The 2004–05 season was Manchester United's 13th season in the Premier League, and their 30th consecutive season in the top division of English football.
The season finished trophyless (only their fourth trophyless season in 17 seasons) for United, who finished third in the Premier League with 77 points. The title went to Chelsea, who finished the season with a record 95 points and lost just one game all season, with the previous season's champions Arsenal finishing runners-up.
Their Champions League campaign ended in the first knockout round at Milan, while they were eliminated from the League Cup by Chelsea in the semi-finals. The last chance of silverware was blown by a Paul Scholes penalty miss against Arsenal in a shoot-out after a goalless draw in the 2005 FA Cup Final.
On a more positive note for the club, newly signed 19-year-old striker and leading club goalscorer Wayne Rooney was voted PFA Young Player of the Year.
United also ended Arsenal's record-breaking 49-game unbeaten league run with a 2–0 home win in late October.
Pre-season and friendlies Manchester United played their first pre-season fixture of the 2004–05 season away to Cobh Ramblers. United won 2–1, through goals from Mads Timm and Kenny Cooper.
The Reds then set off to North America for their pre-season tour, taking part in the ChampionsWorld Series. Their first match, played at the Soldier Field in Chicago, United States against Bayern Munich. After a 0–0 draw, the match went to penalties, with Bayern prevailing 4–2 in the shoot-out. United's next game of their pre-season tour was against Celtic at the Lincoln Financial Field. Chris Sutton gave Celtic an early lead with a penalty after Jonathan Spector fouled Stiliyan Petrov. 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 the 2–1 loss against Celtic, United played their final game of the tour against Milan in New York City. Like the Bayern game, the game against Milan ended in a draw, after Andriy Shevchenko cancelled out Paul Scholes' early goal. Penalties were required, with United losing again, this time 9–8. The result meant that Manchester United ended their pre-season tour of the United States without a win.
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. United played against PSV on 3 August 2004, a Mikaël Silvestre goal giving them a 1–0 win. Two days later, United were scheduled to play their final game, against Urawa Red Diamonds, but it was indefinitely postponed due to an electrical storm. Boca Juniors – who were beating PSV 1–0 on the day, before the abandonment of their match – won the tournament on a points system that awarded an extra point for each goal scored, bolstered by their 5–2 win against Urawa Red Diamonds a few days prior.
Two days after the league campaign started, United played their final friendly, a trip to Lancashire rivals Burnley for Stan Ternent's testimonial. Goals from Scholes, Phil Neville and Chris Eagles secured a 3–1 win.
DateOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance18 July 2004Cobh RamblersA2–1Timm 18', Cooper 84'7,00025 July 2004Bayern MunichN0–0(2–4p)58,12128 July 2004CelticN1–2Smith 35'55,42131 July 2004MilanN1–1(8–9p)Scholes 33'74,5113 August 2004PSV EindhovenH1–0Silvestre 26'29,4795 August 2004Urawa Red DiamondsH—Match cancelled due to bad weather17 August 2004BurnleyA3–1Scholes 30', P. Neville 38', Eagles 47'8,814
FA Community Shield
As winners of the 2003–04 FA Cup, Manchester United played in the 2004 FA Community Shield against Arsenal. United lost 3–1. José Antonio Reyes set up Gilberto Silva to tap home the opening goal for the Gunners. Alan Smith lashed in United's equaliser, but within three minutes Reyes drove home a fierce left-foot shot to restore Arsenal's lead. Ashley Cole's cross deflected in off Mikaël Silvestre for Arsenal's winning third goal.
DateOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance8 August 2004ArsenalN1–3Smith 55'63,317
FA Premier League
Manchester United opened their Premier League campaign with an away game against Chelsea on 15 August 2004. United lost 1–0 through an Eiður Guðjohnsen goal in the 14th minute. The Icelandic striker took advantage of a weak challenge by United goalkeeper Tim Howard to scramble home the winner after 14 minutes. It was harsh on Alex Ferguson's depleted side, who enjoyed the majority of possession but could not cash in. 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. This result left United hanging just above the relegation zone in 17th place.
United got their first win of the season with a 2–1 win against Norwich City at Old Trafford. Alan Smith scored the winner in the 49th minute on his home debut for the Red Devils with a volley that added to David Bellion's close-range finish in the 32nd minute that was set up by Smith. Norwich substitute Paul McVeigh pulled a goal back late on when he shot home from 18 yards out but United held on.
After a 1–1 draw against Blackburn Rovers, which saw Smith score a last-minute equaliser, United's next game was a home game against Everton. United hit the post three times in the match. Cristiano Ronaldo hit the upright with a fizzing drive, as did Smith with a similar effort, and Paul Scholes also saw a shot come back off the post. But United were lucky not to concede a penalty when Mikaël Silvestre blatantly used his arm to clear the ball from a lurking Duncan Ferguson. In the first half, Louis Saha missed a great chance when he headed wide. It was the only clear-cut opportunity of the opening 45 minutes, with United lacking the cohesion to break down an Everton side content to sit deep and defend.
