United reclaim title after three-year lapse

After having to settle for final positions of runners-up, once, and third place, twice, Manchester United returned to the highest step on the podium as they claimed their ninth Premier League crown and 16th overall in 2007.

Alex Ferguson's United dominated the championship from the off and there were only two short periods when they did not occupy top spot - first by Portsmouth (seven days in September) and once by Chelsea (a week in September).

By winning the 2007 league, United denied Chelsea a third consecutive title - a feat that belongs to the Mancunians only - from 1999 to 2001.

United winger Ryan Giggs surpassed Alan Hansen and Phil Neal by winning his ninth championship winners' medal. The Liverpool duo won eight during their career.

Ferguson's team secured the title with two matches still to play as United made sure when Chelsea failed to beat Arsenal at the latter's brand new Emirates Stadium, leaving United with an uncatchable seven-point lead at the top.

Transfers

Arsenal: Rosicky from B. Dortmund, Gallas from Chelsea; Pires to Villarreal.

Aston Villa: Petrov from Celtic, Carew from Lyon; Baros to Lyon.

Blackburn: Roberts from Wigan, McCarthy from Porto; Neill to West Ham.

Bolton: Fortune from Manchester United; Anelka from Fenerbahce; N'Gotty to Birmingham.

Charlton: Reid from Tottenham; Walton from Leeds; Euell to Middlesbrough.

Chelsea: Ballack from Bayern Munich, Cole from Arsenal; Gudjohnsen to Barcelona.

Everton: Lescott from Wolves, Johnson from C. Palace; Kilbane to Wigan.

Fulham: Bullard from Wigan, Queudrue from Middlesbrough; Boa Morte to West Ham.

Liverpool: Arbeloa from Deportivo, Aurelio from Valencia; Morientes to Valencia.

Manchester City: Hart from Shrewsbury, Isaksson from Stade Rennes; James to Portsmouth.

Manchester United: Carrick from Tottenham, Kuszczak from West Bromwich.

Middlesbrough: Arca from Sunderland, Woodgate from Real Madrid; Parlour to Hull.

Newcastle: Duff from Chelsea, Martins from Inter; Boumsong to Juventus.

Portsmouth: Campbell from Arsenal, Kranjcar from

Hajduk Split; Viafara to Southampton.

Reading: K-Hyeon from Wolves, Halford from Colchester; Makin to Southampton.

Sheffield United: Davies from Preston, Kilgallon from Leeds; Akinbiyi to Burnley.

Tottenham: Berbatov from B. Leverkusen, Malbranque from Fulham; Mido to Roma.

Watford: Francis from Wigan, Williams from Leicester; O'Cearuill to Arsenal.

West Ham: Mears from Preston, Bowyer from Newcastle; Bywater to Derby.

Wigan: Hall from C. Palace, Heskey from Birmingham; Teale to Cardiff.

Statistics

- Throughout the 2006-07 campaign only three players registered hat-tricks in the Premier League − Didier Drogba (Chelsea), Wayne Rooney (Manchester United) and Peter Crouch (Liverpool).

- In October 22, Manchester United took over from Chelsea at the summit and remained there till the end of the season.

- Watford, who were at rock bottom as early as September, returned to this dire position in March and on April 21 they were relegated.

- Manchester United's Alex Ferguson won the managerial award on three occasions − August, October and February. The two non-British bosses to grab the prize were Jose Mourinho and Rafa Benitez. On the players' side, United won the honour on five occasions − Ryan Giggs twice, Paul Scholes and Cristiano Ronaldo twice.

- Incredibly, Manchester United registered 12 doubles throughout the championship but Arsenal and West Ham defeated the Red Devils at home and away.

- Blackburn had six players dismissed, while Liverpool were the only side not to have a single player red-carded.

Individual Awards

PFA Player of the Year: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United).

PFA Young Player of the Year: Ronaldo.

Football Writers Footballer of the Year: Ronaldo.

Manager of the Year: Alex Ferguson (Manchester United).