Thierry Henry: How Man City and Pep Guardiola proved doubters wrong

Manchester City won the English Premier League title on Sunday after rivals Manchester United stumbled to defeat against relegation-threatened West Bromwich Albion.

On Saturday: Premier League: Tottenham 1 (Eriksen 42) lost to Manchester City 3 (Jesus 22, Gundogan 25-pen, Sterling 72); Liverpool 3 (Mane 7, Salah 69, Firmino 90) bt Bournemouth 0; Newcastle 2 (Ayoze Perez 29, Ritchie 68) Arsenal 1 (Lacazette 14).

It was down to the phenomenal 93 strikes to have hit the net this season, more than any team has managed in a complete campaign since Manuel Pellegrini managed the club to a tally of 102 in 2014, when they also won the league.

After a mixed first season in England, Guardiola faced questions about whether his methods were a good fit for the Premier League.

Vincent Kompany delivered an emotionally charged speech to Manchester City fans and players after the club's title triumph.

Their dominance of the league, with 28 wins and just two defeats bear that out, but the circumstances in which they have been handed the title were surprising.

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But success hasn't come cheap for Pep Guardiola's team, as his world-class team nearly completely comprises of an expensively assembled squad of top players purchased for high transfer fees.

How will the Premier League table look at the end of the 2017/18 season?

Winning the title with five matches to go makes City the joint earliest champions in the Premier League era - matching the achievement of the 2000-01 Manchester United team.

Adam Bate, Sky Sports: "Manchester City's collective effort has put them miles ahead of the rest and secured the title with five games to spare".

The ownership change has certainly made an impact as City sealed their third Premier League title under the ADUG in a decade after many years of indifferent results of mid-table and relegation battles, which also saw them drop down to the lower divisions a few times. They were unbeaten in the Premier League until January 14, when Liverpool ended that unbelievable run at Anfield. "I have never been able to retain a title and I want to see if this team has got it to carry on and be even more successful".

Key men Fernandinho and David Silva are in their thirties now but much more can be still be expected of Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva alongside Kevin de Bruyne, the league's outstanding player this season. It equalled a Premier League milestone set by Manchester United in 2001, as City are unable to be caught and there are still five fixtures to play. You have to try to be more consistent next season.