Manchester City send Premier League records tumbling with win over Brighton as Etihad says farewell to Yaya Toure

Manchester City 3-1 Brighton: After fluffing their lines on Sunday, the champions finally broke the records they have been threatening to shatter since the start of the season

Manchester City celebrate Bernardo Silva’s goal (Getty Images)

Most goals, most wins, most points. Manchester City ended their season at the Etihad and said farewell to one of their modern greats by staking their claim to be the best team of the Premier League era.

After fluffing their lines against Huddersfield Town on Sunday, the champions finally broke the records they have been threatening to shatter since the start of the season, as Danilo, Bernardo Silva and Fernandinho’s goals comfortably saw them past Brighton and Hove Albion.

City have now eclipsed the 95 points earned by Chelsea in 2004-05, the record of 30 wins in a single Premier League season set this time last year and the 103 goals scored by the west Londoners in 2009-10.

The only disappointment was that Yaya Touré could not cap off his 316th and final City appearance with a goal, but the Ivorian – central to so much of the club’s success in recent years – was richly rewarded for his service after the final whistle.

His brother Kolo presented him with a framed shirt, a copy of the mosaic that will signpost a pitch dedicated to him at City’s training ground and a lifetime season ticket, sat next to fellow Etihad old boy Pablo Zabaleta.

Sunday’s trophy celebrations and the fuss over Touré meant this rearranged fixture felt as though it had come after the Lord Mayor’s show, but there was still a mood of celebration around the Etihad and Brighton treated the champions to their fourth guard of honour since the title was confirmed.

Having clapped their hosts onto the pitch, Chris Hughton’s side then stood and watched again a quarter of an hour later as Leroy Sané crafted the opening goal.

The PFA Young Player of the Year burst through the middle of the park unopposed, spotted Danilo rushing out from right back and produced a perfectly weighted pass that the full back could slide around goalkeeper Mathew Ryan.

A goal up, City seemed ready to end their season at the Etihad with another thrashing-to-nil, but Claudio Bravo then kindly reminded all in attendance why Pep Guardiola’s side did not seem so imperious when he was a first-team regular last season.

City’s back-up ‘keeper needlessly came off his line to slap the ball away from Davy Propper, but without enough force to send it over the byline. Propper recovered and crossed over a prone Bravo for Leonardo Ulloa, who nodded Brighton’s equaliser into a gaping goal.

Normal service would be resumed by Bernardo Silva and with his clean strike to beat Ryan at the near post, a Premier League record finally tumbled. By converting Sané’s cross, the Portuguese registered City’s 104th goal of the league season, surpassing the 103 set by Chelsea in the 2009-10 campaign.

Brighton had just one chance to force their way back into the game, coming on the hour mark, but after Danilo and Bravo both failed to clear a routine cross, Anthony Knockaert could only sky his effort well over the crossbar and into the Etihad’s South Stand.

Leroy Sane created all three City goals (Getty Images) (Man City via Getty Images)

City otherwise spent the second half as they have spent much of the season – comfortable and dominant. Sané, their liveliest player throughout, registered a hat-trick of assists by coming short to pick up Ilkay Gundogan’s quick corner and squaring to Fernandinho. The Brazilian finished first-time from the edge of the box.

The closing stages became what the game had always threatened to be – a Touré testimonial. The Ivorian was urged to shoot with his every touch and Ryan was booed when one careering run into the penalty area by Touré ended with the Brighton ‘keeper making a routine save.

Touré was eventually replaced by Lukas Nmecha, a striker 15 years his junior, but only after a hug from each of his team-mates. Eight years on from joining a club of new money and grand aspirations, he leaves a Premier League great and one of Guardiola’s record-breakers.