Manchester City cap title triumph with win over Chelsea thanks to Álvarez

Manchester City have never enjoyed a more dominant moment – or a more tantalising one. A third Premier League title in a row and fifth in six seasons? Check. It had been sealed when Arsenal lost at Nottingham Forest on Saturday evening – what happened on the pitch here felt incidental.

It was a party in sky blue, beginning inside the Etihad when the Chelsea players lined up to give the champions a pre-match guard of honour and rolling all the way through to the pitch invasion from thousands of City supporters at full time. The lack of jeopardy or drama did not make the trophy-lift any less sweet for the captain, Ilkay Gündogan, or anyone connected to the club.

City could reflect on how they had reeled in Arsenal with time to spare, having been eight points behind them in mid-January and again at the start of April, albeit having played one game fewer at that stage. Arsenal have been unable to live with City’s strength in all areas, or their pulverising power.

City could bask in their three-peat – something only four top division clubs have previously achieved. But, really, it has come to feel all about what they do over the coming weeks in the finals of the FA Cup against Manchester United and the Champions League against Internazionale.

“If we are to be considered one of the best teams, we have to win the Champions League,” Pep Guardiola had said on the eve of this game. That the manager is prepared to say so seems to reflect his confidence. And why not? City will start against Inter as the overwhelming favourites for a litany of very good reasons. For them, history beckons.

City won here thanks to Julián Álvarez’s 12th-minute goal. Frank Lampard is one of only two visiting managers to have got a result at the Etihad