Man City v West Ham LIVE: Premier League result and final score as Phil Foden inspires victory
Manchester City 3-1 West Ham: City claim fourth successive league title after Foden brace and Rodri’s second-half strike
Manchester City won an unprecedented fourth straight English top-flight title with a 3-1 win over West Ham United on Sunday to pip rivals Arsenal on the final day of a thrilling Premier League season.
Two glorious early goals from league player of the season Phil Foden created a party atmosphere in the sunshine at the Etihad Stadium before a stunning bicycle kick from Mohammed Kudus before halftime brought West Ham briefly into the game.
But Rodri sealed the victory with a low 59th-minute shot from outside the area, giving Pep Guardiola’s side a phenomenal sixth title in seven years. Fans danced in their seats, belting out: “Champions again!” and “Are you watching Arsenal?”
In one of the closest title races in Premier League history, Arsenal could have taken the championship had City dropped points. But the Londoners’ 2-1 win in their game against Everton was in vain, leaving them two points behind.
Follow all the reaction below.
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Kevin De Bruyne speaks to Sky Sports
“It feels as amazing as the first one. We worked so hard for it. We batted so hard with Liverpool and Arsenal. Doing something historic is so special.
“Phil Foden’s goal helped us. It was a great goal and it has showed the season he’s had. It’s a brilliant moment for him to decide this game for us. The goals he has scored have been so decisive for us [this season].
“This is one of my most special Premier League titles because I had a tough year being out for six months. To come back in the way that I could and to help the team win by being at a good level is a great achievement for me personally.
“The manager sets the tone but as a team, we just enjoy playing with each other. It’s not a team with big egos - we have fun and run like crazy. We want to perform well and we enjoy it.”
What a run from Guardiola’s side
Manchester City have now gone 35 matches unbeaten in all competitions (W29 D6), the longest run ever by a Premier League team. In English top-flight history, the only team with a longer unbeaten run is Nottingham Forest between March and November 1978 (40)
City lift the trophy
Kyle Walker is the last up to collect his medal and the club captain takes his time before lifting the Premier League trophy aloft.
Manchester City are champions again!
Manchester City lift the Premier League trophy for a record-breaking fourth season in a row! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/U5w5WoGlY6
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) May 19, 2024
Rio Ferdinand - Foden becoming a club legend
Phil Foden collects his medal to huge applause from the stands and Rio Ferdinand.
“You have to respect it - the individuals there are fantastic. The top players have moments where you cement yourself as one of the club’s greats - I’m not going to go too early, but Foden has done that today,” the former Man United centre-back says on TNT Sports.
“It’s hard to explain how difficult winning a title again is - to continually reboot and go again. The daily pressure to get up and go every day is a relentless pursuit of elite performance.”
Gary Neville - Pep is a winning machine
“Pep Guardiola has designed a style of football that is being copied not just around this country, but all around Europe.
“Most of all he is a winning machine that instils that in everybody who works with him.”
Here come the players
Club legend Pau Dickov brings out the trophy and is followed soon after by the medical team and backroom staff.
And here comes the players, led out by Guardiola, to a rapturous reception in the Manchester sunshine. The Spaniard the first to receive his medal.
Trophy lift coming soon
City fans stormed onto the pitch in celebration but are back in the stands now as we get ready for the trophy lift
Arsenal fall just short of Premier League glory — and it’s clear what they need to finally beat Man City
As the Arsenal fans sang joyously, you wouldn’t necessarily have thought they’d just finished second. That could instead be seen on the dejected faces of the players, who didn’t even celebrate the Kai Havertz goal that gave them a 2-1 victory over Everton.
Arsenal had done what they needed, but it wasn’t enough. For their part, the one reason the fans were responding as they did was because of the long acceptance this had been the case, and pride in the team.
Any true hope really vanished after just 76 seconds, when news of that Phil Foden goal at Manchester City began to come true.
It symbolised how there was only ever the illusion of tension to this, and most of the title race. City have been too strong, winning too many matches of this run-in with ease. Arsenal just keep having to try to inch closer, as arduous as that is. They are gradually getting there.
The wonder is whether City, under Pep Guardiola in this idealised environment, will always have that bit more.
Miguel Delaney reports from a disappointing day for Arsenal fans at the Emirates:
Arsenal fall just short — and it’s clear what they need next to beat Man City
Arsenal 2-1 Everton: Kai Havertz produced a late winner but it was not enough as Manchester City beat West Ham to win a fourth Premier League title in a row
At the Emirates
Captain Martin Odegaard addresses the crowd: “We have changed the club. I think you all believe in us now. I can’t wait to come back from the break. We’re on a good way. We’re stronger than last year and we have to come back even stronger and push all the way and win everything.”
Mikel Arteta also says a few words: “All this is happening because you started believing, you started to be patient, you started to see what we were trying to do. All credit to the players, this was tough, unbelievable.
More from Walker
“The support we also get from the Manchester City fans never ceases to amaze me. Week in, week out they are there, whatever the weather, supporting us all the way. Their passion and backing honestly means the world to me and all the players.
I hope that making history by winning a fourth consecutive Premier League title stands as a fitting way for us to say thank you to all our fantastic supporters.”
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