Manchester City celebrated becoming Premier League champions by hammering relegation-threatened Swansea City 5-0 at the Etihad Stadium this afternoon.
David Silva got the ball rolling on 12 minutes before Raheem Sterling quickly bagged his 17th league goal of the season by converting Fabian Delph's cross from close range.
PFA Player of the Year frontrunner Kevin De Bruyne made it three on 54 minutes with a 25-yard screamer, cutting across a powerful shot which flew past Lukasz Fabianski.
Bernardo Silva was the fourth different City player on the scoresheet when he converted the rebound of a penalty which Fabianski had saved from Gabriel Jesus, who made amends with an 88th-minute fifth.
Relive how the action unfolded at Eastlands with Sports Mole's minute-by-minute updates below.
It will have been a week of celebrations for Manchester City after a deserved title triumph was wrapped up courtesy of Manchester United's shock defeat to West Brom. Could that open the door for a crucial win for relegation-threatened Swansea City or will Pep's boys march towards more records?
RESULTS: Just before we get to the team news at the Etihad Stadium, let me bring you news of today's lunchtime results, one of which will be a boost for Swansea with Stoke only drawing 1-1 at home to Burnley to keep the gap between the Welsh outfit and the drop zone to three points.
Elsewhere, Arsenal began Arsene Wenger's swansong with a flattering 4-1 win over West Ham United.
MAN CITY: Ederson; Danilo, Kompany, Laporte, Delph; Gundogan, De Bruyne, Silva; Bernardo, Sterling, Jesus
Subs: Bravo, Walker, Sane, Mendy, Otamendi, Toure, Foden
Subs: Bravo, Walker, Sane, Mendy, Otamendi, Toure, Foden
SWANSEA: Fabianski; Naughton, Van der Hoorn, Fernandez, Mawson, Olsson; Ki, King, Carroll; Andre Ayew, Jordan Ayew
Subs: Nordfeldt, Bartley, Roberts, Clucas, Routledge, Dyer, Abraham
Subs: Nordfeldt, Bartley, Roberts, Clucas, Routledge, Dyer, Abraham
Pep Guardiola makes two changes from the team which started the 3-1 win over Tottenham last Saturday, with Danilo and Bernardo Silva coming in for Kyle Walker and Leroy Sane. Sergio Aguero is out for the season after ankle surgery and Fernandinho (suspension) and John Stones (groin) are also missing.
Twitter hero Benjamin Mendy is back in the City squad after seven months after recovering from his knee ligament injury, but Fabian Delph keeps his place at left-back. The Frenchman, who has a 100% winning record for the Blues, is likely to get some action before the end of the season though.
There is more Premier League exposure for £57m defender Aymeric Laporte who has the experience and leadership of Vincent Kompany alongside him with Nicolas Otamendi on the bench again.
The visitors are without Luciano Narsingh because of a twisted ankle but Mike van der Hoorn is fit again after a shoulder problem which allows Carlos Carvalhal to revert to a back five. That is the Swansea manager's only change from the 1-1 draw with Everton in their last fixture.
Jordan Ayew was the goalscorer at Goodison Park - his seventh league goal of the season - and he is once again partnered by his brother Andre. Between them the Ayews will be tasked with creating something special out of the little possession that the Swans have this afternoon.
Sam Clucas is back from a knee problem but Carvalhal prefers Tom Carroll in his three-man midfield. The former Spurs man is perhaps less industrious than Clucas, and also offers less of a goal threat, but he does have the passing range to be able to release the Ayew brothers early.
Carvalhal is an old friend of Jose Mourinho's, but that loyalty did not get in the way of him making a classy tribute to the new champions in his pre-match press conference this week.
The Portuguese told BBC Sport: "We are proud to do the guard of honour for Manchester City on Sunday. Congratulations to them, to Pep Guardiola, all the players and the club. They deserve to be champions - the numbers show you that."
Guardiola's side have the trophy in the bag but could still strengthen their case to be considered as the best team of the Premier League era by breaking several records between now and the end of the season. Let's take a closer look at some of the records that the Citizens are chasing...
Most points: Chelsea's side from the 2004-05 campaign - Mourinho's first season in English football - hold the record for the highest points total in Premier League history with 95. City are currently on 87, which means three wins from five games will get them over the line.
Most goals: The Blues from Stamford Bridge also hold the record for the most goals scored in a single Premier League season, although that was under Carlo Ancelotti in 2009-10. Guardiola's entertainers need 11 goals in five games to surpass that Didier Drogba-inspired total of 103.
