Source: Daily_Mail
The defining moments of the Premier League season
DECEMBER 26 2008
STOKE CITY 0-1 MAN UTD
United return from the Club World Cup with Liverpool and Chelsea having dropped points in their absence. They look flat until Carlos Tevez scores with seven minutes left and puts them back on track.
JANUARY 9 2009
STOKE CITY 0-0 LIVERPOOL
The day before the game, Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez launches an astonishing attack on Sir Alex Ferguson. He needs his team to back it up with a win. They don't.
JANUARY 11 2009
MAN UTD 3-0 CHELSEA
And two days after Benitez's outburst, Ferguson picks perhaps the most surprising team of the league season, with Fletcher, Giggs and Park included. It proves to be the right call as United walk it and a month later Chelsea coach Luiz Felipe Scolari is sacked.
FEBRUARY 22 2009
LIVERPOOL 1-1 MAN CITY
Liverpool have been wobbling and this result caps a sequence of costly home failures. For all Liverpool's big-game victories during the season, City are added to a list of teams including Stoke, Fulham, West Ham, Hull and Everton who have all taken points away from Anfield.
MARCH 14 2009
MAN UTD 1-4 LIVERPOOL
The day that momentarily wakes up the title race. Liverpool unexpectedly storm Old Trafford and leave United embarrassed and - seemingly - in denial. A week later at Fulham, Ferguson's team lose 2-0 and have Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney sent off. It's game on, for a while at least.
APRIL 5 2009
MAN UTD 3-2 ASTON VILLA
Perhaps the most important 12 minutes of the season. With 81 minutes gone, United are heading for defeat before Ronaldo drags them level and then - three minutes intoadded time - 17-year-old Italian substitute Federico Macheda scores a sublime winner.
Probably the season's biggest moment: Federico Macheda celebrates his memorable last-gasp winner for United against Aston Villa
APRIL 21 2009
LIVERPOOL 4-4 ARSENAL
With United looking a bit shaky, Liverpool have the bit between their teeth and outplay an under-strength Arsenal at Anfield. But the Gunners' Andrey Arshavin scores four goals. In the end, Liverpool grab a point in added time. Advantage United. Again.
APRIL 25 2009
MAN UTD 5-2 TOTTENHAM
A controversial penalty awarded by Howard Webb changes the direction of this game and the title race. United are two down at the break but in the second half Webb gives the hosts the spot kick and that is the catalyst for a great revival.
MAY 13 2009
WIGAN 1-2 MAN UTD
After winning the Manchester derby the previous Sunday, United need just four points for the title. They go behind, however, and look rattled before super-sub Tevez backheels the equaliser minutes after coming on. Michael Carrick hits the winnersix minutes from the end.
AND AFTER ALL THAT, UNITED NEED JUST A POINT AT HOME TO ARSENAL TODAY TO WIN THEIR 18TH LEAGUE TITLE ...
