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. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Referies in this game should please help to make it­ more & most interesting by being fair to all­ contenders. Instead of throwing all your weight behind­ Man U, weaker teams like Westbrom, Watford,Derby etc­ should be benefited or be neutral.Other teams are­ suffering the wrath of your bias support for Man U.­ Only God knows how many of this 11th wins were truely­ their effort. Its frustrating & u guys should sit­ up.

    From kenneth, on Sun 17 May 9:04AM

  2. we are the best for ever

    From Christopher, on Sun 17 May 9:01AM
  3. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    Man Utd have been crowned EPL champs after winning­ undue sympathy from most of the Refs. For those who­ have been following, our current champs won not less­ than TEN matches on controvercial ground, (no thanks to­ the REFS). I ask, are they really champions with such­ favour from the refs? The FA & REFS should please­ help to make this most popular game more interesting.­ This favour to Man Utd is just too much on the other­ title contenders to measure up with.

    From kenneth, on Sun 17 May 8:46AM

  4. MANCHESTER UNITED IS CHAMPION FOREVER!
    SIR ALEX­ FERGUSON IS THE BEST FOREVER!
    GLORY GLORY MAN­ UNITED!
    congratulation to fan united!

    From zahra A, on Sun 17 May 8:45AM

  5. luv MAN U so mush..congrate to all for u...stephen p!!­ manchester will be a champion although cristiano and­ tevez not there....

    From Khairil, on Sun 17 May 8:42AM

  6. MANCHESTER UNITED: CHAMPIONS 2009 . . . AN UNDENIABLE­ FACT!! SO THEN . . . UNITED 18 TIMES CHAMPIONS! THIS­ TIME NEXT YEAR IT WILL BE "19 TIMES­ CHAMPIONS" (UNLESS CHELSEA GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER­ PERHAPS . . COZ ONLY THEY CAN STOP US!!).

    From OldRedDevil1962, on Sun 17 May 8:41AM

  7. PRAISE BE THE NAME MANCHESTER UNITED, WON AGAIN, AND IN­ THE THEATRE OF DREAMS, HOME TURF..WELL DONE UTD AND SIR­ ALEX.

    From L H, on Sun 17 May 8:35AM

  8. Match: ManU 1 Liver 4
    Total Shot on Goal: ManU 17,­ Liver 9
    Ball Possession: ManU 55%, Liver 45%
    Red Card :­ ManU 1, Liver 0

    2008/09 : Liver 2 ManU 1 (ManU 1 red­ card), ManU 1 Liver 4 (ManU 1 red card)
    2007/08 : ManU­ 3 Liver 0 (Liv 1 red card), Liver 0 ManU 1
    2006/07 :­ ManU 2 Liver 0, Liver 0 ManU 1 (ManU 1 red­ card)*
    2005/06 : Liver 0 ManU 0, ManU 1 Liver 0
    2004/05­ : ManU 2 Liver 1, Liver 0 ManU 1 (ManU 1 red card)*
    *­ even ManU got 1 red card but still managed to win!

    From CHONG, on Sun 17 May 8:34AM

  9. Well done Man U for winning the Premier League Title,­ again. You guys had a cracker of a season and deserve­ it.

    Arsenal, You still my boys. We had a very up and­ down season but did well.

    From ajdenys, on Sun 17 May 8:31AM

  10. stephen p, no ronaldo no tevez...ManU still champions @­ 11 times. U think Sir Alex Ferguson as dumb as you?!­ You dumbhead!!!

    From CHONG, on Sun 17 May 8:27AM

  11. Well done Man U for winning the Premier League Title,­ again. You guys had a cracker of a season and deserve­ it.

    Arsenal, You still my boys. We had a very up and­ down season but did well.

    From ajdenys, on Sun 17 May 8:25AM

  12. Money isnt the answer when it comes down to­ consistancy. You can buy a title but you can't buy­ consistancy. Man Utd have shown their investments in­ youth, over 20 years, and as they continue to encourage­ young stars to be exposed to the top flights­ competition, their legancy will continue. Its up to the­ rest of the clubs to follow.
    Fergie and his team of­ back room staff, over the last two decades, have shown­ the way. They have produced exciting teams playing­ great football.
    There is no excuse for hard work and­ endevour. Believe.....they deserve everything they work­ for. Some say they are lucky, and the harder they­ practice the luckier they are!!! Glory Glory Man­ Utd.....Rome here we come!!!