Biggest winning margin City have a 13-point cushion on second-place Manchester United, with today's game in hand which could take them 16 clear. The Red Devils own the biggest winning margin in Premier League history of 18, achieved during the 1999-2000 season.
Most wins in a season Last season's champions Chelsea set a new Premier League high of 30 wins during a single campaign, which the Citizens are two short of at present. Again, three wins from their remaining five matches will see City take this short-lived record from the Blues.
In fact, victory today would set a new club record of 29 wins in a top-flight season. The all-time top-flight record stands at 31 wins - held by Tottenham's 1960-61 double-winning team.
Considering how dominant, sometimes untouchable even, they have been over the course of the season, it is hard to believe that the Citizens have actually lost their last three games at the Etihad Stadium in all competitions. They last lost four home fixtures in a row in May 2006.
However, City have only dropped five points at home this term - in the 3-2 defeat to United this month and the 1-1 draw with Everton in August and have also won their last 11 home league games against Swansea since a 2-1 second tier defeat in March 1951.
One of Guardiola's biggest achievements at City has been taking already very good players to the next level. Raheem Sterling has been his number one project, and the England winger has been involved in 22 league goals this season which is double his previous best.
Gabriel Jesus has also had a hand in 22 goals in only 23 Premier League starts for City (16 goals and six assists) since joining the club last January. The Brazilian forward is still yet to be on the losing side when he has started a league game (W20, D3).
Swansea boast a player of similar goalscoring invincibility, as they are unbeaten in all eight Premier League matches in which Jordan Ayew has scored, with that run preserved by the Ghana international's equaliser against Everton last weekend.
However, Ayew has not had the midas touch against the big boys. The Swans have only scored once away from home against teams in the top seven this season, in the 2-1 defeat at Arsenal in October when Sam Clucas was on the scoresheet.
Swansea have lost just three times in their last 13 Premier League games, although their momentum under Carvalhal has slightly stalled in recent weeks as they are also without a win in four.
One significant change that Carvalhal has made has been switching to a back five, and that has made the Swans much more difficult to score against with four clean sheets in 10 games.
A key figure in that system is Kyle Naughton, who makes his 100th Premier League appearance for the Swans today. The 29-year-old also made 32 for Norwich and 42 for Spurs.
HEAD TO HEAD: Man City have won 10 of the 13 Premier League meetings between the two sides, with their only defeat coming away in March 2012 courtesy of a late strike from Luke Moore.
Swansea have never come away from the Etihad Stadium with as much as a point, although it did take a Gabriel Jesus winner in stoppage time in this fixture last season. The Welsh outfit were also on the end of a 4-0 hammering at the Liberty Stadium in December.
Kickoff is just under five minutes away here, with Swansea having formed a guard of honour to welcome the City players to what will be an Etihad Stadium which will have a party atmosphere.
PREDICTION: This is not a game which Carvalhal will have marked down for any points and there only chance is if City celebrated too hard in midweek. However I don't see securing the championship slowing City down and I expect them to run out winners by three or four here today.
KICKOFF: The action is underway with chants of "championes" greeting referee Craig Pawson's whistle...
The hosts have unsurprisingly started the game with the majority of possession and territory but Swansea are well drilled in their back five now, and that is very much what this shape is - a back five - with Naughton and Olsson staying deep alongside the three central defenders.
De Bruyne gets down the right wing and whips in a ferocious cross which Fabianski claims at his near post.
After a chip over the top by De Bruyne is not sufficiently cleared, City work the ball out to Bernardo who has plenty of time to stand up a cross but knocks it over the head of Jesus.
The Citizens are beginning to get in behind the Swans defence down both channels, with Naughton and Olsson tucking in so far that it is creating room for the full-backs to get forward.
GOAL! MAN CITY 1-0 SWANSEA (DAVID SILVA)
City are ahead and it is a wonderful goal which demonstrates exactly why they are worthy champions. De Bruyne slides a through-ball into the left channel for Sterling, who turns the ball around the corner first time for Silva, and the Spaniard volleys the bouncing ball across Fabianski and into the bottom corner.
Swansea may be getting bodies behind the ball but they are not getting close to City in midfield. Despite having three bodies in their, the visitors do not dare press the likes of Silva or De Bruyne.
GOAL! MAN CITY 2-0 SWANSEA (RAHEEM STERLING)
City waste no time in bagging a second and it is another wonderfully-worked goal. Silva and Delph play the cutest one-two on the left edge of the area and the left-back squares for an unmarked Sterling to tap home from six yards, the defence having been fooled by the quality of Silva's return pass.
