MANCHESTER CITY HAVE been crowned as the winners of the 2017-18 Premier League after rivals Man United slumped to defeat at the hands of West Bromwich Albion on Sunday.
Pep Guardiola’s men now hold an unassailable 16-point lead at the top of the table, meaning that with just five games to play nobody can catch the side which has led the league uninterruptedl since the fifth round of fixtures.
City could have sealed the title last week, but a spirited comeback from United in the Manchester derby to win 3-2 at the Etihad Stadium put celebrations on ice.
A 3-1 win over Tottenham on Saturday, however, meant that defeat for the Red Devils at home to relegation-threatened West Brom would confirm the win.
Despite dominating possession at Old Trafford, Jose Mourinho’s charges fell 1-0 thanks to Jay Rodriguez’s goal.
And United were unable to claw back the deficit, handing the Premier League to their neighbours when the final whistle sounded.
With 33 games played City have won an impressive 28, with three draws and just two defeats.
The champions have scored 93 times and conceded on 25 occasions.
Now the title is in the bag, the club’s next challenge will be beating the record for most points in a single season.
Chelsea currently hold that milestone, having picked up 95 points under Mourinho in 2004-5; in order to surpass the Special One, Pep and his team must take at least nine points from the 15 still up for grabs.
United, meanwhile, face a stiff test to hold on to the second place they have occupied for almost the entire campaign.
Liverpool are just one point behind the Red Devils with 70 points, albeit having played one more game, while Tottenham lie three points further back on 67.
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I like GAA too! If only I cold find a way to wriggle out of my PAYE obligations, I could then throw out a bit of the cash I’d save to my pet sport and everyone would say I’m a great fella.
@Hibernicus: There’s always one who has nothing good to say.
@Richard Ford: You misunderstood, I am inspired & keen to emulate the great man!
@Hibernicus: the man owns and runs a Swiss based company where he is clearly doing pretty well. This is also where he pays tax. I appreciate that might be a difficult concept to wrap your head around when you’ve likely spent your life in the one village.
@Hibernicus: . Well then please do your very best to do so. All donations gratefully accepted Hibernicus.
@Hibernicus: typical
@Paul Odeier: succinct!
@Hibernicus:you come across as a great fella.revenue are crying out for great fellas
As I said to Shane below, we are a tax haven. Tax avoidance is the way of the world. We gratefully accept multiple billions from corporations who base their headquarters here to avoid tax. We can’t have it both ways. People be careful not to fall off their high horses.
Fantastic balanced journalism from the headline down, exactly why I decided to pay for a subscription.
I look forward to the day when I can stop paying tax like all the smart people and donate an iPad to the club raffle for a gushing write-up in the local paper.
@Shane Griffin: When are you expecting to become one of the smart people?
@Shane Griffin: how do you feel about the fact that Ireland is a tax haven? Do you think we should send back the multiple billions we receive from tax dodging corporations every year???