Manchester City get the job done on the final day, beating West Ham 3-1 at the Etihad to secure their fourth Premier League title in a row.
City’s two outstanding players of the season saved their best for the last game to wrap up yet another league crown.
A Foden double – one from well outside the penalty area and one from six yards out – within the first 18 minutes of the game gave the visitors an early and seemingly insurmountable hole to dig themselves out of, but a moment of individual brilliance from Kudus a few minutes before first-half injury time would give Moyes’ side something to cling onto ahead of the restart.
🏆 ¡CAMPEONES! 🏆
🩵 3-1 ⚒ pic.twitter.com/gKgVqqey82
— Manchester City (@ManCityES) May 19, 2024
Pep Guardiola had insisted West Ham would put up a fight and envisaged a similarly angsty game to when his side went 2-0 down to Aston Villa on the final day two years ago before rallying to win. But there were very few signs of nerves when City steamed into the lead after one minute and 18 seconds, Foden whipping the ball into the far corner with his left foot, the sort of goal he has been scoring all season.
West Ham, who were without top scorer Jarrod Bowen due to illness, barely entered City’s area and after half an hour had just 18 percent of the ball. Guardiola’s side had total dominance and it was only a matter of time when they got their second, with Jeremy Doku being denied and Rodri missing the target.
¡HEMOS HECHO HISTORIA!
¡CAMPEONES, 4 CONSECUTIVAS!
🏆🏆🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/KZaUE3l2k8
— Manchester City (@ManCityES) May 19, 2024
But Foden duly delivered again, side-footing home a Doku cross in the 18th minute. Erling Haaland missed two sitters which should have put the game out of sight and then shortly before half-time, out of nowhere, Mohammed Kudus conjured a stunning bicycle kick to reduce the deficit.
There were visible nerves around the ground but Rodri soon settled them by scoring a third goal with a daisy-cutter from outside the box. The party was then able to truly start, as the City fans did the Poznan and the chants of ‘Champions Again’ got louder and louder.
