Had Manchester City blown it? Glenn Murray had just headed Brighton into the lead in the 27th minute, and anyone seeking final-day drama had their hook. City had cracked at the worst possible moment; they had lost their nerve just as the hard work seemed to have been done; they had made a season’s excellence count for nothing and Pep Guardiola would face familiar accusations of overcomplicating at a moment that demanded clarity. Those would have been the headlines, the think pieces, the pub discussions if that sole piece of slack defending from a corner had helped send the Premier League trophy to Anfield. But this City team is special. They had not fallen behind in a top-flight game since January and perhaps that was exactly what they needed here, on a sunny south coast afternoon against carefree opponents, the widespread assumption being that they would cruise home by doing what they usually do. The close-range header from Murray jolted the reigning champions. Somewhere, perhaps in their deepest subconsciouses, had they persuaded themselves that the final chapter of this story could simply write itself? Maybe no amount of meticulous preparation, of cajolement from the tireless Guardiola, could completely mitigate for…