Premier League - Manchester United are champions

Eurosport - Sun, 17 May 10:18:00 2009

Manchester United were crowned Premier League champions after a goalless draw with Arsenal at Old Trafford.

Manchester United champions, Gary Neville, FOOTBALL - 0

United only needed a point to secure a third consecutive Premier League title and that is what they achieved with a cautious performance.

It was the 11th title of Sir Alex Ferguson's reign and means United match Liverpool's record haul of 18 in the top-flight.

United came into the match on the back on a seven-match winning streak in the league and had an opening inside a minute when Cristiano Ronaldo burst away down the right flank but opted to cross rather than shoot.

That summed up an understated opening 45 minutes from the hosts whose best chance was spurned by Wayne Rooney. He was picked out by Michael Carrick but diverted his header past the near post.

Ryan Giggs also lifted a free-kick in a good position over the crossbar and was equally wayward when the ball sat up for him nicely after a counter attack initiated by Rooney.

Arsenal had won on three of their previous 12 Premier League visits to Old Trafford, including in 2002 when Sylvain Wiltord's goal clinched a 1-0 win and the title, and they had the best chance of the opening period.

A super diagonal pass from Cesc Fabregas found Robin van Persie unmarked eight yards out but he put his header over the top.

Samir Nasri, who scored twice in the Premier League match at the Emirates between these sides earlier in the season, also should have done better when he was picked out by Andrei Arshavin 18 yards out. His shot was going wide and van Persie was unable to divert it on target.

Arsenal headed to Old Trafford on the back of a recent 4-1 aggregate drubbing against United in the Champions League but continued to play the better football after the break and Arshavin teed up Kieran Gibbs whose shot from 20 yards nestled in the side netting.

United failed to muster a single shot on target in the entire match but their best chance came when Darren Fletcher's cross from the right found Carlos Tevez who eluded Kolo Toure but Lukasz Fabianski raced off his line to make a sliding challenge with his feet which was enough to put the Argentine off.

Had Tevez gone down, referee Mike Dean would have had a big decision to make.

Tevez left the fray shortly after, waving goodbye to the Stretford End possibly for the last time, and his replacement Park Ji-Sung put the ball in the net shortly after coming on only for Ronaldo to be penalised by an errant offside flag.

Ronaldo almost gave the home fans the goal they were craving but a superbly struck free-kick from the left just missed the top corner with Fabianski looking on helplessly.

But then United had to endure a nervy ending as the Gunners looked to spoil the party.

The best move of the match saw Alex Song burst through and tee up Fabregas who aimed for the near post from the angle and saw his shot brush Van der Sar's fingers and hit the outside of the post.

Van Persie then warmed Van der Sar's palms with a shot on goal from the right before in injury-time the Dutchman's whipped effort flicked off Carrick and went for a corner.

However United were not to be denied and for the first time in 10 years, when they beat Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford, were confirmed as champions on their home turf.

United took the acclaim of the Stretford End at the final whistle and now face Hull next Sunday before they bid to retain the Champions League against Barcelona.

Lee Walker / Eurosport

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  1. you have a point about the chewing gum chum scum yeah­ he has won lots of trophies- well done...!?!?... (mixed­ opinion)

    but ronaldo- wth?? just appreciate what you­ have...

    From famrich5, on Tue 19 May 7:36PM

  2. Man United CHAMPIONS!!!! face it!!!! yeeeeeeeee...18th­ title!!!! 3rd in a road!!! MANCHESTER UNITED THE­ BEST!!!!

    From Ina01Masha, on Mon 18 May 9:20PM

  3. Stand up 4 d champs UP ManU

    From ALAO T, on Mon 18 May 5:11PM

  4. Congratulations to Man Utd on winning the Premiership­ again.We (Liverpool) ran you close this time but to be­ honest Utd deserved to get it as they were the better­ team over the season.
    Good luck in the Champion's­ League Final!!

    From jhr881, on Mon 18 May 2:08PM

  5. Recently, I discovered a hot place – T a l l h u b Com­ -- where many sexy tall singles who like sports and­ chatting there. I'm an open minded girl from UK, I­ also like discuss sports and love with tall guys on it.

    From daivibixian06, on Sun 17 May 7:24PM

  6. tevez should be fergies main preference to sign on a­ permanent basis. if he needs funds sell berbitov(not a­ man u player). dont stop fergie until u sign him­ because if liverpool did get him they would be a major­ threat next year. thats how good he is.

