Manchester United seal their 20th league title
- Published
Manchester United are Premier League champions again, after beating Aston Villa 3-0 at Old Trafford.
The win sealed United's 20th league title, their 13th in the Premier League.
Dutchman Robin Van Persie scored a first half hat-trick taking him to 24 league goals this season.
United could finish with a record total of 96 points should they win their remaining four games.
Sir Alex Ferguson's side were already 13 points clear of rivals Manchester City before kick-off.
But if there were any nerves, they soon went out of the window when Van Persie opened the scoring after 83 seconds.
Van Persie has proved to be one of the signings of the season
The striker then added a second with a fantastic volley from outside the box, before wrapping up all three points, and the title, with a close range finish before the break.
The Premier League title was decided at Old Trafford for the fourth time in the history of the competition - more than at any other ground
The Premier League title was previously won at Old Trafford in 1999, 2002 and 2009
United have won the league with four games remaining
United won the title with five games left in 2001
United's biggest Premier League title-winning margin is 18 points (1999-2000)
The Red Devils could have scored even more in the second half but Rooney, Welbeck and Kagawa all wasted good chances.
In the end though it didn't matter and Ferguson hugged his players on the pitch at the final whistle.
But as United celebrated with a lap of honour, the defeat left Aston Villa just three points above the relegation zone with four games to play.