Manuel Pellegrini’s Manchester City eased past West Ham 2-0 on the last day of the Premier League season to clinch the club’s fourth top-flight title.
City went into the day two points ahead of Liverpool, meaning their chances of securing a second title in three seasons were firmly in their own hands. In fact, due to their vastly superior goal difference, even a point would have been enough to write their name on the trophy.
The Citizens accomplished their mission with the minimum of fuss against a West Ham side with nothing to play for. Frenchman Samir Nasri opened the scoring shortly before the break and club captain Vincent Kompany wrapped up the win after the interval.
Pellegrini’s men ended the season on 86 points, while Brendan Rodgers’ Reds and José Mourinho’s Chelsea were left with 84 and 82 after 2-1 wins over Newcastle at home and Cardiff away respectively.
The hosts put out a full-strength line-up at the Etihad, eager to avoid the dramatic scenes of two years ago, in which City nearly threw it all away against QPR. This included a place for Argentine forward Sergio Agüero, the man who sealed the title with a last-minute strike on that occasion, despite the muscle problems with which he has been struggling in recent weeks.