Manchester City thrash struggling Swansea in first match since being crowned Premier League champions

Manchester City’s near-perfect celebration of their title success is likely to be spoiled by a Football Association charge for failing to control their supporters after a pitch invasion followed their dominant 5-0 win over Swansea City.

Two early strikes from David Silva and Raheem Sterling eliminated any hope of another surprise win for a relegation-threatened side in Manchester, a week on from the West Bromwich Albion victory at Old Trafford that confirmed City’s status as champions.

Kevin de Bruyne scored an emphatic third, perhaps the best goal of his outstanding individual campaign. Bernardo Silva added the fourth, converting Gabriel Jesus’ penalty in off the post and Jesus later made amends for his miss, nodding home the fifth.

This was City’s first appearance in front of their own supporters since being confirmed as champions and the only downside to a successful homecoming was the post-match pitch invasion, which saw fans surround players and set off pyrotechnics.

The FA have sought observations from City after a flare was thrown onto the pitch during the recent Manchester derby and Wigan Athletic are currently awaiting punishment for a pitch invasion at the DW Stadium following their FA Cup win over City in February.

The scenes may have been avoided had there been a post-match trophy presentation, but that will only come after their next home league fixture against Huddersfield Town on 6 May. That and City’s three other remaining fixtures could be as one-sided as this result and with the title secured, the focus is now on surpassing records.

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This was the 29th league win of the season for Pep Guardiola’s side. One more will equal the current post-1992 record of 30, set by Antonio Conte’s Chelsea last year. The five goals put them five more off Chelsea’s 103 during the 2009-10 season, while the three points mean they are just six away from collecting the most of any Premier League side ever.

Carlos Carvalhal’s visitors paid due respect to their superiors by offering them a pre-match guard of honour and it was much the same story for the rest of the afternoon. Swansea simply watched on as their opponents glided past them.

The rout began when Silva became the sixth City player to reach double figures this season, hooking the ball around a helpless Fabianski after Sterling had been found by De Bruyne’s cute pass from wide. Their lead was doubled just four minutes later and Silva was again involved, combining with Delph, whose cross was tapped home by Sterling.

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By the end of the first half, City had completed 542 passes to Swansea’s 58. It was complete control and shortly after the two sides re-emerged, De Bruyne scored the best of City’s five – a piledriver, zipped into the far corner from 25 yards out past Fabianski’s helpless right hand. Guardiola blew out his cheeks in awe.

Such was City’s dominance, Guardiola could afford to make symbolic gestures with each of his three substitutions. There was a nod to the club’s fading past when Yaya Touré was introduced, then one to its bright future in Phil Foden, but most popular by far was the larger-than-life £52m summer signing Benjamin Mendy, who played his first minutes since rupturing cruciate knee ligaments in September.

Jesus was conspicuous by his absence on the scoresheet and failed to add his name when Sterling was felled by Federico Fernandez in the area, instead striking the spot-kick against the post. Bernardo reacted quickly to finish on the rebound but there was relief for Jesus two minutes from time, as he headed Toure’s lofted pass over Fabianski and in.

By the time of the final whistle, that aforementioned pass count had risen to 942, another Premier League record. Yet you do not need numbers to tell you that this team is a historic one. When they play like this, it is plain to see.