stood at the junction, where just three more points would guarantee the Premier League Title would be remaining with them for another 12 months, becoming the first team in a decade to retain the trophy.

The nerves were not assisted by the announcement of the team selection by Guardiola. Whilst the choosing of Ederson, Zinchenko, Laporte, Kompany and Walker in defence was not a surprise, even Bernardo, Silva and Gundogan was to be expected in midfield but the surprise was saved for the attack. For this critical match Guardiola had selected Sterling, Aguero and Mahrez.

Mahrez has spent much of the season in some purgatory, no doubt coming relentlessly inside from the right wing and stepping over. He has not scored since 2 March. Would today be the day when he could cement his future amongst this Manchester City elite group of players? The stage was set.

The match started at a frenetic pace and it felt as though City needed to weather the storm and start to impose their own style upon the game. City looked lethargic, second to every ball and slightly behind the pace. The rhythm was missing from the City play.

The first half-chance for City did not arrive until the 21st minute when Silva released Mahrez on the wing and his whipped cross was saved by the Brighton keeper but after that Brighton resumed their pressing and won a corner. Glenn Murray scored from the well taken corner and it seemed as though everything was going wrong.

City immediately pressed from the resulting kick off and Aguero found the back of the net with a neat turn within 90 seconds. Maybe poking City was exactly what we needed to spur us into some kind of life. City looked brighter after the goal and tried to keep the pressure up. And then the unthinkable happened.

City scored from a corner.

We have consistently averaged around 13 corners a game all season and its been about 300 corners since our last goal. But here Laporte rose and nodded home, leaving Glenn Murray for dead. Suddenly there was another kind of spring in their step as we started to look more dangerous going forwards with each move.

City were almost pegged back in the 46th minute as the referee inexplicably awarded Brighton a free kick. Lewis Dunk hit the ball hard and fast but thankfully Ederson was there to turn the ball over. 45 minutes left to the title but City really need another goal to make the result safe.

The opening exchanges of the second half were much more like a normal City match as we retained possession with passing and movement. There were few real chances created because in part we were just too slow in much of our build up play.

As we sauntered about in midfield, Mahrez picked up the ball and did his usual of cutting inside on left foot. then he sold everyone a dummy and came back inside on his right and unleashed a shot which the keeper could not save. The goal celebrations involved everyone in the City side and the bench too as the relief was plain to see.

Of course though there were twenty minutes still to play and the very real belief amongst the fans that a typical City moment would transpire to rob us of our glory. So, it was important the game was completely put to bed which Gundogan did when he added the 4th.

A freekick on the edge of the penalty area and he brilliantly lofted the ball into the top corner. The pressure was off and the fans could finally rejoice in their moment in the sunshine.

With the clock running down and 14 minutes still to go, David Silva left the pitch to an ovation and much to the horror of the Brighton fans, City replaced him with Kevin De Bruyne. The singing rang out loud across the across the stands and City played keep ball in the sunshine.

This has been a good performance under tremendous pressure. Gritty and determined. Skilfull and triumphant.

Many commentators have suggested this has been the best title race of all time as Liverpool were caught by Manchester City from 7 points behind. This Brighton result meant that City have won an incredible 14 games on the trot to secure this title. Quite simply Manchester City have been consistently the best team in England for the last two seasons and their performances have deserved the title.

The Cup Final and a possible treble sit on the horizon, an alluring prospect given our beautiful City side. Typical City.