Liverpool ran Manchester City close in the Premier League finale at the weekend.
The Citizens looked to have left the door ajar for Liverpool when they trailed Aston Villa 2-0 on the final day, but they ultimately never lost their grip on first place.
In the end, Rodri's brilliant finish and Ilkay Gundogan's brace saw City fight back from behind to render Liverpool's win over Wolverhampton Wanders immaterial and secure a fourth league title in just five years.
Liverpool and City shining bright
While, for many fans, the sight of City lifting the Premier League trophy yet again was a disappointing one, there's no denying that we're living through an elite era in the competition's history.
Yes, City and Liverpool might have dominated England's top-flight for the past half-decade, but they have done so with a standard that the division simply hasn't seen since its 1992 rebranding.
Not only do Pep Guardiola's centurions boast the highest points tally in Premier League history, swiftly followed by Liverpool's league winners, but even the two clubs' lesser seasons have still continued to reap head-spinning statistics.
Well, by 'lesser seasons', we mean seasons in which Liverpool and City aren't bulldozing ten thousand records week in, week out.
And if you don't believe us, then bear in mind for one second that both Liverpool and City's 2021/22 sides amassed more Premier League points than Manchester United's treble winners and Arsenal's 'Invincibles'.
Pretty remarkable, right? Well, the utter dominance shown by Manchester and Liverpool's finest over the past few years is such that they are right up there amongst the division's greatest ever sides each and every year.
Chelsea & Liverpool get MASSIVE Tchouameni boost (Football Terrace)
The highest Premier League points tallies ever
So, ahead of the season's dramatic finale, FourFourTwo compiled a list of the teams with the highest points tallies in Premier League history - and we've updated it now that the 2021/22 campaign has concluded.
And to say that it highlights the era-defining brilliance of Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp's sides would be the mother of all understatements, so be sure to check out the top 20 down below:
20. Chelsea 2009/10
86 points (+71) - 1st place
Football - Chelsea v Wigan Athletic - Barclays Premier League - Stamford Bridge - 09/10 - 9/5/10 John Terry - Chelsea celebrates winning the Barclays Premier League with the trophy Action Images via Reuters / Henry Browne Livepic
19. Chelsea 2014/15
87 points (+41) - 1st place
18. Arsenal 2001/02
87 points (+43) - 1st place
17. Manchester United 2007/08
87 points (+58) - 1st place
16. Manchester United 2012/13
89 points (+43) - 1st place
=14. Manchester United 2006/07
89 points (+56) - 1st place
Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo (L) holds the English Premier League Trophy after they were crowned champions following their English Premier League soccer match against West Ham United in Manchester, northern England, May 13, 2007.
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=14. Manchester United 2011/12
89 points (+56) - 2nd place
13. Manchester City 2011/12
89 points (+64) - 1st place
12. Manchester United 2008/09
90 points (+44) - 1st place
11. Arsenal 2003/04
90 points (+47) - 1st place
10. Chelsea 2005/06
91 points (+50) - 1st place
Football - Chelsea v Manchester United - FA Barclays Premiership 05/06 - Stamford Bridge - 29/4/06
Chlsea celebrate winning the Premier League
Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Alex Morton
Livepic
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9. Manchester United 1999/00
91 points (+52) - 1st place
8. Liverpool 2021/22
92 points (+68) - 2nd place
7. Chelsea 2016/17
93 points (+52) - 1st place
6. Manchester City 2021/22
93 points (+73) - 1st place
5. Chelsea 2004/05
95 points (+57) - 1st place
Football - Chelsea v Charlton Athletic - FA Barclays Premiership - Stamford Bridge - 7/5/05
Chelsea Manager Jose Mourinho celebrates winning the premier league with the Trophy
Mandatory Credit: Action Images / Darren Walsh
04/05
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4. Liverpool 2018/19
97 points (+67) - 2nd place
3. Manchester City 2018/19
98 points (+72) - 1st place
2. Liverpool 2019/20
99 points (+52) - 1st place
1. Manchester City 2017/18
100 points (+79) - 1st place
Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City vs Huddersfield Town - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - May 6, 2018 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and their players and staff celebrate with the trophy after winning the Premier League title Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or "live" services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.
An era of dizzying quality
Let's pause for a second and regroup because it's hard to articulate just how bonkers those statistics really are.
Six of the eight greatest Premier League points tallies in history have been amassed by Guardiola and Klopp's sides over the last five years with not a single one of Sir Alex Ferguson's United sides having topped their totals.
Marry that to iconic Arsenal and Chelsea teams also being overwhelmed and it really makes you think that we've become numb to just how outrageous these City and Liverpool squads truly are.
Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester City v Liverpool - Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain - April 10, 2022 Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola with Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp after the match Action Images via Reuters/Carl Recine EDITORIAL USE ONLY. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club /league/player publications. Please contact your account representative for further details.
To casually become the sixth and eighth greatest teams in Premier League history during the same season without anyone batting an eyelid really does go to show how omnipotent they've become.
Surely it's only a matter of time before even the 100-point mark falls.