Manchester United captured their third Premier League title in a row with a 0-0 draw with Arsenal yesterday while Middlesbrough stood on the brink of relegation.
Man United secured the point they needed to get out of reach of second-place Liverpool by making sure they did not lose to the Gunners in an unexpectedly poor-quality game at Old Trafford.
United now have 87 points with one game to go and Liverpool, who travel to bottom club West Bromwich Albion today, have 80. By winning their 11th Premier League in 17 seasons, United now are level with Liverpool's overall record of 18 all-time league titles.
"It makes you want to go on for ever," United manager Alex Ferguson said after collecting his 25th title in 23 seasons at Old Trafford.
Amid the celebrations, more than one thousand fans converged on the directors' exit and players' tunnel calling on the owners to buy Argentina striker Carlos Tevez, whose loan deal has only two weeks to run.
"It's emotional. I like Manchester, and I like the fans," Tevez said in broken English. Asked if he wanted to stay at the club, he said: "It's very difficult."
While United celebrated another title, the battle for survival goes on although West Brom will go down if they lose at home to Liverpool today.
Middlesbrough have little chance of survival after they threw away a lead and were held 1-1 at home by Aston Villa. Turkish star Tuncay Sanli gave Boro a 14th-minute lead with an overhead shot but John Carew equalised for Villa.
Manager furious
Having beaten Boro 3-1 on Monday, Newcastle slipped back into the relegation zone after a 1-0 defeat at home to Fulham with Diomansy Kamara scoring the only goal. Newcastle had defender Sebastian Bassong sent off and manager Alan Shearer was furious that Mark Viduka had a headed goal disallowed.
"The sending off was probably the correct decision but the decision to disallow Mark Viduka's goal was a poor one," the former England captain said. "I can only assume that it was for a block or a push but I've seen the replays and there was nothing in that.
"It's going to be tough but I'm sure there are going to be a few twists and turns next week and it's not over yet."
Out of relegation
Hull moved out of the relegation places with a 1-1 draw at Bolton and the survival struggle now goes into the final round of games next Sunday (May 24). Gretar Rafn Steinsson gave the home side a 26th-minute lead and, although Craig Fagan replied for the Tigers in the 47th, his team was repeatedly denied by top quality saves by Bolton goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen.
The results mean that Hull have 35 points, Newcastle 34, Middlesbrough 32 and West Brom 31 with three to go down. Sunderland, who visit Portsmouth tomorrow, are still not out of danger with 36 points.