Manchester City win the Premier League title their way.

Manchester City win the Premier League their way.

And so the curtain falls on quite the most stunning Premier League title chase for roughly a decade during which Manchester City's noisy neighbours United were conquering the whole of England and Sir Alex Ferguson could hardly stop grinning from ear to ear. Roll forward to the present day and Manchester City are the ones stealing everybody's thunder with the kind of football that most of us could only sit back and admire from a distance because those who like their football laced with the finest garnish, seasoning and purity would never ever be disappointed.

Yesterday at Brighton, Manchester City confirmed back to back Premier League titles with a classical mastery of the game's more refined arts, that indefinable sense of style and artistry, a gorgeous demonstration of the passing game and that rare ability to make the simple look even simpler. There was an authenticity about City's game that never stopped giving, a real sense that this was the truth, the real thing, nothing forced, false or hurried about their game.

After Brighton had taken an early lead City simply took a deep breath, counted to ten and just rolled up their sleeves as if this were just a temporary setback, nothing to worry about. A minute later Sergio Aguero finished off the sweetest of City's moves with a trademark equaliser and nothing had been damaged at all. No problem at all. Just take it easy and it'll all work out for the best.

At Anfield Liverpool, who had chased City admirably for the entire season and given all that they had in reserve, did what they had to do by beating one of the best of the rest in Wolves. With barely an inch between City and Liverpool in the end of season's fight to the bitter end, nerves teetering on the edge and pulses racing, City finally shook off their brave contenders in much the way we probably knew they would eventually.

In the end we knew, as the pundits have always told us, that it would all be about fine margins, delicate pivotal moments when either Liverpool would run out of steam or City would just keep ploughing forward relentlessly in search of the promised land. For Liverpool all of that straining, striving and gritting of teeth was somehow insufficient. They knew at some point that Manchester City might falter and stumble at the final hurdle. City, though, would still have an extra tank of petrol and therefore look infinitely more resourceful than we might have given them credit for.

For a minute or two we harked back to the Liverpool and Wolves of that final game at Molineux over 40 years ago when Kevin Keegan and John Toshack sent  Liverpool fans into wild and delighted raptures. With Queens Park Rangers breathing down Liverpool's neck and poised to snatch the old First Division championship, Keegan and Toshack shared the goals with smash and grab relish in their eyes. Liverpool won the old First Division championship but have now gone almost 30 years without what is now known as the Premier League trophy. It is far too long and it may be about time to rectify matters in the immediate future.

Still, back at the Etihad Stadium the celebrations were under way, the grey stubbled genius who is Pep Guardiola was being thrown up into the air like a rag doll, gallons of champagne were being deliriously sprayed around North West England and some of us were still taking it all in. This is happening, City have won the Premier League yet again and, when all is said and done, deservedly  for art and beauty should always be rewarded.

Liverpool of course may still have the Champions League as a consolation prize when they face Spurs in the Champions League Final on June 1. But to long standing and fanatical Koppites, who have been observing, swooning and drooling over Liverpool sides since Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley's glorious eras, the failure to clinch another League title may be considered as more than a blow to their considerable pride.

But then a German gentleman by the name of Jurgen Klopp stood for a minute or two after the final whistle had gone and simply surveyed the scene with what looked like the beginnings of an emotional lump in his throat. How close had Liverpool pushed City all the way, oh for the valour in defeat and if only things had turned out differently for Liverpool. If only Klopp had made vitally important tactical changes at the right moment and the right time then the team in red from Merseyside would be lifting the Premier League. Maybe next season Jurgen Klopp. If justice is seen to be done then you never know.