Man City used their midweek home game against Brighton to stage a proper farewell for departing club legend Yaya Toure, as well as casually send another handful of Premier League records a-tumbling.
Toure lined up in the City midfield from the off (just his tenth start of the season) and had almost every touch cheered to the rafters as the hosts took just 16 minutes to open the scoring through Danilo.
However, City’s lead lasted just four minutes before Brighton squirrelled themselves an equaliser, Leonardo Ulloa nodding home from close range after stand-in goalkeeper Claudio Bravo had abandoned his post to go chasing a loose ball through his penalty box…
After that momentary wobble, Bernardo Silva ensured City went in ahead at half-time when the Brazilian put a decisive finishing touch to an attacking sweep that began at Bravo’s feet…
As well as making it 2-1 to City, Silva’s low strike also saw the title winners break their first record of the night by taking their collective league goal tally to 104 – thus surpassing Chelsea’s tally from the 2009/10 campaign.
After enduring a slight dip in his output in recent weeks, Leroy Sane roared back to his phenomenal best against the Seagulls by laying on a hat-trick of assists.
The young German winger was instrumental, and sure enough provided the set-up for Fernandinho to ram home City’s third goal of the evening (and 105th of the season) to complete the scoring in the 72nd minute.
The final whistle brought about broken records No.2 and No.3 for Pep Guardiola’s imperious side, who duly set a new high points total (95) and amassed more league wins that anybody else (31 from 37, and counting) has even managed in a top-flight season.
And so it ended, and the Yaya Toure love-in began in earnest.
The Ivorian made an emotional speech on the pitch, beginning by wishing Sir Alex Ferguson well (as the Etihad applauded in solidarity) before being mobbed by his teammates and a special guest – his older brother, Kolo.
There was a surprise guest at Yaya Toure's Man City farewell party tonight 👀 pic.twitter.com/fIeuYS4lg8
— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) May 9, 2018
What a player. What a career. A bastion, a powerhouse, a driving force in City’s transmogrification.
So long Yaya, you’ve been great.