How the Premier League 2007/08 was won

August 15 2007: Cristiano Ronaldo is sent off at Portsmouth as Manchester United get off to an inauspicious start to the season. They score only one goal and pick up two points from their first three games: draws against Reading and Portsmouth, and a 1-0 defeat at neighbours Manchester City Photograph: Carl De Souza/Getty

August 19 2007: Fernando Torres scores his first goal for Liverpool as they draw 1-1 with Chelsea at Anfield, part of a promising opening month for Rafa Benitez's men that brings victories against Aston Villa, Sunderland and Derby Photograph: Phil Cole/Getty

September 2 2007: Jose Mourinho's position comes under severe pressure at Chelsea, and his fate appears sealed when owner Roman Abramovich leaves the ground midway through the team's 2-0 defeat at Aston Villa. Draws at home to Blackburn and Rosenborg prove the final straw and Jose gets his cards. Photograph: Matt Cardy/Getty

September 15 2007: Unfancied Arsenal are making a strong start to the season, and Emmanuel Adebayor's spectacular brace gives them a 3-1 victory in the North London derby at White Hart Lane.
1. Arsenal 5 13
2. Man City 6 12
3. Liverpool 5 11 Photograph: Tony O'Brien/Action Images

September 23 2007: Mourinho's surprise replacement at Chelsea is the former Israel manager Avram Grant. His first league game in charge is a 2-0 reverse at Manchester United, who are in the middle of an eight-game winning streak. Photograph: John Peters/Getty

October 27 2007: Didier Drogba is among the scorers as Chelsea put six past early high-fliers Manchester City at Stamford Bridge. The result is a boost for new boss Avram Grant and helps Chelsea remain in touch with the leaders.
1. Arsenal 10 26
2. Man Utd 11 26
3. Man City 11 22
4. Chelsea 11 21 Photograph: Clive Rose/Getty

October 28 2007: Cesc Fabregas' late strike underlines Arsenal's growing resilience as they snatch a 1-1 draw at Anfield. Seven straight wins prior to this match have taken them top of the table, a position they occupy until December. Photograph: Paul Gilham/Getty

November 3 2007: Arsenal refuse to surrender their place at the summit as captain William Gallas pops up with a last-minute equaliser against Manchester United at the Emirates. The 2-2 draw ends United's winning streak and preserves Arsenal's unbeaten record. Photograph: M Peters/Getty

January 30 2008: Mark Noble's penalty gives West Ham a 1-0 victory over Liverpool. It follows a miserable run of four successive draws that ruins the Anfield side's title hopes and leaves them struggling to secure a Champions League spot. Photograph: Julian Finney/Getty

February 2 2008: After losing 2-1 at West Ham in December, Manchester United have won four in a row when they arrive at White Hart Lane. Deep into injury-time they still trail to Dimitar Berbatov's first-half strike, before Carlos Tevez rescues them with a vital equaliser at the death.
1. Arsenal 25 60
2. Man Utd 25 58
3. Chelsea 25 54
4. Everton 25 44 Photograph: Richard Heathcote/Getty

Feb 10th 2008: The 50th anniversary of the Munich air disaster proves an emotional day for all of Manchester. Disappointingly, United are unable to mark their Remembrance day with an appropriate performance, losing 2-1 as City claim their first victory at Old Trafford since 1974, thanks to goals from Darius Vassell and Benjani. Photograph: Alex Livesey/Getty

February 11 2008: Cesc Fabregas salutes Arsenal's 2-0 victory over Blackburn at the Emirates. The win leaves Arsenal five points clear of United, with an identical goal difference, and is as good as it gets for Gunners fans this season.
1. Arsenal 26 63 (+36)
2. Man Utd 26 58 (+36) Photograph: Clive Mason/Getty

February 23 2008: Arsenal's season begins to implode during their 2-2 draw with Birmingham. Eduardo suffers a horrific leg-break, then Gael Clichy's moment of madness results in a last-minute penalty which gifts Birmingham a point. Few will forget the histrionics of William Gallas at the final whistle, or Arsene Wenger's ill-judged comments on the tackle that led to Eduardo's injury, which he later retracted.
1. Arsenal 27 64
2. Man Utd 27 61
3. Chelsea 26 55 Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Guardian

