1. Signing Carlos Tevez, Nani, Anderson and Owen Hargreaves

United committed a projected £67.9 million to sign this quartet of players and it has proven to be sound business. Eyebrows were raised about the potential £17.3 million and £20.4 million Sir Alex Ferguson shelled out on Nani and Anderson respectively, but the young Portuguese and Brazilian have been revelations in their first season. Tevez’s knack of scoring vital late goals was invaluable.

2. The Poor start

After being held to draws by Reading and Portsmouth and losing to Manchester City, their derby rivals, in their first three league games of the season, questions were asked about whether Ferguson had missed a trick by not signing an out-and-out striker. United duly finished the season as the league’s top scorers.

3. Ronaldo's sending-off against Portsmouth

The Portugal winger was dismissed for headbutting Richard Hughes during United’s 1-1 draw at Fratton Park and subsequently banned for three matches. Whether the suspension galvanised him or not, he came back with an almighty bang. Watch it again here

4. Chelsea turmoil

United could not have asked to play Chelsea at a better time than September. Their 2-0 victory at Old Trafford was Avram Grant’s first game in charge with the Chelsea players clearly still in shock at the departure of Jose Mourinho as manager. Watch it again here

5. Ferdinand and Vidic

After losing to City, United won six of seven domestic and European matches by 1-0 scorelines. With goals hard to come by in those early stages of the season, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic’s seemingly impregnable partnership in central defence was essential and remained so for the course of the season.

6. Slaying the Scousers

United faced two testing games away to Liverpool and at home to Everton in the space of a week before Christmas and emerged bearing six points. Tevez’s strike was enough to see off Liverpool while a late winner from Cristiano Ronaldo earned United a vital 2-1 win against Everton. Watch it again here

7. Stuffing Newcastle United home and away

Not content with hammering Newcastle 6-0 at Old Trafford in January, United visited Tyneside the following month and gave them a battering in a 5-1 win. If any games encapsulated the swashbuckling side of United this season, it was these two. Watch it again here

8. That free-kick

Portsmouth, and David James, did not know what hit them when Ronaldo scored twice in the space of three minutes at Old Trafford, but it was a breathtaking free-kick that lived long in the memory and remains a strong contender for goal of the season. Watch it again here

9. Tevez thwarts Tottenham

The Argentina forward made a handsome habit of scoring at critical times and few goals were as important as his stoppage time one against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane. The goal earned United a 1-1 draw and vital point. Watch it again here

10. 50th anniversary of the Munich air disaster

There were widespread fears that Manchester City fans might ruin the minute’s silence to commemorate the air disaster but the event passed off peacefully. They may have lost at home and away to City, but several of United’s players have admitted that the desire to mark the 50th anniversary of Munich with silverware spurred them to even greater heights. Watch it again here

11. Nani's showboating against Arsenal

The silky Portuguese winger even drew a rebuke from Ferguson for his juggling act in the 4-0 FA Cup win against Arsenal at Old Trafford, but if ever a moment summed up the impudent brilliance of this United team it was that. Watch it again here

12. Ben Foster's heroics against Derby

It was the young goalkeeper’s debut for United but did he seem fazed? Not one bit, producing a string of fine saves to keep a surprisingly impressive Derby team at bay, but Ronaldo scored the decisive goal. Watch it again here

13. Ronaldo beats Best's record

Ronaldo equalled and then surpassed George Best’s record of 32 goals in a season for a winger with a brace in the 2-0 win against Bolton Wanderers at Old Trafford in March. A new legend was born. Watch it again here

14. Mascherano's sending-off

United were already ahead and comfortably the better team than Liverpool when Javier Mascherano lost his head and was duly given his marching orders. But it might have been a lot closer than 3-0 had the Argentina midfield player still been on the pitch in the second half. Watch it again here

15. Rooney's intervention at The Riverside

United trailed 2-1 to Middlesbrough when, with 16 minutes remaining, Wayne Rooney added to Ronaldo's opener to earn a precious point. Watch it again here

16. Hargreaves's free-kick against Arsenal

A minute or so after Arsenal missed a glorious chance to take the lead, Owen Hargreaves stepped up to curl a stunning free-kick into the corner and secure all three points. Watch it again here

17. Emile Heskey's Chelsea sucker punch

Just when Avram Grant looked like he had got away with his dodgy team selection, Heskey stepped up to score a dramatic equaliser in the fifth minute of stoppage time. The two points dropped handed United the initiative and would be essential in the final reckoning. Watch it again here

18. Tevez denies Blackburn

Of all the decisive late goals Tevez has scored this season, none was probably as important as his 88th minute strike against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park. In many respects it was the goal that won United the title. Watch it again here

19. Ronaldo's 40th

The Portugal winger notched up his 40th goal of a remarkable season in the 4-1 win against West Ham United at Old Trafford. Watch it again here

20. Golden oldies Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes

Giggs equalled Sir Bobby Charlton’s record of 758 appearances for the club in the final league game of the season against Wigan Athletic at the JJB Stadium. Scholes was another who proved that age is nothing but a number and time and again was the hub of United’s midfield.