#3 Manchester United – 2003-2004
The race for the title was a three-way tie for most of the season before Arsenal and Arsene Wenger peeled off to the finish towards the end. However, with Manchester United starting off their season brilliantly winning seven and drawing once in their first ten games as they beat Leicester City on the back of a Van Nistelrooy hat trick, the race was a tough one to call.
The Red Devils continued their good form – thanks in part to the goal-scoring form of both Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Ryan Giggs and partly to the host of new signings – winning all bar one game against Chelsea until the end of December. This included a 2-1 over Liverpool in November, a 3-1 over Manchester City in December and a 3-2 against Everton on Boxing day, with goals from new signings Kleberson and Bellion sealing the game.
However, it was a horror show in 2004 with the Old Trafford club losing six times including losses to the Wolves, Blackburn Rovers, and a humbling 4-1 derby defeat and drawing a further five games, including 1-1 draws to Arsenal, Chelsea, and Fulham, which saw the title slip from their grasp.
Who would have thought that a host of summer signings including the likes of Eric Djemba-Djemba, David Bellion and even an unknown Portuguese winger called Cristiano Ronaldo wouldn’t have been enough to seal the deal?
