Desperate to regain the title, Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson signs England midfielder Michael Carrick for �18.6m

United badly need a good start and Wayne Rooney nets twice as they begin their season with a 5-1 thrashing of Fulham

Wins at Charlton and Watford follow before Ryan Giggs' early goal secures a 1-0 victory against Tottenham

But United suffer a setback when Emmanuel Adebayor's goal gives Arsenal a 1-0 victory at Old Trafford in September

They respond with an unbeaten run, which includes a 4-0 win at Bolton where Wayne Rooney scores a hat-trick

United are three points clear of champions Chelsea at the top after Rooney scores twice in a 2-1 win at Sheffield United

Ricardo Carvalho's equaliser salvages a 1-1 draw for Chelsea at Old Trafford and prevents United from going six points clear

A 3-1 win over Manchester City in December stetches the lead to nine points - Cristiano Ronaldo is among the scorers

But eight days later that lead is down to just two points after a 1-0 defeat against struggling West Ham at Upton Park

Ferguson signs Swedish star Henrik Larsson, 35, on a three-month loan deal during the January transfer window

Larsson plays an important role in United's season, scoring his first Premiership goal in a 4-0 win against Watford

United go six points clear after starting February with another 4-0 win, this time at Spurs where John O'Shea ends up in goal

Ronaldo's brilliant late goal clinches a hugely important win at Fulham that extends United's lead at the top to nine points

The title race is blown wide open when Rio Ferdinand's farcical own goal at Portsmouth helps condemn United to a 2-1 defeat

And the tide seems to be turning against United when they draw 1-1 at home to Middlesbrough with Chelsea closing in

But 28 April is a crucial day; United come from behind to beat Everton 4-2 while Chelsea can only draw at home to Bolton

Ronaldo's penalty secures a 1-0 win at Manchester City and leaves United on the brink of claiming the Premiership crown

And when 10-man Chelsea are held to a draw by Arsenal, Manchester United are confirmed as Premiership champions