Ferguson targets league title number 19 for Manchester United (Extra)

By Ben James May 16, 2009, 14:48 GMT

London - No sooner had Manchester United clinched their third straight English Premier League title on Saturday, their manager Sir Alex Ferguson was setting his sights on more.

United's 0-0 draw with Arsenal gave them an unassailable seven-point lead over Liverpool at the top and gave both Ferguson and winger Ryan Giggs their 11th league crown.

It also sealed United's 18th league title in all, equalling the record held for so long by Liverpool, whose last triumph came back in 1990.

When Ferguson arrived at Old Trafford back in 1986, he famously said that he wanted to 'knock Liverpool off their f......g perch'.

And with the celebrations of title number 18 still ringing in his ears, Ferguson admitted that breaking the record would be something special.

'It'll make it more special to get in front of them. It's a young team and next year we're going to go for it again.'

Liverpool had dominated English football in the 1970s and 1980s in much the same way that United have in the 1990s and 2000s.

Reaching the same mark as them, and having the chance to surpass them, was always his aim, Ferguson admitted.

'That was the target because they were the greatest side in the league at that moment,' he said.

'We built up slowly - but I never thought we would get to 18.'

A much-improved Liverpool side have pushed United hard this season and Ferguson said getting to 19 would not be easy.

'They won here 4-1, which was a travesty of a result - they scored four goals from long kicks - but they got great impetus from that.

'We didn't recover - we lost the next game. That gave Liverpool the scent, they took the scent, and credit to them.'

At 67, Ferguson said he has no intentions to retire, just yet and even admitted he could stay on for another five years.

'I'm not contemplating (retirement),' he said. 'I'll stay as manager. My health will tell me when it's time to quit.'