<P> Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson on his players winning the Premier League in May 1993 . </P> <P> In the inaugural season of the Premier League Manchester United finished 10 points clear of Aston Villa to win their first league championship in over 26 years . The club successfully retained the title in 1993--94, leading the table after beating Aston Villa 2--1 in the third gameweek . Manchester United also completed a league and cup double, beating Chelsea 4--0 in the FA Cup final . Blackburn Rovers under the investment of owner Jack Walker and manager Kenny Dalglish won their first championship since 1913--14 on the final day of the 1994--95 season . Despite Blackburn losing to Liverpool, Manchester United--in second place and two points behind the leaders before kick - off had failed to capitalise on the result, drawing at West Ham United . Manchester United however regained the Premier League in 1995--96 after much scrutiny over the inexperience of the first team at the beginning of the season . Newcastle United who held a 12 - point lead at the top in January 1996 were pegged back in the following weeks before Manchester United moved in front at the end of March . </P> <P> Manchester United retained the league in 1996--97 but were overhauled by Arsenal in the final ten weeks of the 1997--98 season, finishing second . Arsenal, managed by Arsène Wenger in his first full season at the club also beat Newcastle 2--0 in the FA Cup final to win the trophy and accomplish a double . They however failed to retain both trophies as Manchester United pipped Arsenal on the final day of the league season, winning the Premier League as well as defeating the holders in a FA Cup semi-final replay . United won the league for two successive seasons: in 1999--2000 ending the season 18 points in front and 2000--01 by 10 . After four seasons without a trophy, Arsenal again completed a league and cup double in 2001--02 remarkably scoring in every single Premier League match . The title the following season was won by Manchester United, with striker Ruud van Nistelrooy scoring 25 goals in 38 league matches . </P> <P> In the summer of 2003, Chelsea were taken over by businessman Roman Abramovich and despite the club spending over £ 100m on new players, the 2003--04 champions were Arsenal, who became the first Premier League club to win the league without defeat . Chelsea's failure to finish first culminated in managerial changes: coach Claudio Ranieri was sacked and subsequently replaced with Portuguese José Mourinho . The club won the league in 2004--05, 12 points ahead of runners - up Arsenal, scoring 72 goals and conceding 15 in the process . Chelsea won a second successive Premier League title in 2005--06 before Manchester United became the third different club to win the league in four seasons in 2006--07 . Despite Arsenal leading the division for much of the 2007--08 season, Manchester United retained the championship on the final day of the season and won their eleventh Premier League title in 2008--09 after much competition from Liverpool . Chelsea reclaimed the league in 2009--10, scoring a record 103 goals and won the FA Cup to end the season as double winners . In May 2011, Manchester United won their 12th Premier League title and a record 19th after drawing away to Blackburn Rovers . </P>

When was the last time liverpool finished above manchester united