March 19 2008: With Arsenal slipping down the table, Chelsea slowly gain ground on the top two. However, their challenge appears sunk when they allow Tottenham to come back from 3-1 and 4-3 down to snatch a dramatic draw at White Hart Lane. The result leaves Chelsea five points behind leaders Manchester United, who win 2-0 at home to Bolton.
1. Man Utd 30 70
2. Arsenal 30 67
3. Chelsea 30 65 Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty

March 23 2008: After a disappointing season disrupted by injury and the African Cup of Nations, Didier Drogba finally comes good for Chelsea. His double enables them to come from behind to beat Arsenal 2-1 and rejoin the title race as realistic contenders. The defeat caps a poor run for Arsenal, who have drawn three times in succession since the Birmingham debacle.
1. Man Utd 31 73
2. Chelsea 31 68
3. Arsenal 31 67 Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty

March 30 2008: Roy Carroll cuts a dejected figure as Derby draw 2-2 with Fulham at Pride Park, in the process becoming the first Premier League team in history to be relegated in March. They have 11 points.
17. B'ham 32 30
18. Bolton 32 26
19. Fulham 32 24
20. Derby 32 11 Photograph: Laurence Griffiths/Getty

April 13 2008: Owen Hargreaves' free-kick decides an end-to-end game at Old Trafford as United come from behind to beat Arsenal 2-1. The result all but ends the Gunners' title hopes.
1. Man Utd 34 80
2. Chelsea 33 74
3. Arsenal 34 71 Photograph: Ian Brunskill/Getty

April 13 2008: Arsene Wenger is understandably devastated by the defeat, which comes just four days after Arsenal were eliminated from the Champions League, at the quarter-final stage, by Liverpool. Photograph: Matthew Peters/Getty

April 14 2008: The title race appears to be over when Emile Heskey punishes a complacent and profligate Chelsea with a last-minute equaliser at Stamford Bridge. The result leaves Chelsea five points behind United and facing the ignominy of seeing their northern rivals lifting the Premier League trophy at Stamford Bridge.
1. Man Utd 34 80
2. Chelsea 34 75
3. Arsenal 34 71 Photograph: Clive Mason/Getty

April 19 2008: United appear determined to do things the hard way, and trail a spirited Blackburn side 1-0 at Ewood Park with time running out. After a string of saves from the Blackburn keeper Brad Friedel, Carlos Tevez rides to the rescue with an acrobatic header that rescues a crucial point, enabling United keep their three-point advantage. Michael Essien had pounced to give Chelsea a 1-0 victory at Everton two days previously.
1. Man Utd 35 81
2. Chelsea 35 78 Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP

April 26 2008: United arrive at Stamford Bridge with a three-point lead, knowing that victory will secure the title. With the cushion of a vastly superior goal difference, Sir Alex Ferguson gambles ahead of the Champions League semi-final second leg by leaving Ronaldo on the bench. Michael Ballack's late penalty gives Chelsea a 2-1 win and ensures the title race will continue for at least another week.
1. Man Utd 36 81 (+53)
2. Chelsea 36 81 (+37) Photograph: Tom Jenkins/Guardian

April 26 2008: It is clear what the victory means to Avram Grant, who is gradually beginning to prove to a sceptical public that he can inspire his side to victory in big games. The win brings Chelsea level on points with United with two games to play. Photograph: Mike Hewitt/Getty

May 3 2008: Cristiano Ronaldo scores a brace against West Ham, his 39th and 40th goals of a remarkable season, to help United to a 4-1 win and put the pressure right back on Chelsea ahead of their fixture at Newcastle.
1. Man Utd 37 84 (+56)
2. Chelsea 36 81 (+37) Photograph: Clive Mason/Getty

May 5 2008: The increasingly influential Michael Ballack settles the nerves for Chelsea at St James' Park after Michael Owen had gone close for Newcastle. Florent Malouda wraps up a 2-0 victory, meaning the title will be decided on the final weekend for the first time since United held off Arsenal in 1998-99.
1. Man Utd 37 84 (+56)
2. Chelsea 36 84 (+39) Photograph: Andrew Yates/Getty

May 11 2008: Cristiano Ronaldo scores from the penalty spot to give Man Utd the lead at Wigan. Ryan Giggs later adds a second to secure the win and the title. Chelsea draw 1-1 at home to Bolton as John Terry dislocates his elbow.
1. Man Utd 38 87 (+58)
2. Chelsea 38 85 (+39) Photograph: Alex Livesey/Getty

May 11 2008: Manchester United celebrate being crowned champions. Photograph: Alex Livesey/Getty