Record-breaking Chelsea win titleBy Soccernet staff
May 9, 2010
Carlo Ancelotti's Chelsea won the Premier League title in style on the final day of the season, beating Wigan Athletic 8-0 at Stamford Bridge to set a new record of 103 goals scored in a single league campaign.Dethroned champions Manchester United beat Stoke City 4-0 at Old Trafford but needed the Blues to drop points at home and despite signing off with a win Sir Alex Ferguson's side missed out on an unprecedented fourth consecutive championship.
Chelsea striker Didier Drogba bagged a hat-trick to take his personal goal-tally to 29 to scoop the Premier League Golden Boot award ahead of United's Wayne Rooney, on 26.
The Blues have scored seven goals or more on four occasions this season and Nicolas Anelka began the deluge on Sunday after just six minutes. Frank Lampard then netted from the penalty spot as Gary Caldwell was sent off for a foul on the midfielder in the box.
Against ten men, Chelsea cruised to victory with Anelka and Salomon Kalou scoring after the break, before Drogba hit his triple and Ashley Cole completed the rout.
At Old Trafford, England striker Wayne Rooney sparked a World Cup scare when he limped off in the 77th minute, having appeared to suffer a recurrence of the groin problem he first sustained at Blackburn last month.
It had no effect on the outcome though, as Darren Fletcher and Ryan Giggs scored before the break and a Danny Higginbotham own goal and Park Ji-sung's diving header doubled their advantage at the end.
Liverpool's dismal season ended as it began with a whimper as they were second best in a 0-0 draw at relegated Hull City. If this was to be Rafael Benitez's last match in charge - and his future remains very much in doubt - it would be a sad end to his Anfield reign.
Hull had the better chances with Mark Cullen missing two close-range efforts in the first half, while the closest Liverpool came was when Alberto Aquilani hit the crossbar just before the interval.
Shaun Wright-Phillips and Adam Johnson pressed their World Cup claims by combining to earn Manchester City a point with a 1-1 draw against West Ham.
England assistant coaches Franco Baldini and Ray Clemence were in the stands to run their eye over six potential summer stars ahead of Tuesday's 30-man provisional squad announcement.
Wright-Phillips' far-post header from Johnson's cross drew City level after Luis Boa Morte had put West Ham ahead on his return to the side after a year on the treatment table.
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