Alan Smith equalised for United with a header from a corner kick, but Craig Beattie scored the winner for Celtic after Roy Keane lost possession.

After returning to England, United played in the Vodafone Cup at Old Trafford, a four-team tournament featuring PSV, Boca Juniors and Urawa Red Diamonds.

[3] Two days after the league campaign started, United played their final friendly, a trip to Lancashire rivals Burnley for Stan Ternent's testimonial.

Alan Smith lashed in United's equaliser, but within three minutes Reyes drove home a fierce left-foot shot to restore Arsenal's lead.

Summer signing Alan Smith headed wide from a good chance and Ryan Giggs missed a similar opportunity with 10 minutes left as Chelsea hung on.

Ruud van Nistelrooy's penalty three minutes before the interval ensured the Red Devils won consecutive FA Premier League matches for the first time in the 2004–05 season, went up to fifth in the table, and ended Spurs' unbeaten run.

Robbie Keane made a superb block to deny Mikaël Silvestre, and Paul Robinson saved a David Bellion header as United pushed for a second.

But Van Nistelrooy scored from the spot after Shay Given fouled Paul Scholes and then Rooney slotted home from close range to seal victory.

Following a 2–0 win over Charlton Athletic, in which veterans Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes scored, United travelled to The Hawthorns to face West Bromwich Albion on 27 November.

Danny Granville poked in an effort to equalise before United's Alan Smith and rival Joonas Kolkka traded headers to leave the match poised at 2-2.

Dennis Bergkamp restored Arsenal's lead before two goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and a John O'Shea chip ended the Gunners' long unbeaten home record.

Wayne Rooney met Gary Neville's cross to the near post with a low shot, which went in via a deflection off Richard Dunne, to put United ahead.

Following a 2–1 home win over Portsmouth, with Wayne Rooney scoring a brace, United travelled to Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace in the next game, played on 5 March.

Rooney and Mikaël Silvestre, who had a header cleared off the line by Morten Gamst Pedersen, also brought fine saves from Blackburn keeper Brad Friedel.

Debutant keeper Stephan Andersen made a wonder save to deny Alan Smith, but the Dane then spilled a Wayne Rooney shot, allowing Paul Scholes to fire home.

Talal El Karkouri's mistake allowed Smith to add a third, with a Rooney flick sealing a fine win, while late on Charlton's Chris Perry was sent off.

Tiago produced a wonderful equaliser, surprising Roy Carroll with an arcing shot, while his pass set up Eiður Guðjohnsen, who dinked in the second.

Van Nistelrooy pounced to nod home an Alan Smith cross to put United ahead and results elsewhere ensured the Saints finished bottom of the division.

The draw for the FA Cup third round took place on 9 December 2004, and Manchester United were given a home tie with Conference National side Exeter City.

United wasted a host of chances to make it safe as Jones made some great saves, but Wayne Rooney put the tie beyond doubt late on with a cool finish.

United controlled almost the entire match, but were left empty-handed after Wayne Rooney hit the post and Freddie Ljungberg deflected Van Nistelrooy's header on to the bar.

Alex Ferguson made wholesale changes from the side that beat Arsenal on 24 October and Alan Smith took just ten minutes to coolly slot the visitors in front.

But Liam Miller converted David Bellion's pass, Stephen Foster put the ball into his own net and United easily held on to ease into the next round.

Lyon were in command at half-time, with United goalkeeper Tim Howard gifting them the lead after 34 minutes by dropping Juninho's free-kick for Cris to score.

Ruud van Nistelrooy broke Denis Law's record of 29 European goals for United with a flying header before levelling from close range on the hour.

Marcio Nobre and Tuncay twice reduced the deficit for the Turkish side, but late goals from Van Nistelrooy and David Bellion made sure of the result.

In Sir Alex Ferguson's 1,000th match in charge of the club, United hosted Lyon on matchday 5, with Gary Neville opening the scoring with his second career goal in Europe inside 20 minutes.

Mahamadou Diarra equalised for the visitors shortly before the break, but an eighth goal of the group stage for Van Nistelrooy secured victory and qualification for the knockout phase.

[6] Van Nistelrooy's tally equalled a Champions League group stage record set two years earlier by Hernán Crespo and Filippo Inzaghi.

[7] United were top of the group going into their final match at Fenerbahçe, but with qualification assured, Ferguson chose to play a second-string team, with centre-back Gerard Piqué making his European debut off the bench in the second half.