Manchester City's Kyle Walker has cited the Carabao Cup win over Liverpool in December as the moment that changed their season.
Pep Guardiola's side resumed domestic action after the World Cup break and battled to secure a 3-2 win over their rivals at the Etihad. Neither team were able to field full-strength teams with several players recovering from their international commitments in Qatar.
Nathan Ake eventually scored their winner and, following that success, City have won 18 of their 22 games in the Premier League. At Christmas, it was Arsenal who were setting the pace and, up until recently, had looked ready to retain their spot at the summit and secure an unlikely title.
City though, who've completed the double over the Gunners, have been able to chase down the north Londoners, who themselves have collapsed, and secure the title with several games to go ahead of a potential treble - which remains their focus despite the celebrations on the blue half of Manchester.
Walker said on Sky Sports: "I said it last night on the City podcast, I thought coming back from the World Cup and we beat Liverpool here [in the Carabao Cup], I thought that was a stamp that a lot of the lads was missing. A lot of the lads obviously went to the World Cup and the manager had been working with the players that was here, and we ground out a result against Liverpool, which is a top team.
"I think from then on we always believed we could do it. We went to Leeds, which is a tough place, and ground out a result there and it’s just carried on from there. This group of lads is second to none - professionals and winners - that’s how we get across the line more times than not.
"Rest assured, we’re not finished. We’ve got the FA Cup against our bitter rivals, Manchester United, then we’ve got the Champions League Final come the 10th of June. Listen, we’ll enjoy it today, we’ll have a few glasses of champagne finally tonight but then we move on to the 3rd of June, which is the big one, and hopefully create a great history for this football club."
City's success over Liverpool in the Carabao Cup would prove to be their final victory in the competition as Southampton secured a shock victory to knock out Guardiola's men at St Mary's in January - which could end up being the only trophy they miss out on.
Trips to Brighton and Brentford will finish off their league season before they play in finals in successive weekends, firstly at Wembley and then in Istanbul. Guardiola is eyeing a first Champions League success since he won it with Barcelona in 2011.
