For two consecutive seasons, Manchester United have been champions of the English Premier League, and have won the Premiership title for a total of 17 times, just one shy of the record held by Liverpool FC, who have a total of 18 titles.

Manchester United’s claimed the English Premier League championship with a tight race against Chelsea FC, and needed to make good at the last 90 minutes of the season. Chelsea FC closed in on Manchester United in the points race, but failed to make the last game count in order to regain the English Premier League title, which they held at the 2004 to 2005 and 2005 to 2006 seasons.

Last season was also very memorable for Manchester United, who also won the UEFA Champions League title, once again overcoming English Premier League rivals Chelsea in the UEFA Champions League finals held at the Luzinski Stadium in Moscow, Russia.

Of course, Manchester United, under the leadership of Sir Alex Ferguson, are still hoping to continue their streak and grab a three-peat in the English Premier League in the upcoming 2008-2009 season.

The Manchester United squad will still have some of its key players, such as Nani, Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs, Rio Ferdinand, Carlos Tevez and Paul Scholes. However, Manchester United might not have the services of last season’s league top scorer Cristiano Ronaldo as he might be transferred to Spanish La Liga champions Real Madrid.

Of course, Chelsea will be out to dethrone Manchester United as well as the likes of Liverpool FC and Arsenal.

Meanwhile, oddsmakers have picked Manchester United as the favorites to be outright winners of the English Premier League 2008-2009 season.

On the first week of the English Premier League, Manchester United will have a home match at Old Trafford against Newcastle United. Other matches on the first week apart from Manchester United vs Newcastle United include : Arsenal vs West Brom, Bolton Wanderers vs Stoke, Everton vs Blackburn Rovers, Hull City vs Fulham, Middlesbrough vs Tottenham Hotspurs, West Ham vs Wigan Athletic, Aston Villa vs Manchester City, Sunderland vs Liverpool and Chelsea vs Portsmouth.

Manchester United tickets, Chelsea tickets, Liverpool tickets and Arsenal tickets are available here.

Find out the latest odds and betting lines for the English Premier League by clicking here.