Five of Manchester City's best wins from record-breaking Premier League season

Tom Biggs 11:52 10/05/2018
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  • Wednesday night’s 3-1 victory against Brighton at the Etihad saw Manchester City break the record for most wins in a single Premier League season, as Pep Guardiola’s side took their tally to 31.

    While breaking the win record, previously held by Chelsea, who achieved 30 victories during the 2016/17 season, City also broke the record for most points and most goals in a single campaign.

    Here we take a look back at five of City’s best wins from their astonishing 2017/18 season.

    5. AFC Bournemouth 1-2 Manchester City (26th August 2017)

    Raheem Sterling celebrates his late, late winner against Bournemouth.

    Raheem Sterling celebrates his late, late winner against Bournemouth.

    Having drawn 1-1 at home to Everton in their previous fixture and gone 1-0 down against Bournemouth thanks to a stunning strike from Charlie Daniels, City were right up against it at the Vitality Stadium. But Guardiola’s side showed plenty of character to come back and win the game, equalising through Gabriel Jesus just eight minutes after Bournemouth’s opener. It looked as though City would have to settle for a second-successive draw as the minutes etched away, but Raheem Sterling had other ideas. The England international saw his deflected strike sail into the net in the seventh minute of stoppage time, sparking wild scenes in the away end. City had found a way to win. Little did anyone know at this stage that they would do so again in the next 17 matches.

    4. Manchester City 7-2 Stoke City (14th October 2017)

    David Silva and Raheem Sterling found the net against Stoke City.

    David Silva and Raheem Sterling found the net against Stoke City.

    A game in which the quality of City’s attacking players left you wondering how anyone could stop them. A ten-minute first-half spell saw Guardiola’s side net three times against Stoke City, with Kevin De Bruyne, as so often he has been during the 2017/18 at the heart of everything. Jesus, Sterling and David Silva all scored inside the opening 30 minutes. A Mame Biram Diouf strike and a Kyle Walker own-goal made it 3-2, but that only seemed to stir City again, as another blistering seven-minute spell saw them make it 6-2, with Jesus, Fernandinho and Leroy Sane all scoring. Bernardo Silva completed the rout, as City recorded their fourth win by a margin of five or more goals from their opening eight matches.

    3. Chelsea 0-1 Manchester City (30th September 2017)

    Kevin De Bruyne's stunning strike won it for Manchester City away at Chelsea.

    Kevin De Bruyne’s stunning strike won it for Manchester City away at Chelsea.

    Last season’s champions were put to the sword in their own back yard, as City produced an impressive performance to beat Chelsea 1-0 at Stamford Bridge. With arch-rivals Manchester United making an impressive start to the season, the pressure was on Guardiola’s men to keep pace with Jose Mourinho’s side. They did just that with a dominating away display. The only goal of the game came in the 67th minute, courtesy of a terrific strike from De Bruyne, with City rarely threatened by Chelsea at the other end throughout the 90 minutes. Having recorded two 5-0 victories and a 6-0 win in the three games prior to beating Chelsea, City had once again shown their ability to grind out results.

    2. Manchester City 2-1 Southampton (29th November 2017)

    Another stoppage-time goal from Raheem Sterling saw off Southampton at the Etihad.

    Another stoppage-time goal from Sterling saw off Southampton at the Etihad.

    Having come from behind to beat Huddersfield 2-1 in the game previous, Manchester City made hard work of it again at home to Southampton, in what was their most dramatic home win of their record-breaking season. On this occasion they took the lead, as De Bruyne netted just after half-time, but the Saints grew in to the game and equalised with just 15 minutes remaining through Oriol Romeu. It seemed certain that City’s winning run would come to an end, as they failed to find a way through against a resolute Southampton defence, but just when it seemed all was lost, Sterling – once again – popped up late on to curl home a stunning strike and spark crazy celebrations at the Etihad.

    1. Manchester United 1-2 Manchester City (10th December 2017)

    Nicolas Otamendi scored the winner as Manchester City won 2-1 at Old Trafford.

    Nicolas Otamendi scored the winner as Manchester City won 2-1 at Old Trafford.

    Claims Manchester City had already won the title came as early as 10th December, after Guardiola’s side won away at arch-rivals Manchester United to record their 14th straight victory and move 11 points clear at the top of the table. Having dominated for much of the first half, David Silva opened the scoring as he capitalised on a loose ball in the penalty area, but United hit back just before the break through Marcus Rashford. While conceding the equaliser could have knocked City for six, they regained their composure and the lead nine minutes into the second half. A couple of great saves from Ederson preserved the slender advantage late on, but despite winning by a single goal, City’s performance and domination on the ball only served to highlight the huge gulf in class between the two Manchester clubs.

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