    From petergathercole, on Sun 17 May 8:23AM

  13. well done Man U, You guys had a great season and in all­ honesty, deserved to win.
    Arsenal, You still my boys.­ Well done! ... Good luck for next season.

    From ajdenys, on Sun 17 May 8:20AM
  14. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    enjoy it while it lasts
    next year no ronaldo no tevez =­ no chance

    From stephen p, on Sun 17 May 8:12AM

  15. 991...learn to read, and write the Queen's English,­ idiot.

    From Roughie Toughie Northerner, on Sun 17 May 8:11AM

  16. halo...MU won already arh...i told u all already­ le...MU will won de ma...see...Liverpool Suck a....che­ also same with Suck la...arsenal is Noob...

    From Jason, on Sun 17 May 7:59AM
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    man united stink and ur not da champions doggys ­ from zubair

    From Shahzaib, on Sun 17 May 7:47AM

  18. i wonder where are those Liverpool fans ?

    From Renan, on Sun 17 May 7:43AM

  19. Winning a hat trick of premier leagues is not a joke­ you guys.

    Chelsea with all the money they have,­ managed to do a double. Inter have won it four times­ now. Lyon won it seven times. Real madrid did a double­ with two different coaches. Liverpool won it before­ Macheda was born.

    Muggy's predictions.

    Torres­ will go to barcelona next reason.

    Gerrand will retire­ from liverpoo in november this year.

    Ronaldo will not­ join real madrid.

    Tevez will join mancity and mark­ hughes will send him to stoke city on loan.

    Manucho­ will be sold to newcastle united if they get­ relegated.

    Ronaldo the 'El phenomeno' or­ 'El Gordo' will play in the 2010 world cup in­ south africa.

    Rooney will have a firstborn baby­ girl.

    Gary nevil will retire next season.

    Liverpoo­ will beat west brom today.

    From Majoser, on Sun 17 May 7:39AM

  20. Glory united!!
    I wanna thank all utd supporters , not­ only on dis site, but all across the globe who hv­ supported n motivated the team, especially in times of­ crisis.... My man of the match in the 5-2 win over­ spurs was the OT crowd... Their relentless support n­ assurance that they r there helped utd a lot n inspired­ them 2 victory...: hats off 2 u guys...
    When I look­ back at this season, I see performances of class,­ performance where we ripped opponents apart(3-0 v­ chelski), matches where we played really well but­ missed dozen chances n had 2 be content with a draw(0-0­ against spurs n 1-1 against everton)...
    Matches which­ were difficult fr us coz of injuries but still managed­ 2 @#$% the all important 3 pts(1-0 v­ stoke).....
    Mstches where we were superb in da 1st half­ but took da foot of da gas in da 2nd half in were in­ for a nervy ending(4-3 v hull)
    Matches where we­ desperately unlucky in da 1st half n were made 2 pay in­ da second half(
    1-2 v gooners) Matches where we were­ outplayed but some how we grinded out a result n got­ the 3 points...
    Matches where we fell­ behind(especially at home) n we had 2 show grit n­ determination 2 come back n win the match(5-2 v spurs,­ 3-2 v spurs n 2-1 v wigan) , where our fans played a­ huge role ......Matches where we played well but still­ lost(1-4 v loserfool)
    Matches where it just wasn't­ our day n nothing went as it was planned(0-2 v­ Fulham)...
    Matches where stars were born(macheda, n­ rafeal)
    All in all a great season fr utd, n nice try­ loserfools... But u never gonna win da EPL... N dats a­ fact!!
    Looking forward for an even better season with­ some new players(ribery, benzema)... N good bye 2 those­ who r leavin(tevez n ronaldo.... I think) thank you fr­ givin ur best fr us n we hope that where ever u may go,­ may u flourish... ALL THE BEST!!
    GLORY UNITED!! RESPECT­ & SALUTE THE CHAMPIONS!!
    GLORY UNITED!! RESPECT­ & SALUTE THE CHAMPIONS!!
    GLORY UNITED!! RESPECT­ & SALUTE THE CHAMPIONS!!
    GLORY UNITED!!

    From dhruvrastogi_rooney, on Sun 17 May 7:34AM
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