    From DES S, on Sun 17 May 5:37PM

  7. Liverpool are not the best North West Club! How so the­ world? Success is measured in trophies. no trophy = no­ success= Muppetpool. Benitez has spent a fortune,take­ Gerrard and Torres out of the team and they are mid­ table.Where are the youngsters as Man Utd are bringing­ through? if Tevez goes to Liverpool with Rafa's­ rotational policy he will be warming the bench and­ winning a big fat ZERO.The EPL has been going 17 years­ and mugerpool have never won it? So its 11-0 on premier­ league Titles and counting.Torres can go back to his­ Lily Savage tribute act in Benidorm for the summer.­ Championes! The red devils of Mancunia

    From TERRY K, on Sun 17 May 4:22PM

  8. yes united won th premier leauge yes yes ah ha ah ha ah­ ha

    From Ronaldo, on Sun 17 May 3:52PM

  9. LIVERPOOL ARE THE BEST/......

    Winning or lossing they­ are team players and have a greaT MANAGER. All you­ Slum u fans
    can say wot u like but we can hold our­ heads up and no we will never give up and will aalways­ be the better team.

    From lt16_uk, on Sun 17 May 2:12PM

  10. never in doubt i love you Man Utd

    From tessa g, on Sun 17 May 12:48PM

  11. never in doubt i love you Man Utd

    From tessa g, on Sun 17 May 12:46PM

  12. Here's another killer spam of the day,Man Utd fans­ will loves this..
    Ready check this out
    Quote of­ the­­­ day.."Mr­ Rafa­ "beneath crack"­ aka­ Fat­­ Spanish­ Butthole­ still thinks he's in­ with­ a­­­­ chance..LOL..apparently speaking to Sky­­Sports­­­ somewhere"!!..he's fooling the­­ fools!!..jesus!!!..hahaha..sori i cant help­ myself..Ouch..LOL..:)
    Here's another one,check this­ out..
    Theme:It's FACT equation(LOL)
    Man Utd:18th­ League Titles LiverFool:18th League Titles(sorry for­ the spelling)LOL
    Sir Alex Ferguson:11th League Titles­ Rafa Benitez:0(A BIG ZERO) LOL
    Ryan Giggs:11th League­ Titles Steven Gerrard:0(A BIG ZERO) LOL
    Federico­ Macheda 1 league title =RAFA BENITEZ ZERO LOL LOL LOL­ LOL LOL
    Rafael Da Silva 1 league title =RAFA BENITEZ­ ZERO LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL
    last but not least wait a­ minute yup you got it right
    Manchester United:18th­ League titles & counting
    LiverFOOL:ZERO(YOU CAN­ ALWAYS DREAM ALONE)..LOL..OUCH!!..

    P.s:Take note this­ is nothing personal but LETS ALL LAUGH OUT­ LOUD!!!..
    ..ITS A FACT!!..made famous by that Fat­ Spanish Butthole!!..hahaha..LOL..

    Re:"I am sorry­ to let you know as long as SIR ALEX FERGUSON is at­ Manchester United ! LiverFool WILL NOT WIN the­ "EPL" NEVER- Fergie is going to be at United­ for another 5 years - thats until 2014..Gerrard you can­ start counting your retirement days ahead YOU WILL NOT­ WIN THE EPL TITLE NEVER IN YOUR CAREER & WE'LL­ MAKE SURE IT DOES NOT HAPPEN to all liverFool fans the­ !!..
    MARK MY WORD!!!..THE END IS NEAR!!!..

    From Those Rats likes Bin dippin for free Cheeseburger, on Sun 17 May 12:44PM

  13. Congrats ManU.

    But now: Carlos. You are always welcome­ at LFC.
    Here you will Never Walk Alone amigo!!

    From Liverpool FC Rules, on Sun 17 May 12:19PM

  14. Here's another killer spam of the day,Man Utd fans­ will loves this..
    Ready check this out
    Quote of­ the­­­ day.."Mr­ Rafa­ "beneath crack"­ aka­ Fat­­ Spanish­ Butthole­ still thinks he's in­ with­ a­­­­ chance..LOL..apparently speaking to Sky­­Sports­­­ somewhere"!!..he's fooling the­­ fools!!..jesus!!!..hahaha..sori i cant help­ myself..Ouch..LOL..:)
    Here's another one,check this­ out..
    Theme:It's FACT equation(LOL)
    Man Utd:18th­ League Titles LiverFool:18th League Titles(sorry for­ the spelling)LOL
    Sir Alex Ferguson:11th League Titles ­ Rafa Benitez:0(A BIG ZERO) LOL
    Ryan Giggs:11th League­ Titles Steven Gerrard:0(A BIG ZERO)­ LOL
    Federico Macheda 1 league title =RAFA­ BENITEZ ZERO LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL
    Rafael Da Silva 1­ league title =RAFA BENITEZ ZERO LOL LOL LOL­ LOL LOL
    last but not least wait a­ minute yup you got it right
    Manchester United:18th­ League titles & counting
    LiverFOOL:ZERO(YOU CAN­ ALWAYS DREAM ALONE)..LOL..OUCH!!..

