August 31st: Sunderland 1 Manchester Utd 1 The dismissal of Roy Keane for elbowing Jason McAteer in the head overshadowed the uncharacteristic loss of two points to a team now rated as the worst the Premiership has ever seen.

United were in command when Ryan Giggs slotted home the opener but the visitors were pegged back by Tore Andre Flo and Keane's late folly compounded their disappointment.

Games played: 3; points: 5; position: 9th.

September 14th: Leeds 1 Manchester Utd 0

The highlight of Leeds' sorry season marked a low point in United's campaign - in terms of league position at least - as their stuttering start continued. Harry Kewell's first-half winner sparked talk of an Old Trafford crisis.

Games played: 6, points: 8; position: 9th.

October 7th: Manchester United 3 Everton 0

United's mini-recovery looked like coming to an abrupt halt as they struggled to break down a solid defence. With three minutes remaining, they were still searching for an opener but Paul Scholes inspired a late goal-blitz, scoring twice with Ruud van Nistelrooy also slamming home a penalty which gave the home side a vital victory.

Games played: 9; points: 17; position: 4th.

November 9th: Manchester City 3 Manchester United 1.

A blue day all round for United as they slumped to their first derby defeat since 1989. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had provided some hope with a first-half equaliser after Nicolas Anelka had put City in front but Gary Neville's horrendous blunder gifted Shaun Goater his first and the Bermudan added another after the interval.

Games played: 13; points: 22; position 5th.

November 23rd: Manchester United 5 Newcastle United 3.

Ruud van Nistelrooy grabbed the headlines in an amazing game at Old Trafford with a hat-trick of tap-ins which gave United their win. Paul Scholes was also on target for the home side, who responded well after Olivier Bernard had fluked an equaliser and strike duo Alan Shearer and Craig Bellamy had also found the net.

Games played: 15; points: 26; position: 5th.

December 1st: Liverpool 1 Manchester United 2.

Diego Forlan etched his place in United history with the brace which beat Liverpool at Anfield. Jerzy Dudek's horrific blunder gifted Forlan his first and the Uruguayan smashed home his second just past the hour to ensure Sami Hyypia's late effort was no more than consolation.

Games played: 16, points: 29; position 4th.

December 7th: Manchester United 2 Arsenal 0

A game United had to win if they were to stand any chance of overhauling the defending champions and league leaders. Without Keane, Beckham, Ferdinand and Butt, Phil Neville produced a heroic display, marking Patrick Vieira out of the game. Paul Scholes set up Juan Sebastian Veron for the opener, then scored the second himself as the Red Devils closed to within three points of their opponents.

Games played: 17, points: 32: position: 3rd.

January 1st: Manchester United 2 Sunderland 1.

Successive defeats over the Christmas period had undermined the Old Trafford challenge and as they struggled to overcome a side given a shock lead by Veron's bizarre own goal, a third successive reverse was on the cards. But Beckham brilliantly beat Jurgen Macho with an inspired chip 10 minutes from time before Mikael Silvestre nodded back a far post cross from Veron which allowed Scholes to head home a last-gasp winner.

Games played: 22; points: 41; position: 2nd.

January 18th: Manchester United 2 Chelsea 1

The two major contenders slugged it out at Old Trafford and looked to be heading for a draw as the game entered its final stages. Scholes had levelled Eidur Gudjohnsen's opening strike but with the Gunners starting to smile, Veron fed Forlan, who smashed home a priceless winner.

Games played: 24; points: 47; position: 2.

March 22nd: Bolton Wanderers 1 Manchester United 1

It was Solskjaer who came up with the last-minute points-saver this time after Bruno N'Gotty had put the Trotters in front but with the seconds ticking down up popped the Norwegian who preserved an unbeaten run which now stretched to eight games.

Games played :28; points: 55; position: 2nd.

April 5th: Manchester Utd 4 Liverpool 0.

The start of what Ferguson dubbed the "make or break" stage of the season could not have been more comfortable for the Red Devils. Sami Hyypia's fourth-minute dismissal gave van Nistelrooy the first of his two penalty opportunities, with Ryan Giggs and Solskjaer also finding the net.

Games played: 32; points: 70; position: 2nd.

April 12th: Newcastle United 2 Manchester United 6.

United effortlessly swept Newcastle aside at St James' Park. After slipping behind to Jermaine Jenas' early effort, the visitors responded with six-goal blitz in an amazing half-hour either side of half-time with Solskjaer, Giggs and van Nistelrooy all hitting the target and Scholes smashing home a hat-trick. It took United to the top for the first time.

Games played: 33; points: 73; position 1st

April 16th: Arsenal 2 Manchester United 2.

The match billed as the title decider actually proved nothing as van Nistelrooy's brilliant opener and a Giggs header were cancelled out by a controversial double from Thierry Henry. What the result did was throw the onus back onto the remaining fixtures. But while United kept going, Arsenal stumbled at Bolton.

Games played: 34; points: 74; position: 1st

April 27th: Tottenham 0 Manchester United 2.

After watching the Gunners toss away a two-goal lead at Bolton the previous day, United knew a win at White Hart Lane would leave the title destiny firmly in their own hands. It took some time but eventually Scholes got on the end of a Giggs cross to open the visitors' account before van Nistelrooy put his name on the scoresheet again to seal victory in the final minute.

Games played: 36; points: 77; position: 1st.