Keane played his last game for the club on 18 September 2005 in a goalless draw with Liverpool, but was forced to withdraw from the match only a couple of minutes before full-time.

United responded when Louis Saha threaded a pass to Cristiano Ronaldo who darted into the area before rolling the ball across the face of goal for Ryan Giggs to tap in.

However, before half-time, Antlers restored their lead when Mitsuo Ogasawara's canny flicked pass gave Motoyama the space to fire in a powerful angled volley from eight yards.

Ruud van Nistelrooy went close twice as the visitors dominated for long spells before the Dutch striker slotted in John O'Shea's cross two minutes before the interval.

Ruud van Nistelrooy gave United the lead in first-half injury time, turning home from close range after David James had saved his first effort brilliantly.

United failed to take advantage of their supremacy, with van Nistelrooy and Park Ji-sung missing chances, and Joey Barton struck after 75 minutes, turning home Darius Vassell's effort.

Ruud van Nistelrooy levelled for United when Wayne Rooney's shot proved too hot for Blackburn keeper Brad Friedel, but an error by Paul Scholes gifted the ball to Michael Gray, who set up Pedersen to slam home the winner.

Rooney played in Ruud van Nistelrooy for the Dutch striker to double the lead before a long-range strike from Stephen Elliott pulled a goal back.

After the disastrous 4–1 loss to Middlesbrough, United opened November with a 1–0 victory over Chelsea, ending the defending champions' 40-match unbeaten run in the FA Premier League.

His miss meant United had to live on their nerves as Chelsea desperately sought the equaliser and Edwin van der Sar bravely denied Frank Lampard.

Wright later saved from Alan Smith, Wayne Rooney, Gary Neville, Scholes and Giggs, and van der Sar denied McFadden as Everton hit back on the break.

Wayne Rooney doubled United's lead with a low shot, then hit the bar before making it 3–0 with a chip over Wigan's ex-United 'keeper Mike Pollitt.

The game was played on Boxing Day, and the Red Devils cruised past the lifeless Baggies in a 3–0 victory that cemented United as the second-placed team in the FA Premier League.

Ruud van Nistelrooy's early strike from close range put United in front, but Jamie Clapham equalised with a smart left-foot finish.

United defenders Rio Ferdinand and Wes Brown made superb blocks to deny efforts from Thierry Henry and Gilberto Silva.

Trevor Sinclair put City ahead with a neat turn and shot after Joey Barton's cross was not properly cleared, and a cool Darius Vassell finish made it 2–0.

David Bentley struck after Edwin van der Sar parried Morten Gamst Pedersen's free-kick before Louis Saha equalised with a shot across goal.

The Sunderland keeper made magnificent saves from Cristiano Ronaldo and Ruud van Nistelrooy to leave the hosts six points adrift of leaders Chelsea.

José Mourinho's side needed only a point to put the seal on another title triumph, and William Gallas set them on their way with a fifth-minute header.

Giuseppe Rossi rose high to head home Mikaël Silvestre's cross on 22 minutes, and Richardson drove in powerfully to make it 3–0 shortly after the break.

Kieran Richardson gave United an early lead with a first-time shot after the Wolves central defence failed to deal with Louis Saha's low cross.

Peter Crouch headed home Steve Finnan's cross after 19 minutes to give Rafael Benítez's side a deserved place in the quarter-finals.

Edwin van der Sar had saved brilliantly from Harry Kewell seconds earlier as Liverpool dominated a poor United side.

Saha claimed his second goal - the best of United's three strikes - when he guided a shot past Maik Taylor, before Jiří Jarošík headed in for the Blues.

United took the lead in the first leg almost half an hour into the match, when Louis Saha latched onto Ryan Giggs' pass to powerfully beat Brad Friedel.

United took the lead in the return leg at Old Trafford just eight minutes in when Ruud van Nistelrooy fired in a shot before Steven Reid equalised when he lashed home as both players pounced on defensive mistakes.

United opponents in the final were shock finalists Wigan Athletic, who had just been promoted to the Premier League at the start of the season and beat Arsenal on away goals.

Wayne Rooney fired home a shot on the seven minutes to give United the lead, and then set up second-half goals for Ruud van Nistelrooy and Cristiano Ronaldo, who both finished in style.

Gabriel Heinze's header settled United down after Gary Neville was stretchered off and Debrecen's Zsombor Kerekes and Tamás Sándor had missed good chances.

Simão levelled with another set-piece after the break, but Ruud van Nistelrooy turned home from close range with six minutes to go after Rio Ferdinand headed on Giggs' corner.