A third successive draw occurred for United, as they drew 2–2 with Bolton Wanderers at the Reebok Stadium. United got an equaliser in injury time through David Bellion, with the ball appearing to come off his arm. Before Bellion's dramatic equaliser, United seemed set to lose after a mix-up between Tim Howard and Mikaël Silvestre allowed Les Ferdinand to net. Ferdinand's goal came after Kevin Nolan had equalised for Bolton, heading home after his initial shot was blocked. Gabriel Heinze gave United a first-half lead on his debut, but it was not the perfect start he may have expected. This result left United in 11th place.
On 20 September, United moved up three places in the FA Premier League table to 8th after a 2–1 home win against their rivals, Liverpool. After Cristiano Ronaldo hit the post early on, Mikaël Silvestre gave United the lead, ghosting in at the far post to head home Ryan Giggs' free kick. Liverpool drew level soon after the break when Steve Finnan's header was inadvertently turned in by fellow Irishman John O'Shea. But another header from Silvestre secured three points for United, as the Frenchman powered a header past Jerzy Dudek to complete his brace and give United the win.
Five days later, United travelled to White Hart Lane to face Tottenham Hotspur. 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. Van Nistelrooy, who had a goal ruled out for offside, converted after Erik Edman had fouled John O'Shea. Robbie Keane made a superb block to deny Mikaël Silvestre, and Paul Robinson saved a David Bellion header as United pushed for a second.
After a 1–1 home draw with Middlesbrough, United went up to fourth place in the Premier League table, the first time they had been in the top four in the 2004–05 season. But United went down two places to 6th after a 0–0 draw away to Birmingham City. Steve Bruce's side had chances to win, with United goalkeeper Roy Carroll denying Emile Heskey with his legs either side of the interval. United, with Wayne Rooney on the bench, rarely troubled Birmingham, but Van Nistelrooy missed the game's best opportunity after 36 minutes. He side-footed straight at goalkeeper Maik Taylor from only six yards as he raced on to Quinton Fortune's cross.
United's next game was a home game against Arsenal. United won 2–0. The match, played on 24 October 2004, is known as the Battle of the Buffet, and it ended Arsenal 49-match unbeaten run. Van Nistelrooy got the opener when he stroked in a contentious penalty after Sol Campbell's challenge on Wayne Rooney. Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry had Arsenal's best chances but they were denied by good saves from United keeper Roy Carroll. Rooney slotted in from six yards to complete victory on his 19th birthday. The win helped United reduce the gap on Premier League leaders Arsenal to eight points. It also helped Van Nistelrooy avenge the taunts from Arsenal players after he missed a last-minute spot-kick in the corresponding fixture last season. United went up to 5th with this win.
United travelled to Fratton Park to face Portsmouth in their next game. It was a shock 2–0 win for Pompey. United paid the price for failing to convert any of their many chances. United had laid siege to the home side's goal early on but Pompey survived and hit back after the break. David Unsworth put them ahead from the spot after Rio Ferdinand tugged back Ricardo Fuller in the area. Cristiano Ronaldo hit the post with a header as United piled on the pressure but Yakubu finished them off when his shot deflected in off Mikaël Silvestre. It was Pompey's second successive Premier League victory over United at Fratton Park - but it looked unlikely in the early stages.
Manchester United played at home to their rivals Manchester City on 7 November 2004. The game ended 0–0. United were shut out for the second successive Premier League game by a resolute and determined City side, who offered little of an attacking threat. City survived some erratic handling from David James, while Louis Saha spurned United's best chance, heading wide from six yards. United's Alan Smith was sent off for a second bookable offence.
United travelled to St James' Park to face Newcastle United in their next FA Premier League game. Alan Shearer and Patrick Kluivert went close for Newcastle before Wayne Rooney volleyed home Darren Fletcher's cross. Shearer eventually levelled the scores with a superb individual goal after dispossessing Wes Brown. But Van Nistelrooy scored from the spot after Shay Given fouled Paul Scholes and then Rooney slotted home from close range to seal victory. The result left United in seventh place, nine points behind Arsenal and eleven behind Chelsea.
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. The Baggies began confidently, but were rocked by first-half injuries to Darren Moore and Cosmin Contra, forcing Bryan Robson into a double change. United broke through on 53 minutes when Scholes latched onto Giggs' back-heel and lashed home a fierce shot. Van Nistelrooy's close-range header made it 2-0, before Scholes nodded in a third.
A week after the win at The Hawthorns, United welcomed Southampton to Old Trafford. United laboured to break down a stubborn Southampton defence in a goalless first half. But Paul Scholes ended the resistance by heading home from close range early in the second half. Wayne Rooney then finished emphatically from Ryan Giggs' pass before Cristiano Ronaldo volleyed the third. With the win over the Saints, United got a fourth consecutive victory in the FA Premier League.