Manchester United hands Premier League title to Manchester City with shock loss to West Bromwich Albion

A week later than they would have preferred, Manchester City have been crowned Premier League champions as second-placed Manchester United suffered a shock 1-0 home defeat to bottom club West Bromwich Albion.

United had to at least draw to keep the title race mathematically alive but they were stunned at Old Trafford when Jay Rodriguez headed home after the break.

City manager Pep Guardiola might have missed one of the proudest moments of his career, however, after admitting on Saturday that he had a round of golf booked with his son and was not planning to watch United's game.

He would have been as surprised as everyone else that the title, seemingly a foregone conclusion for months, was rubber-stamped in such strange circumstances.

A week after City surrendered a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 to United and squander the chance to wrap up the title in perfect style against their arch-rivals, it was relegation-bound West Brom who served it up on a plate.

West Brom had lost eight of their previous nine games and last won on January 13.

"We've won the league for you, Man City, Man City," West Brom's fans chanted after the final whistle.

City, who rebounded from the United loss and a European exit at the hands of Liverpool by beating Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 at Wembley on Saturday, have 87 points with five games left.

United have 71 also with five to play.

It is Abu Dhabi-owned City's third title in seven seasons and their first since former boss Manuel Pellegrini achieved the feat in 2013-14.

Guardiola, who failed to land a trophy in his first season in charge at The Etihad, opened his account by winning the League Cup in February against Arsenal.

But a first Premier League title, to go with the three La Liga titles he won as manager of Barcelona and the three Bundesliga titles he delivered for Bayern Munich, will be particularly satisfying.

He is the first Spanish manager to win the Premier League title — a prize he says is the hardest to claim in Europe.

Not only that but he did it with five games remaining, equalling the English top-flight record of United (1907-08 and 2000-01) and Everton (1984-85).

Guardiola and Mourinho have a long rivalry but the United manager said it was not fair to suggest the West Brom loss was the only reason for City's league title.

"They won the title because they were the best team, because they won a great amount of points. They lost only two matches [this season] because they were the best team," Mourinho said.

"That's the reason why they were champions and probably because I won eight championships I was not in the moon [sic] with the victory against them [last week] because that doesn't make me feel super happy.

"And in my opinion a fact, for sure … some of the people that were too happy just with that." </s> Manchester City have won the English Premier League title without even playing on Sunday after nearest challenger Manchester United were shocked 1-0 loss at home to bottom-placed West Bromwich Albion.

After all their efforts to stop City from clinching the league in their 3-2 derby win last week, United offered a clear reminder of why they have not been close contenders for the title this year, with an abject display lacking in creativity.

Their fans, who had celebrated the comeback victory at the Etihad last week, booed Jose Mourinho's side off the field after they lost to a team who had not won since January.

It was City's third title in seven seasons and easily its most convincing, with Pep Guardiola's team 16 points clear and still having five games to play this season.

City's other two Premier League triumphs, in 2012 and 2014, were sealed on the final day.

"We've won you the league, Manchester City, we've won you the league," sang West Brom's fans near the end of the game.

"Our Time. Our City. Premier League Champions 17/18," City tweeted soon after the final whistle when the fifth English top-flight title of its history was assured.

An 18-match winning run from late August to late December laid City's platform for the runaway title victory, and it was only a matter of when it would be clinched.

The 2012 title win had the infamous last-gasp goal by Sergio Aguero. Six years later, the finale was much more underwhelming, with Rodriguez nodding in from a corner to silence the majority of Old Trafford and set up one of the most surprising wins of the season.

United manager Mourinho had long given up hopes of winning the title, instead focusing on finishing second. This result left his team one point clear of third-placed Liverpool, with a game in hand.

As for City, it has a month to finish a season with the most points, goals and wins in a single Premier League campaign.

Check out Game of Our Lives from Al Jazeera's podcast studio, Jetty. </s> Manchester United suffered one of their most embarrassing days in the club’s long history as they handed Manchester City the title.

READ ALSO: “Sell this idiot” – Man United ace has “worst game in a United shirt” as fans turn on star following West Brom embarrassment

Manchester United fell to a 1-0 defeat at Old Trafford against West Brom which subsequently gifted Manchester City the title.

Following last week’s explosive heroics it almost feels as an underwhelming end to the title race to say the least.

United looked lacklustre throughout and poor performances from the likes of Paul Pogba and Juan Mata saw United fall to a 1-0 defeat to West Brom who have little to fight for unless a miracle can bring them Premier League safety.

It was a Jay Rodriguez goal on the 73rd minute that proved the difference as Ben Foster produced a memorable performance in the other end to prevent United from scoring.

