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Manchester City recaptured the Premier League title comfortably on Sunday, but it was the commitment they produced in the preceding months - especially after their defeat at Anfield - which culminated in a crowning finale.
Here are the 10 defining moments of their championship-winning season...
City's defining moments
Derby delight, 22 September(01 of10)
However awful Manchester United were at the Etihad Stadium in September, this was a stunning victory produced by a team that finished 11 points behind them the previous season.City's 4-1 win effectively confirmed United would not even muster a challenge to retain their title under David Moyes, and highlighted just how chastening a season it would be for the Reds without Sir Alex Ferguson. (credit:Getty Images)
City 2-1 Liverpool, 26 December(02 of10)
Liverpool travelled to Tottenham, City and Chelsea over the Christmas period and were unfortunate not to pick up more than three points. The superior side at the Etihad Stadium, Simon Mignolet's error allowed Álvaro Negredo to net a pivotal winner and knock Liverpool off top spot. (credit:Getty Images)
Aaron Ramsey's injury, 26 December(03 of10)
Yes, Arsenal probably would have still capitulated in the new year, however the Gunners struggled in Ramsey's absence.Although Arsenal began January well, from their draw at Southampton on the 28th onwards, they could not win two games in succession until mid-April, by which time Ramsey had returned. The comfortable manner in which they have retained fourth spot is largely down to their inspirational Welshman. (credit:Getty Images)
Capital One Cup winners(04 of10)
Without a trophy during his coaching career Europe, Manuel Pellegrini collected his first in England at the first time of asking. Although it fuelled ridiculous talk of a quadruple, it did act as a springboard for City to regain the title. (credit:Getty Images)
Touré to the rescue, 22 February(05 of10)
Having lost to Chelsea and drawn at Norwich, City were in danger of falling further adrift of José Mourinho's team. Yaya Touré, however, intervened in the 70th minute against Stoke to net a vital winner. (credit:Getty Images)
City 2-2 Sunderland, 16 April(06 of10)
City were on the brink of a shock defeat when Connor Wickham struck twice in the last 10 minutes, before Samir Nasri's shot squirmed under goalkeeper Vito Mannone's body. Nasri then missed a presentable chance to dramatically win the match, and at the final whistle it seemed like City, three days after their defeat at Liverpool, had bowed out of the title race with a draw.Yet Nasri's goal, ultimately, proved pivotal and, psychologically, it infused City with a belief most thought had deserted them at Anfield. (credit:Getty Images)
Chelsea lose it, 19 April(07 of10)
With City seemingly out of the picture, Chelsea's unthinkable defeat to Sunderland effectively ended their hopes, too, as Liverpool went on to beat Norwich a day later. City would beat West Brom on the Monday, but everything was going Liverpool's way... (credit:Getty Images)
Steven Gerrard's slip, 27 April(08 of10)
Destined to be remembered as one of the great 'what if's in modern English football history, had Steven Gerrard not slipped and gifted Demba Ba Chelsea's winner Liverpool might be bracing itself for an open-top bus parade, rather than Manchester.Although Gerrard's concession came in the first-half, Liverpool struggled against a resilient Chelsea and suffered their first defeat of the calendar year. City, buoyed by the result, professionally defeated Crystal Palace later that day. (credit:Getty Images)
Džeko leads the charge(09 of10)
The five goals Edin Džeko scored at Crystal Palace and Everton, as well as against Aston Villa, earned City seven points. The Bosnia-Herzegovina striker was on the brink of leaving in the summer, but deputised effectively for the fragile Sergio Agüero. (credit:Getty Images)
Zabaleta's cross, 7 May(10 of10)
City were struggling to break down Aston Villa when, in the 64th minute, Zabaleta outpaced Ryan Bertrand and assisted Edin Džeko's breakthrough. Samir Nasri should have finished a similar cross in the first period, which is testament to Zabaleta's tenacity and quality. The fans' favourite, his contribution has again been considerable. (credit:Getty Images)