Manchester City have been crowned Premier League champions after second-placed Manchester United were beaten 2-1 at home by Leicester City.
Pep Guardiola Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Pep Guardiola's City side, who missed the chance to seal the title when they were beaten 2-1 by Chelsea last weekend, are 10 points clear of United, who also have three games left.
It is City's third Premier League title in five seasons under Guardiola and their fifth in the last 10.
Despite their home defeat by Chelsea at the weekend, City have enjoyed a magnificent turnaround this season after picking up 12 points from their first eight games -- their worst start since 2008-09.
Since then they have been head and shoulders above their rivals and since hitting the top have looked unstoppable.
After losing at Tottenham Hotspur in November, they won 22 of their next 27 matches, including a 15-game winning run and a record-equalling 11 successive away league wins.
Guardiola's side, who were second-best to Liverpool last season, also won a fourth-straight League Cup and can claim a treble by beating Chelsea in this month's Champions League final.
Manchester United had delayed City's title celebrations by beating Aston Villa away on Sunday but it was only putting off the inevitable and the party can now start in earnest.
On the other side of Manchester a huge "Champions" banner was draped outside City's Etihad Stadium.
Guardiola said after a lockdown-impacted campaign, this was the toughest title he had won so far.
"This has been a season and a Premier League title like no other," the Spaniard said.
"This was the hardest one. We will always remember this season for the way that we won. I am so proud to be the manager here and of this group of players.
"They are so special. To come through this season -- with all the restrictions and difficulties we've faced -- and show the consistency we have is remarkable," he added.
-Reuters