This could be a long afternoon for Swansea because City are in the mood today. I'm not sure what plan B that Carvalhal might be able to conjur up to change the pattern of the game but they have to try to get closer to De Bruyne and Silva otherwise this could get very messy, very quickly.
Damage limitation may now be a success for Swansea today considering the importance that goal difference could play in the relegation battle. Swansea and 18th-place Southampton are currently level on -20 so a thrashing today would give the Saints a slim advantage in that regard.
Delph tries to cushion a volleyed cross towards Jesus but overhits it, and in fact the ball nearly sneaks in at the far post. The final execution wasn't there on this occasion but the combination play through midfield in the build up was an absolute joy to watch.
Swansea's defence finally get some relief as they keep the ball in the City third and win a free kick. Olsson takes on the shot from 30 yards out but his strike hits the top of the wall.
De Bruyne floats a pass over the top towards Jesus which the Brazilian cannot quite bring under control, and he is flagged offside regardless. Another great spot from the Belgian though.
Apparently the City players will not be attending tonight's PFA awards, despite five of them being named in the Team of the Season. Is that an indication that word has got out that Liverpool's Mohamed Salah has pipped De Bruyne to the big prize?
SHOT! Sterling wants a penalty for a nudge in the back from Mawson, but the game goes on and Bernardo tries to curl a left-footed shot into the top corner only for Fabianski to read exactly what the Portuguese had planned.
SAVE! Fabianski dives low to his right to keep out a left-footed De Bruyne piledriver, and the Pole is back on his feet to block Sterling's rebound, although the scorer of today's second goal was offside anyway.
It just seems as though it is a matter of when and not if City get a third. The ball just keeps coming back at the Swansea defence and any attempt to push players forward to help the Ayew brothers retain the ball is only going to leave holes for Silva and De Bruyne to exploit.
SHOT! De Bruyne carries the ball forward and tees up a shot for Jesus which Fabianski gets behind at his near post. The Brazilian will want to find some form with the World Cup now fast approaching.
Half time is within sight for Swansea and boy will their players need a break having been ran ragged by City so far. De Bruyne's deep cross nearly reaches Delph but Naughton heads clear.
YELLOW! Swansea put together their best move of the match but all that comes from it is a yellow card for Olsson after he dived over the leg of Danilo looking for a free kick on the edge of the box.
A mistake from Mawson nearly lets Jesus in but Fabianski is quickly off his line to quell the danger.
SHOT! The Swans have enjoyed a couple of decent breaks in the last five minutes, and here Mawson strides out with the ball from defence before lining up a 25-yard shot which Ederson gathers at the second attempt.
Bernardo's cheeky flick sets up a crossing opportunity for Danilo and when the ball is cleared it falls to Gundogan, whose shot from the edge of the area is easy pickings for Fabianski.
HALF TIME: MAN CITY 2-0 SWANSEA
The title is in the bag but City are not letting up. That was another scintilating half of football from Guardiola's side, almost as though being confirmed as champions has given them a renewed boost of confidence after some shaky recent home performances.
De Bruyne and Silva have been at their magical best again, with the Spaniard scoring the first and then playing a pivotal role in Sterling's second. That is the former Liverpool player's 17th league goal of the season and 23rd in all competitions.
City were two ahead at half time in their last home game, but Swansea are no Manchester United, if that needed emphasising. The visitors have not offered an attacking threat at all, with Jordan and Andre Ayew being completely bypassed by City's passing from defence into midfield.
MATCH STATS: The Citizens have had a whopping 86% of possession, although they have probably not has as many chances as they did in the first half against United a fortnight ago, with six shots on target. Swansea have managed just one - Mawson's long-range effort on the stroke of half time.
RESULT! Chelsea will face Manchester United in the FA Cup final after beating Southampton 2-0 at Wembley today. A goal apiece from Olivier Giroud and Alvaro Morata booked the Blues a date with their former manager Jose Mourinho, whose side overcame Tottenham yesterday.
BENCH WATCH: Carvalhal could have Messi and Ronaldo on the bench and it still might not be enough for Swansea to change the pattern of this game. Tammy Abraham might help them retain the ball a bit better, while Clucas would get up closer to the Ayew brothers than Carroll.
KICKOFF: The second half is underway with both sides unchanged. Success for Swansea from here will be keeping it down to two or three and preserving their goal difference. Meanwhile, the likes of Jesus and De Bruyne will want to get in on the scoring act for City.
The Belgian has an early second-half sighter here when the ball drops kindly for a half volley which he sends over the crossbar, but Sterling had been caught offside in the previous phase.
