PREMIER LEAGUE

WEST BROM  1
MAN UNITED  0
NEWCASTLE UNITED 2
ARSENAL  1

London: A week later than they would have preferred, Manchester City were crowned Premier League champions on Sunday as second-placed Manchester United suffered a shock 0-1 home defeat by 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.

A week after City surrendered a 2-0 lead to lose 2-3 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 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. Not only that, but Guardiola did it with five games remaining, equalling the English top-flight record of United (1907-08 and 2000-01) and Everton (1984-85).

"We did it in the way we wanted to do," Guardiola said at Wembley on Saturday. City skipper Vincent Kompany has now won three Premier League titles since joining 10 years ago. "Champions!!!!!! What a great feeling!! So happy to be able to share another trophy with our amazing fans," the 32-year-old Belgian defender said on Twitter.

However, the celebrations had not even started when Kompany was already thinking about the next season.

"You can't take it for granted," he told Sky Sports on Sunday. "I've been lucky to win three titles but so many I've missed as well. Today I'm happy.

"But my teammates might roll their eyes when I say this... I've never been able to retain the title and want to see if this team has got it to carry on and be even more successful."

Kompany added that Guardiola's hunger to get better had rubbed off on all the players. "Pep's desire to never be satisfied has transferred to the team," Kompany said.

Earlier, Newcastle United virtually guaranteed their Premier League safety as they came from a goal down to beat Arsenal 2-1 on Sunday. Alexandre Lacazette's volley gave Arsenal the lead in the 14th minute, but Ayoze Perez clipped in Newcastle's equaliser on the half hour mark.

Newcastle were the better side after the break and took the lead in the 68th minute when Matt Ritchie fired home.

Meanwhile, United coach Jose Mourinho said: "The last title was not 20 years ago it was three years ago. I know how to win, I believe in myself but I don't play... In my experience you don't win titles with inconsistency..." He suggested his players over-reacted to the win against City. Reuters