Manchester United claimed a hat-trick of Premier League title on Saturday, drawing against Arsenal at Old Trafford to claim the single point they required to end Liverpool’s title hopes. While the match was a dour encounter, Manchester United fans were left with much to celebrate following the final whistle.

United’s third title win in as many seasons saw them equal the record for 18 league titles set by Liverpool in the previous century. It was also Manchester United’s 11th league title since the club joined the newly formed Premier League in 1991.

“I never thought I’d get 11 titles, not in a million years,” United manager Alex Ferguson told Sky Sports after watching his players being crowned the league champions. “My main goal was to get one.”

Ferguson reassured fans and the media that he has no intention of quitting as Manchester United boss while his health holds up, ending rumours that he had been planning to relinquish the helm once United had claimed the league title.

Instead the Scot assured fans that he intends to see the club beat Liverpool’s record for first division titles, and will look to capture the club’s 19th league title next season.

“It will make it more special if we get in front of them,”Ferguson concluded. “Next year, we’re going to go for it again.”

Andre Arshavin doesn’t plan on watching Manchester United celebrate Premier League victory at Old Trafford this weekend.

The Russian striker will be part of Arsenal’s strike-force as the London club attempts to derail United’s progress towards the Premier League title and indoing so restore some pride to an otherwise disappointing season.

Arshavin believes that the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo from proceedings on Saturday could severely impact United’s bid to claim the Premiership title in front of their home crowd, and says that the club is beatable when the Portuguese striker is on the sidelines.

“The Portuguese forward generally means a lot for them, take him away and United would be much weaker,” Arshavin told Four-Four-Two magazine. “We’ll only manage to win if we can find their weaknesses, which is not easy. On the surface only strong features are visible.”

United need just a single point to win the Premier League with two matches remaining in the season. A stumble against Arsenal would leave the Red Devils needing to defeat Hull away from home. Arsenal, meanwhile, having little but pride to play for, as they will finish the season in fourth place irrespective of results over the next two weeks.

Monday, 11 May 2009
20:00 Newcastle v Middlesbrough

Wednesday, 13 May 2009
20:00 Wigan v Man Utd

Saturday, 16 May 2009
15:00 Bolton v Hull
15:00 Everton v West Ham
12:45 Man Utd v Arsenal
15:00 Middlesbrough v Aston Villa
15:00 Newcastle v Fulham
15:00 Stoke v Wigan
15:00 Tottenham v Man City

Sunday, 17 May 2009
16:00 Chelsea v Blackburn
13:30 West Brom v Liverpool

Sunday, 10 May 2009
Arsenal    1-4 Chelsea
Man Utd    2-0 Man City

Saturday, 09 May 2009
Blackburn 2-0 Portsmouth
Bolton 0-0 Sunderland
Everton    0-0 Tottenham
Fulham 3-1 Aston Villa
Hull 1-2 Stoke
West Brom 3-1 Wigan
West Ham 0-3 Liverpool

Saturday, 9 May 2009
15:00 Blackburn v Portsmouth
15:00 Bolton v Sunderland
15:00 Everton v Tottenham
15:00 Fulham v Aston Villa
15:00 Hull v Stoke
15:00 West Brom v Wigan
17:30 West Ham v Liverpool

Sunday, 10 May 2009
16:00 Arsenal v Chelsea
13:30 Man Utd v Man City

Monday, 04 May 2009
Aston Villa 1-0 Hull

Sunday, 03 May 2009
Liverpool 3-0 Newcastle
Sunderland 0-2 Everton

Saturday, 02 May 2009
Chelsea 3-1 Fulham
Man City 3-1 Blackburn
Middlesbrough 0-2 Man Utd
Portsmouth 0-3 Arsenal
Stoke 0-1 West Ham
Tottenham 1-0 West Brom
Wigan 0-0 Bolton

Monday, 27 April 2009
Newcastle 0-0 Portsmouth

A come-from-behind win by Manchester United against Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Saturday has convinced Cristiano Ronaldo that his side are destined to take the Premier League title within the next several weeks.

Manchester United found themselves in a spot of bother on Saturday when Tottenham race to an early 2 goal lead. However, the Red Devils had the patience and maturity to strike back, and went on to score 5 unanswered goals to take maximum points from the fixture and retain their lead at the top of the Premiership.

Ronaldo contributed the goal that sparked the Manchester United comeback, scoring the club’s first goal off a penalty.

“We have five games left and we know that if we win the next four we will win the league,” Ronaldo was quoted as saying by the Belfast Telegraph. “We have five cup finals left and we have to believe. I’m looking forward to every game and I’m very confident we’ll win the title again.”

“We know we didn’t play well in the first half. But the spirit was different after half-time and the atmosphere was absolutely brilliant.”

Chelsea’s stand-in coach, Guus Hiddink, has officially conceded that his club are out of the race for Premiership silverware this season.

Despite managing to resurrect the club’s fortunes with a streak of over a dozen unbeaten matches, last night’s draw against Everton is likely to put league leaders Manchester United well out of Chelsea’s range.

With United 6 points in the lead at the top of the League table, a win in their match in hand would see them 9 points clear of Chelsea. This means only a serious meltdown by the Red Devils could re-open the door for Chelsea.

“We said before the game that the two teams chasing Man Utd must not waste any points to keep in the race. The facts are we lost two points,” Hiddink said. “We must be realistic. Maybe mathematically there is still a chance but on the other hand you cannot waste points.”

Chelsea will instead focus their energy on taking silverware in the 2008/2009 UEFA Champions League, where they face Barcelona next week.

The decision to end the battle for the title race means that Hiddink can rest key players when Chelsea plays West Ham United in the Premiership this weekend.

“Now it is difficult. We have to focus now on only two roads in the Champions League and later against Everton in the FA Cup.”

Sunday, 26 April 2009
Arsenal    2-0 Middlesbrough
Blackburn 2-0 Wigan

Saturday, 25 April 2009
Bolton     1-1 Aston Villa
Everton 1-2 Man City
Fulham 1-0 Stoke
Hull 1-3 Liverpool
Man Utd 5-2 Tottenham
West Brom 3-0 Sunderland
West Ham 0-1 Chelsea

Wednesday, 22 April 2009
Chelsea    0-0 Everton
Man Utd 2-0 Portsmout

Monday, 20 April 2009
Liverpool 4-4 Arsenal

Poor defence came close to ending Liverpool’s Premiership title race on Tuesday night, as a series of defensive lapses left them fighting for their lives against an Arsenal team inspired by 4 goals from Andre Arshavin.

Fortunately for Liverpool, their attack was as brilliant as their defence was ordinary, and the Reds were able to hold onto a 4-4 draw that sent them to the top of the Premiership on goal difference.

However, Liverpool coach Rafael Benitez will rue missing out on the 3 point haul that would have put the club 2 points clear of Manchester United.

“I think today we made too many mistakes but it is also very positive because the team showed character until the last minute,” Benitez told Sky Sports after the match.

“It is difficult to explain and we made a massive mistake at the end but maybe we were a little nervous. But the positive thing is we have one more point against a good team and we are top of the table.”

While Liverpool top the table, they’re unlikely to stay at the summit of the Premiership for long, as Manchester United have two games in hand to regain and extend their lead over Benitez’s team.