It continues to be a frustrating day for Jordan Ayew, and it is very important that the striker keeps his cool as Swansea cannot afford for him to make a rash challenge as he did against Huddersfield and face a suspension again. He is going to be vital in their bid to avoid the drop.
SHOT! De Bruyne tries to catch Fabianski out with a sneaky shot towards the near post but hits only the side-netting. It did take a slight deflection off Naughton but no corner is given.
GOAL! MAN CITY 3-0 SWANSEA (KEVIN DE BRUYNE)
De Bruyne is not closed down and the Belgian unleashes an absolute rocket from 25 yards which flies past Fabianski. It was not right in the top corner but it was so powerful that the goalkeeper had no chance. That is his first Premier League goal since January 31st, and an absolute scremer to boot.
CHANCE! A well-worked Swansea free kick earns them a corner from which Mawson should score with an unmarked header from eight yards out, but he sends it over the crossbar.
Any other season and De Bruyne would be a shoe-in for Player of the Year. The Belgian is involved again here, and Jesus must think he has a tap in from the Belgian's cross before Fernandez intercepts.
Not only is it important for their goal difference that Swansea don't collapse here, it is also vital for their confidence. They finish the season against Southampton and Stoke and that is where the relegation battle could be decided.
PENALTY! City have a penalty as Fernandez slides in on Sterling and brings him down in the box. The City winger was on his way down prior to the contact but Fernandez took a big chunk out of him and it is certainly a spot kick.
GOAL! MAN CITY 4-0 SWANSEA (BERNARDO SILVA)
Jesus misses the penalty, tipped onto the post by a brilliant Fabianski save, but the goalkeeper's luck is out as the rebound rolls out to Bernardo Silva who converts the rebound into a vacant net.
SUBSTITUTIONS: De Bruyne gets a standing ovation as he is replaced by Yaya Toure, while Swansea also make a change as Clucas replaces Ki who did not get close to the Belgian all game.
SUBSTITUTION: Swansea are forced into another change as Fernandez, who was injured in the process of giving away the penalty, is replaced by Kyle Bartley, who takes the captian's armband too but was in no rush to join the action!
WOODWORK! Mawson glances a header onto his own post from a corner and Van der Hoorn hooks the ball clear.
SUBSTITUTION: The Etihad is going to see 20 minutes of the highly-rated Phil Foden, who moves to within one appearance of a league winners' medal by coming on for Raheem Sterling.
With those substitutions, City seem to have taken their foot off the gas a little and are content with stroking the ball around in midfield. Swansea will be relieved but there is still time for Guardiola's men to get a second wind.
SUBSTITUTIONS: Four goals today and the biggest cheer of the day arguably comes for the arrival of Benjamin Mendy, whose first appearance since September is greeted very fondly by the City fans. Tammy Abraham is also on for Swansea, with Martin Olsson coming off.
Seventeen-year-old Foden gets the Etihad purring with a silky dribble which draws a foul from Andy King.
Mendy has had a couple of rusty moments in his first five minutes back, and Jordan Ayew gets away from him down the right but Clucas completely miscues his volley from the subsequent cross.
A goal for the Frenchman might lift the Etihad off the ground and he has a swing with his right foot here, but there is very little power behind the shot and Fabianski holds it comfortably.
CHANCE! Jesus squanders another golden chance to get on the scoresheet when he heads down Fabianski's throat from eight yards out after another delightful dribble from Foden.
This goes a long way to explaining why Man City are runaway champions this season...
CLOSE! Kompany nearly joins the goalscoring party when he loops a header over Fabianski but just wide of the post. There were several City players queuing up after a ball in behind from Silva.
GOAL! MAN CITY 5-0 SWANSEA (GABRIEL JESUS)
Jesus finally gets his goal, breaking the offside trap and very skilfully directing his header from Toure's cross over Fabianski and into the top corner. He punches the ball back into the net in frustration that it took him this long, but the Brazilian can now turn that frown upside down!
There are just two more minutes of stoppage time for Swansea to endure...
FULL TIME: MAN CITY 5-0 SWANSEA
If that was not the performance of champions, then I don't know what is. Man City were absolutely brilliant again today as they completely outclassed Swansea, with five different goalscorers getting in on the act. The trophy presentation is not until their next home game against Huddersfield Town but the celebrations have already started, with the home fans storming the pitch.
Swansea will be relieved to see the back of the Etihad Stadium after a seventh successive defeat here. Will they return next season? Probably, but there is still some work for them to do.
That's it from Eastlands. You can read our match report here, and catch up with today's earlier scores here. Thanks for joining Sports Mole this afternoon. Until next time, goodbye!
