MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) – Manchester United won their 20th league title on Monday when a Robin van Persie hat-trick led them to 3-0 victory over Aston Villa and gave them an unassailable 16-point lead over last season’s Premier League champions Manchester City.

Van Persie’s goals after two, 13 and 33 minutes – the second among the best scored at Old Trafford – propelled Alex Ferguson’s side to victory in front of a jubilant home crowd.

MANCHESTER, England, April 22 (Reuters) – Manchester United won their 20th league title on Monday when a Robin van Persie hat-trick led them to 3-0 victory over Aston Villa and gave them an unassailable 16-point lead over last season’s Premier League champions Manchester City.

Van Persie’s goals after two, 13 and 33 minutes – the second among the best scored at Old Trafford – propelled Alex Ferguson’s side to victory in front of a jubilant home crowd.

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) – Manchester United winger Ashley Young will miss the rest of the season with an ankle injury, manager Alex Ferguson said on Friday.

The England international picked up the problem in this month’s 2-1 defeat by Manchester City and attended Wednesday’s 2-2 draw at West Ham United on crutches.

MANCHESTER, England, April 19 (Reuters) – Manchester United winger Ashley Young will miss the rest of the season with an ankle injury, manager Alex Ferguson said on Friday.

The England international picked up the problem in this month’s 2-1 defeat by Manchester City and attended Wednesday’s 2-2 draw at West Ham United on crutches.

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) – For striker Wayne Rooney to be taken off the pitch because Manchester United needed a vital goal was once inconceivable but is now the reality facing a player whose future at the club is as shaky as his form.

“We had to get that goal that mattered,” was manager Alex Ferguson’s reasoning on Friday for the decision to substitute the England striker in Wednesday’s 2-2 draw at West Ham United.

MANCHESTER, England, April 19 (Reuters) – For striker Wayne Rooney to be taken off the pitch because Manchester United needed a vital goal was once inconceivable but is now the reality facing a player whose future at the club is as shaky as his form.

“We had to get that goal that mattered,” was manager Alex Ferguson’s reasoning on Friday for the decision to substitute the England striker in Wednesday’s 2-2 draw at West Ham United.

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) – Manchester United will be without winger Ashley Young for two weeks because of an ankle problem but the Premier League leaders’ defensive injuries showed signs of easing on Friday.

Young limped off in Monday’s 2-1 defeat by Manchester City, where the second-placed champions narrowed the gap on leaders United to 12 points although they have already conceded the title race is over with seven games to go.

MANCHESTER, England, April 12 (Reuters) – Manchester United will be without winger Ashley Young for two weeks because of an ankle problem but the Premier League leaders’ defensive injuries showed signs of easing on Friday.

Young limped off in Monday’s 2-1 defeat by Manchester City, where the second-placed champions narrowed the gap on leaders United to 12 points although they have already conceded the title race is over with seven games to go.

By Sonia Oxley

(Reuters) – European heavyweights Chelsea and Benfica reached the Europa League semi-finals on Thursday and were joined by lesser lights FC Basel and Fenerbahce who made the last four of a continental competition for the first time.

European champions Chelsea grabbed a spot in Friday’s draw with a 5-4 aggregate win over Rubin Kazan despite going down 3-2 on the night in Moscow, while Benfica scored in stoppage time to draw 1-1 at Newcastle United for a 4-2 aggregate victory.

April 11 (Reuters) – European heavyweights Chelsea and Benfica reached the Europa League semi-finals on Thursday and were joined by lesser lights FC Basel and Fenerbahce who made the last four of a continental competition for the first time.

European champions Chelsea grabbed a spot in Friday’s draw with a 5-4 aggregate win over Rubin Kazan despite going down 3-2 on the night in Moscow, while Benfica scored in stoppage time to draw 1-1 at Newcastle United for a 4-2 aggregate victory.