It took a long time for Manchester City to be peerless. When they won the first title of their money-flushed reincarnation, it famously came down to the last kick — Agüerooooo — on the last day of the 2011-12 season.

In their closing ten games, they drew with Stoke City and Sunderland and lost to Arsenal before six successive victories in the final straight took them over the line.

Two years later they were champions again on the final day, with two draws and a defeat coming in their final ten matches.

It was only last year, under Pep Guardiola, that they achieved excellence and won at a canter; swatting aside all-comers to reach new heights after spending huge sums to piece together a formidable