The downfall of David Moyes at Manchester United – in pictures

1 September United suffer their first defeat under David Moyes as Daniel Sturridge gives Liverpool a 1-0 victory at Anfield. Wayne Rooney misses the game after being kicked in the head by Phil Jones in training Photograph: Alex Livesey/Getty Images

13 September A disastrous transfer season sees Moyes sign Marouanne Fellaini for £27.5m – £4.5 more than his buyout clause – after unsucessfully trying to sign Cesc Fàbregas, Ander Herrera, Leighton Bains and Fábio Coentrão Photograph: Andrew Yates/AFP/Getty Images

22 September Hammered 4-1 at Manchester City. This time Robin van Persie is absent with a thigh injury Photograph: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

28 September United lose 2-1 at home to West Brom, ending the Baggies' 35-year wait for an Old Trafford victory Photograph: Alex Livesey/Getty Images

19 October Concede last-minute Adam Lallana equaliser against Southampton at Old Trafford Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA Archive/Press Association Images

4 December Bryan Oviedo scores four minutes from time as Moyes' former club Everton end their 21-year wait for an away win over United Photograph: Michael Regan/Getty Images

6 December Rio Ferdinand criticises Moyes' policy of leaving it late to pick his teams, telling BT Sport: "It turns you into a madman" Photograph: Michael Regan/Getty Images

7 December Yohan Cabaye gets the only goal as Newcastle win at Old Trafford for the first time since 1972 Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA Wire/Press Association Images

10 December Van Persie suffers a thigh injury taking a corner against Shakhtar Donetsk and is ruled out for seven weeks Photograph: Dave Thompson/PA Wire/Press Association Images

1 January Rooney plays in the defeat by Tottenham but is then ruled out for four weeks with a groin injury Photograph: Matthew Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images

5 January Swansea win at Old Trafford for the first time as Wilfried Bony's late goal sends United out of the FA Cup at the third-round stage for only the second time in 30 years Photograph: Alex Livesey/Getty Images

7 January Defeat in Capital One Cup semi-final, first leg at Sunderland means a third straight loss for the first time since May 2001 Photograph: Michael Regan/Getty Images

19 January Captain Nemanja Vidic is sent off as United crash to defeat at Chelsea Photograph: Tony O'Brien/Action Images

22 January United beat Sunderland 2-1 in the Capital One Cup semi-final return leg but come off worst in the penalty shoot-out with only Darren Fletcher scoring from their five kicks Photograph: John Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images

1 February Stoke end their long wait for a win against United. Charlie Adam's double gives them their first since 1984 Photograph: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images

7 February Vidic says he will leave at the end of the season Photograph: Matthew Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images

9 February United lead bottom side Fulham at Old Trafford, but Darren Bent's stoppage-time equaliser ensures a 2-2 draw. Moyes describes the result as being 'as bad as it gets' Photograph: Michael Regan/Getty Images

25 February A poor performance in the Champions League last 16 sees United beaten 2-0 at Olympiakos. Photograph: John Berry/Getty Images

16 March Two Steven Gerrard penalties and a Luis Suárez strike earn Liverpool a crushing 3-0 win at Old Trafford while Gerrard also hits the post with another penalty. Photograph: Alex Livesey/Getty Images

25 March United lose 3-0 as Manchester City do the double over them. The result ensured United are guaranteed to end the season with their lowest points total in Premier League history Photograph: Alex Livesey/Getty Images

During the match, a fan is ejected from the stadium after abusing David Moyes in the stands Photograph: Peter Powell/EPA

Afterwards, security were forced to stand guard next to Moyes' 'The Chosen One' banner, for fear that fans would tear it down Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images

29 March Four days later, during Manchester United's fixture against Aston Villa, fans pay for a banner reading 'Wrong one – Moyes out' to be flown over Old Trafford Photograph: Alex Livesey/Getty Images

31 March Ryan Giggs appears at a press conference with Moyes after rumours of a rift between the pair Photograph: Jason Cairnduff/Action Images

9 April Despite an encouraging 1-1 draw in the first leg, the Red Devils go down 3-1 to defending champions Bayern Munich in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final at the Allianz Arena Photograph: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

20 April Moyes' return to Goodison Park is turned into a nightmare as Leighton Baines' penalty and a goal from Kevin Mirallas give Everton a 2-0 win, a result which confirms United cannot qualify for the Champions League Photograph: Carl Recine/Action Images

20 April During their 2-0 defeat away at Everton, a Paddy Power publicity stunt proves prescient – two days later, David Moyes is sacked Photograph: Carl Recine/Action Images