The Sport Matrix: Tuesday 23 April 2013

United take 20th league title as Villa are swept aside

Manchester United were last night crowned Premier League champions after a 3-0 win over Aston Villa at Old Trafford.

Robin van Persie’s stunning hat-trick in the first 33 minutes put United on their way to their 20th league title, earning manager Sir Alex Ferguson, above, his 13th. The result keeps Villa just three points above the drop zone with four games remaining. pages MORE

Suarez charged by FA but will stay put

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez has been charged with violent conduct by the FA for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic on Sunday, but still has a future at Liverpool according to the club. Suarez has until 6pm today to respond, before a hearing tomorrow. MORE

Bath in talks with Henson over move

Bath have confirmed they are in talks with Wales international Gavin Henson about a possible transfer. The fly-half is under contract at relegated London Welsh, although injuries have resulted in him making just 11 appearances this season. MORE

McDowell back in winning business

Graeme McDowell is celebrating his first PGA Tour win since 2010 after beating Webb Simpson in a play-off at the RBC Heritage. McDowell has climbed to No 8 in the world in the build-up to the US Open in June. MORE

Farah’s lining up a tasty treble in Rio

Mo Farah has admitted it would be a nice challenge to follow in legendary Finn Lasse Viren’s footsteps and run the 5,000m, 10,000m and the marathon at Rio 2016. “It would be nice,” said Farah, who ran half the London Marathon on Sunday. “That’s a challenge.” MORE

Messi set to return and aid Barca push

Barcelona are aiming to take their first steps towards a fourth Champions League final in eight years tonight, in their semi-final first leg at Bayern Munich. Toni Kroos is out injured for the home side, while Lionel Messi should return.

Higgins crashes out to destroyer Davis

Four-time winner John Higgins crashed out of the World Championships yesterday after a 10-6 first-round defeat to Mark Davis. The Scotsman suffered only his third first-round exit in 19 campaigns since his debut in 1995, having won the title in 1998, 2007, 2009 and 2011. MORE

McLaren: drivers were right to fight

McLaren team principal Martin Whitmarsh has defended his decision to allow Sergio Perez and Jenson Button to battle it out in Bahrain on Sunday. “I know it could have gone horribly wrong. On balance, it was the right thing for both drivers.” MORE

Opinion: James Lawton

How jolly it apparently is that Mike Tyson, who delivered the first bite on Evander Holyfield in 1997 to briefly nauseate the modern sports world, has enlisted as a Twitter follower of Luis Suarez. MORE

Trainer Al Zarooni in steroids shock

Godolphin trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni will face a disciplinary panel after samples taken from 11 of the 45 horses in his care were found to contain traces of anabolic steroids. Al Zarooni won the Ladbrokes St Leger at Doncaster last year, as well as the Dubai World Cup. MORE

Arsenal challenge Giroud dismissal

Arsenal have appealed against Olivier Giroud’s red card during their 1-0 victory against Fulham on Saturday. An FA regulatory commission will meet today to decide whether to rescind or uphold the Frenchman’s dismissal for a foul on Stanislav Manolev.