West Brom’s season has proved to be disastrous to say the least. Alan Pardew arguably tarnished his reputation as a manger forever upon his time at the club this season and the Baggies have struggled to provide any sign that they have what it takes to survive in the top flight.

While relegation remains inevitable, there could be light ahead. Caretaker boss Darren Moore has already equalled Alan Pardew’s Premier League wins this season (one in eighteen) in the space of just two fixtures.

Paul Pogba, Juan Mata and Anthony Martial all looked relatively ineffective for United today and the Red Devils lost to a bottom placed side in the Premier League for the first time since 2011. Accompanied with handing the title to Manchester City and Pep Guardiola it was certainly a day to forget for the Red Devils.

Ben Foster produced an inspired performance against his former United side and even managed to steal some of the limelight on a day that was largely about Manchester City clinching the title.

Foster produced four huge saves and managed to organise his West Brom back four to survive a constant onslaught from United’s attack that included 14 attempts.

Not a bad way to show your former club what they’re missing eight years on since leaving them! </s> Juan Mata pledged to refocus and help Manchester United emerge stronger from a season-defining week that started with a galling loss to West Brom and rivals Manchester City clinching the title.

Juan Mata pledged to refocus and help Manchester United emerge stronger from a season-defining week that started with a galling loss to West Brom and rivals Manchester City clinching the title.

However, rudderless and managerless West Brom caused the shock of the season as Jay Rodriguez secured a remarkable 1-0 win at Old Trafford, sparking wild celebrations across the blue half of the city. It was a gut punch for Jose Mourinho’s men, leaving them needing to strengthen their hold over second spot at Bournemouth on Wednesday before Saturday’s Wembley date against Tottenham in the FA Cup semi-finals.

Mata is determined to bounce back, but knows “any comments made after the (West Brom) game sound like hollow words”. “Some Mondays are happy, and some others are not,” he wrote on his blog. “This is one of the latter.

“We played a bad game this Sunday. There’s not much to add. There’s nothing to detract from West Bromwich, but we didn’t live up to our expectations. “It’s disappointing, even more after the win last week, but this is football.

“That’s why it’s so important to keep the right balance in the good and in the bad times. “Congratulations to Manchester City, who are mathematically the Premier League winners.

“We will keep focusing on two goals from here to the end of the season: keeping the second place and trying to get to the FA Cup final and to win the title.

United’s limp display irked Mourinho and the manager said overconfidence was key in allowing the beleaguered Baggies to secure just their fourth league win of a dreadful Premier League campaign. Jose Mourinho was not happy with his players on Sunday The Red Devils were praised for overcoming a terrible first half and two-goal deficit to spoil City’s title party at the Etihad Stadium last weekend, although some of their players patently took their eye off the ball in the wake of that 3-2 win. Put to Mourinho that confidence would have been high after the Manchester derby, the United boss told MUTV: “Too high. Too high.

“Too high because when you win a match that gives you nothing, it just gives you three points, but you react in a way that it looks like you won something really important, you pay the price.” </s> Manchester City were crowned champions of England on Sunday evening, after West Bromwich Albion shocked the footballing world by securing a 1-0 win over Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Jay Rodriguez's finish 17 minutes from time was enough to get past the well-below-par Red Devils. And although the Citizens missed the chance to claim the title during the Manchester derby last weekend, their bitter rivals tasting defeat at the hands of the rock bottom Baggies, who are currently without a full-time manager, allowing them to secure the silverware will undoubtedly sweeten the blow.

Pep Guardiola's men's success equals United as the earliest Premier League title win in history, with the Sky Blues wrapping up the league with five games remaining; as Sir Alex Ferguson's outfit did in 2001.

And after the champagne popping moment was confirmed as the rain came down over Old Trafford, Twitter exploded, with many finding a way to take a pop at Jose Mourinho's men.

And now, over to the players... </s> The only surprise, perhaps, is that Manchester United have kept the title race going as long as they have when they are capable of playing with this lack of sophistication. Their defeat means Manchester City are the new Premier League champions and, as if that was not galling enough for José Mourinho’s team, the final twist in the story of the 2017-18 season was a deeply ignominious one for a club with their lofty ambitions.

Was this really the team that went to Manchester City last weekend and pulled off one of the season’s great comebacks? It was only eight days ago that the players in red were dancing in front of a euphoric away end at the Etihad stadium. That, however, was only ever delaying the inevitable and what nobody could have imagined after that 3-2 victory was that Mourinho’s team would then lose against the worst team in the league.

To put it into context, this was West Brom’s first away win in the league since August. They have been in the relegation zone since December and there has been only one other occasion, against Blackburn Rovers in 2011, when United have lost at Old Trafford to the league’s bottom club. Yet this, without a hint of exaggeration, was one of the worst displays of Mourinho’s two years in charge and when Jay Rodriguez headed in the decisive goal, in the 73rd minute, it was startling to see the lack of fight from the 20-time champions.

