Manchester City 3, West Ham 1
Manchester City became the first men’s team in English football league history to win the top flight title four times in a row with a win over West Ham.
Phil Foden scored twice and Rodri made sure of victory after a spectacular Mohammed Kudus overhead kick briefly threatened to spoil the party.
City were in no mood to leave it late this time and attacked West Ham from the outset.
Phil Foden had opened the scoring after 76 seconds when he fired in from outside the box after his first touch took the ball away from James Ward-Prowse.
Foden had his second after 18 minutes when Jeremy Doku, who had terrorised the Hammers defence, drilled in a low cross from the left and the Premier League Player of the Year turned it in from 14 yards out.
City tried to extend their lead several times in the first halibut it was West Ham school scored next after James Ward-Prowse’s corner was knocked down by Thomas Soucek and Mohammed Kudus’ overhead kick beat Stefan Ortega to pull a goal back for the Hammers.
The tempo dropped early in the second half but as nerves started to set in for the home side Rodri smashed in City’s third goal after Bernardo Silva laid the ball off to him after 59 minutes.
City made it a mission to try and get 4 but desperate Hammers defending and some abject finishing deprived the fans of more celebrations.
Thomas Soucek thought he had given West Ham hope with a header following Ward-Prowse’s corner but was quickly ruled out by VAR for handball.
And with news of Arsenal taking the lead against Everton seconds later Phil Foden was withdrawn for Mateo Kovacic as City closed out the game without drama.
Embed from Getty ImagesPLAYER RATINGS – Manchester City 3, West Ham 1
Stefan Ortega: 6. Standing in for Ederson. One great save from Mohammed Kudus showed he wasn’t there for an easy ride – Kudus would go on to beat him with spectacular overhead kick.
Kyle Walker: 7. Good first half clearances as West Ham occasionally looked to push forward.
Ruben Dias: 6. Thought he had set up a third goal for City.
Manuel Akanji: 6. Defensive rock.
Josko Gvardiol: 7. Cool in defence. Involved in the build up to the second goal and looking a lot more confident going forward – joining City attacks.
Rodri: 8. Another great performance in midfield, rippled the side netting with just the keeper to beat. Smashed in City’s third from 20 yards out.
Kevin De Bruyne: 7. Shots saved by Areola and blocked. Went close a few times too.
Phil Foden: 9. Exquisite touch from the Player of the Year to take the ball away from James Ward-Prowse ahead of the opening goal. Second goal was just as good when he turned in Jeremy Doku’s cross from the left. Could have turned provider but the finishing wasn’t as good following his efforts. Worked hard all afternoon.
Bernardo Silva: 7. Set up the opening goal with a square ball from the left and laid the ball off to Rodri for City’s third goal. Great ball retention.
Jeremy Doku: 8. Twice had shots saved by Alphonse Areola before driving in a cross for Phil Foden to convert. Not as effective in the second half but no less entertaining, especially when he skipped into the box and put himself on his backside.
Erling Haaland: 6. Somehow volleyed over the bar from inside the 6 yard box. Had another shot saved by Areola and fired over from 7 yards out.
Nathan Ake (on for Manuel Akanji, 70): 6. Slotted in at centre back.
Mateo Kovacic (on for Phil Foden, 90): No time to mark.
GOALS – Manchester City 3, West Ham 1
Man City 1, West Ham 0: 2. 76 seconds into the game, Bernardo Silva slide the ball square to Phil Foden who took it on his left foot, created space and smashed in the opener from 20 yards out.
Man City 2, West Ham 0: 18. Jeremy Doku glided down the left flank and drove in a cross which was turned in by Phil Foden from 14 yards out.
Man City 2, West Ham 1: 42. Mohammed Kudus overhead kick beat Stefan Ortega after James Ward-Prowse’s corner was headed down by Thomas Soucek and Kudus did the rest. Pep Guardiola was furious and threw down his water bottle.
Man City 3, West Ham 1: 59. Rodri smashed in City’s third goal from 20 yards out after Bernardo Silva laid the ball off to him.
MATCH STATS – Manchester City 3, West Ham 1
Man City: Ortega, Walker (C), Dias, Akanji (Ake 70), Gvardiol, Rodri, De Bruyne, Foden (Kovacic 90), Bernardo Silva, Doku, Haaland
Man City Subs not used: Carson, Stones, Grealish, J. Alvarez, Nunes, Bobb, Lewis
Goals: Foden 2, 18; Rodri 59
West Ham: Areola, Coufal, Zouma (C), Mavropanos, Cresswell, Emerson (E Alvarez 71), Ward-Prowse, Soucek, Kudus, Paqueta (Ings 86), Antonio (Earthy 81)
West Ham Subs not used: Fabianski, Johnson, Cornet, Ogbonna, Casey, Mubama
Booked: E Alvarez 76 (foul on Bernardo Silva)
Goals: Kudus 42
Referee: John Brooks