MAN CITY 5, NORWICH 0
Manchester City completed their Premier League season with an imperious home win against already relegated Norwich City on the day David Silva made his last league appearance for the club
It was an afternoon in which this proved anything but a dead rubber as there were some impressive individual performances.
Goalkeeper Ederson kept a 16th clean sheet of the season to snatch the golden gloves from Burnley’s Nick Pope who had been on 15.
City reached 100 league goals – they finished with 102 – and their 81 points would have been sufficient to win the Premier League on six previous seasons.
Raheem Sterling became the first English City player since Brian Kidd in 1976-77 to score 20 league top flight goals in a season.
And he became the first Premier League player this season to hit 30 goals in all competitions.
Kevin De Bruyne also equalled Thierry Henry’s 17-year-old record of 20 Premier League assists for the season.
And it was an emotional afternoon for David Silva who made his 309th and final Premier League game for City.
Silva was substituted with six minutes left.
Embed from Getty ImagesGuardiola said: “It was the smallest standing ovation of all time, but he will return for the biggest as the fans will want to do it.
“Our players and staff did it to show their gratitude for an incredible 10 years at the club and a thank you what he has done for this club.”
Looking back at the campaign, Guardiola described it as “incredible” season.
But he added the main focus is now to prepare for the Champions League return against Real Madrid.
David Silva returned to the side and wore the captain’s armband for his 309th and final Premier League appearance for the club.
He replaced Bernardo Silva in midfield, the only change from the side that beat Watford 4-0 on Tuesday.
This was Norwich’s final Premier League game before they return to the Championship after a single season in the top flight,
They made four changes from the side that lost to Burnley last weekend.
Emiliano Buendia and striker Josip Drmic were both suspended after their red cards against the Clarets, and Timm Klose and Alex Tettey were the other players to miss out.
Teemu Pukki returns to lead the line, Marco Stiepermann and Lukas Rupp are back in midfield, with Christoph Zimmerman replacing Klose in the centre of the Canaries’ defence.
City had a lucky let off when Onel Hernandez found the net in the eighth minute only for the goal to be ruled out for offside through VAR.
And moments after play resumed, City took an 11th minute lead.
Sterling’s cross from the right ought to have been converted by David Silva but, when he failed to connect, Jesus found the net from three yards, his 22nd goal of the season.
You had the feeling City could scored at will as they created openings but lacked a cutting edge.
Jesus and David Silva both had decent efforts, but they were kept out last last-ditch challenges by Christoph Zimmermann and Ben Godfrey respectively.
City were caught out by a ball over the top as Pukki raced clear from half-way but, like a player who has not scored since January, he lacked confidence as Ederson made an important block.
The ball rebounded to Todd Cantwell whose chip from 22 yards narrowly cleared the crossbar.
Phil Foden stung the palms of Norwich keeper Tim Krul and David Silva rolled a shot agonisingly wide as a second goal eluded City.
City finally got their second in stoppage time, a super solo effort from De Bruyne from outside the box and he cut back on to his right foot before despatching a shot from 20 yards high into the net, his 17th of the season.
City made a triple change at the break as Aymeric Laporte, Foden and Eric Garcia made way for Ilkay Gundogan, Riyad Mahrez and Fernandinho.
And Gundogan almost found the net immediately as his drive flashed just wide.
Krul denied David Silva a goal on his farewell Premier League appearance with a fabulous save to to his right.
Norwich had another great chance to get on to the scoresheet when Hernandez dribbled his way clear of the City defence, but Ederson blocked again to deny the Cuban.
The 100th league goal ought to have arrived mid-half when De Bruyne opened up the Canaries’ defence and Jesus looked set to convert his cross only to hit the upright from a couple of yards when free at the far post.
And another chance came and went as Jesus brought another fine, flying save from Krul.
The century goal finally arrived with 11 minutes left when Dr Bruyne provided his record-equalling 20th assist of the season, a slide-rule pass for Sterling to run through and slot home.
Norwich substitute Adam Idah forced a full length diving save from Ederson who remained unbeatable.
Mahrez smashed home City’s fourth with his 13th of the season.
And on 90 minutes they added a fifth when Mahrez’ effort was blocked and rebounded to De Bruyne who bent in a shot off the far upright, his 18th of the season.