This time there was no feat of escapology and the stands were half-empty by the time the final whistle confirmed City’s coronation. From many of the supporters who had stayed behind there were loud, prolonged boos. And the West Brom fans? “Manchester City, we’ve won you the league,” came from the cry from the away end. </s> MANCHESTER, England — Manchester City won the Premier League title without even playing on Sunday when nearest challenger Manchester United surprisingly lost 1-0 at home to last-place West Bromwich Albion.

It was City's third title in seven seasons and easily its most convincing, with Pep Guardiola's team 16 points clear and still having five games to play this season. City's other two Premier League triumphs, in 2012 and '14, were sealed on the final day.

Second-place United dragged the title race out for at least another week by winning 3-2 at City last weekend, only to gift the trophy to City by losing to a team that is destined for relegation and had just one league win since August.

Guardiola might not have seen Jay Rodriguez's 73rd-minute winning goal at Old Trafford because he was due to be playing golf with his son instead of watching the match.

"Our Time. Our City. Premier League Champions 17/18," City tweeted soon after the final whistle, when the fifth English top-flight title of its history was assured.

Instead of City likely clinching the title at home to Swansea next weekend, that game at Etihad Stadium will now be a party and a celebration of one of the Premier League's finest teams which could yet break a slew of records by the end of the season.

An 18-match winning run from late-August to late-December laid the platform for the runaway title victory, and it was only a matter of when it would be clinched.

Few — including Guardiola — expected it to happen on Sunday.

"We've won you the league, Manchester City, we've won you the league," sang West Brom's fans near the end of the game.

The 2012 title win had the infamous last-gasp goal by Sergio Aguero. Six years later, the finale was much more underwhelming, with Rodriguez nodding in from a corner to silence the majority of Old Trafford and set up one of the most surprising wins of the season. </s> Manchester City were crowned Premier League champions on Sunday as Manchester United crashed to a shock 1-0 defeat against West Bromwich Albion.

City had moved within touching distance of the title with a 3-1 win at Tottenham on Saturday.

They clinched the silverware 24 hours later thanks to Albion forward Jay Rodriguez’s 73rd minute header at Old Trafford.

United had denied City the chance to wrap up the title last weekend when they came from two goals down to beat their bitter rivals 3-2 at the Etihad Stadium.

But Jose Mourinho’s men still ended up handing the trophy to City with a lacklustre display against bottom of the table Albion, who had won only three times in the league this season before this weekend.

City are 16 points clear of second placed United, who can only take a maximum of 15 points from their remaining five games.

Winning the title with five matches to go makes City the joint earliest champions in the Premier League era – matching the achievement of the 2000-01 Manchester United team.

City boss Pep Guardiola had planned a day of golf with his son Marius on Sunday, so the Spaniard might have learned of his first Premier League while on the course.

Speaking after the win over Tottenham, Guardiola admitted winning the title in England would be one of the greatest achievements of his glittering career.

He won three league titles with Barcelona and twice lifted the Champions League trophy during his Camp Nou reign.

The 47-year-old also took the German title three times with Bayern Munich, but he believes the unique strength in depth and physical demands of the Premier League makes this triumph among his very best.

He also conceded it was sweet to triumph in a country where some critics claimed his purist principles couldn’t flourish.

Guardiola and his players will have the chance to celebrate properly next Sunday when they host Swansea in their next fixture. </s> Share this article with Google Plus

Manchester City’s players were celebrating last night after they were unexpectedly crowned champions thanks to Manchester United’s shock home defeat to West Brom.

Jose Mourinho’s side lost 1-0 at Old Trafford to the worst team in the league to hand the title to their local rivals with five games to go.

Manchester City’s players were quick to get the party started. Vincent Kompany headed for the pub with a few team-mates, Pep Guardiola was on the golf course and David Silva delivered the best tweet of all.

Kompany watched Manchester United’s defeat at his wife’s grandmother’s house. Upon the final whistle the first person he made contact with was Kevin de Bruyne.

De Bruyne, who has been Man City’s standout player, was among the many players – who had been given a few days off after their win over Tottenham on Saturday – to tweet their delight.

Kompany quickly headed to the pub where he was joined by John Stones, Kyle Walker and Bernardo Silva.

Benjamin Mendy, who missed most of the season with injury, wanted in on the celebrations. So he altered Man City’s official celebration image by replacing Raheem Sterling’s face with his own.

David Silva posted perhaps the most poignant tweet, with the midfielder using an image of his newborn son who was born prematurely midway through the season.

Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola – as promised – was out on the golf course as it all unfolded.

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Football team Manchester United lose 1-0 to West Brom, handing rivals Manchester City the Premier League title.