    P.s:Take note this­ is nothing personal but LETS ALL LAUGH OUT LOUD!!!..
    ­ ..ITS A FACT!!..made famous by that Fat Spanish­ Butthole!!..hahaha..LOL..

    From Those Rats likes Bin dippin for free Cheeseburger, on Sun 17 May 12:08PM

  15. Here's another killer spam of the day,Man Utd fans­ will loves this..
    Ready check this out
    Quote of­ the­­­ day.."Mr­ Rafa­ "beneath crack"­ aka­ Fat­­ Spanish­ Butthole­ still thinks he's in­ with­ a­­­­ chance..LOL..apparently speaking to Sky­­Sports­­­ somewhere"!!..he's fooling the­­ fools!!..jesus!!!..hahaha..sori i cant help­ myself..Ouch..LOL..:)
    Here's another one,check this­ out..
    Theme:It's FACT equation(LOL)
    Man Utd:18th­ League Titles LiverFool:18th League Titles(sorry for­ the spelling)LOL
    Sir Alex Ferguson:11th League Titles ­ Rafa Benitez:0(A BIG ZERO) LOL
    Ryan Giggs:11th League­ Titles Steven Gerrard:0(A BIG ZERO)­ LOL
    Federico Macheda 1 league title =RAFA­ BENITEZ ZERO LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL
    Rafael Da Silva 1­ league title =RAFA BENITEZ ZERO LOL LOL LOL­ LOL LOL
    last but not least wait a­ minute yup you got it right
    Manchester United:18th­ League titles & counting
    LiverFOOL:ZERO(YOU CAN­ ALWAYS DREAM ALONE)..LOL..OUCH!!..

    P.s:Take note this­ is nothing personal but LETS ALL LAUGH OUT LOUD!!!..
    ­ ..ITS A FACT!!..made famous by that Fat Spanish­ Butthole!!..hahaha..LOL..

    From Those Rats likes Bin dippin for free Cheeseburger, on Sun 17 May 12:06PM

  16. UP YOUR'S TO ALL YOU MERRSYSHITE X X X

    From robjones108, on Sun 17 May 11:33AM

  17. liverpool4eva-what a p**ck you are ! typical scouce­ bitter t*sser! You won nothing again but you harp on­ about the champions. Why don't you look at your own­ @#$% side and what you've achieved this year....­ F**k all! W**ker!!!!

    From eddyselio, on Sun 17 May 11:10AM

  18. every body seems to keep on about Rafael Benítez how­ @#$% he suppose to be but jut think about he go's­ down has one of the best managers for liverpool look at­ quickly he got trophys for liverpool and what he have­ done for the club.ok he has not got the premier league­ trophy but he will give him time. then look at­ ferguson for man u he won feck all for the first five­ years being there at the club and they were going to­ get rid of him but gave him a chance and yes ferguson­ has been succesful after 5 years but just think about­ if ferguson would of gone where would of that left man­ u. no where proberly so it shows that Rafael Benítez is­ one of the best managers and can do wonders for them­ from the the start of his time at liverpool and will do­ until the very end and that will be a long time to­ come.so to all man u fans fergie will be leaving soon­ then you will all be soon crying wondering what u all­ are going to do has man u will start losing and then­ win feck all with out fergie.
    liverpool are the best­ club in the world

    From liverpool4eva, on Sun 17 May 10:56AM

  19. The Question always arises Man Utd are Cheats.

    The­ Liverpool Team always train in Acupulco they are­ reknown for diving and Whinging.

    Perhaps if Rafa kept­ his Mouth Shut and bought players who could play­ football.

    May be even Transfer his team to the Spanish­ League they might win something.

    The famous kop is­ just that they kop out on everything blame every body­ but themselves

    They like the team keep on looking back­ on what used to be.

    But it is today and tomorrow that­ count Fergie is with out doubt the best Manager­ and
    looks ahead.

    He will not take any @#$% from­ anyone.He was laughed at when he first came to Old­ Trafford by opposition he had a clear vision of what­ was needed and has had good people
    around him. His­ target was to take over from Liverpool and has done­ this with the amount of trophies won.No other Manager­ has won 11 Premiership or the Old 1st Division.

    AL

    From alan, on Sun 17 May 10:40AM

  20. Oh G5...hope ur prediction is rite...so that we can­ shut all the hater's big mouth...go West­ Brom!!!!!...save ur life

    From seandadinhobomb, on Sun 17 May 10:26AM
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