In a season of twists and turns arguably none was quite so significant as that executed by a teenage Italian debutant.

Enter Federico Macheda, or 'Federico Who?' as many of the Old Trafford faithful referred to him when he came off the substitutes' bench after an hour for Nani on April 5 with Manchester United trailing 2-1 against Aston Villa and seemingly heading to their third successive league defeat.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored the equaliser but then in the third minute of injury time the ball was played through to Macheda in a crowded penalty area.

A feint, a twist and a magnificent right-foot shot curled into the Villa net to lift Sir Alex Ferguson out of his touchline seat and send him into 'Mad uncle at birthday party' celebration mode.

Every victory brings just three points, of course, but that 3-2 triumph was key. It wrested the title momentum once more after uncharacteristic losses for United, 4-1 at home to Liverpool and 2-0 at Fulham.

For those who remember United's first Premier League title triumph in 1993 it also brought back memories of Steve Bruce's headed winner against Sheffield Wednesday in the sixth minute of injury time which saw an even more animated Ferguson dance a jig on the pitch.

In years to come it will go down as the Macheda moment, although in reality there were so many more reasons why United eventually eased smoothly to their 11th Premier League title.

For one, the goals of Ronaldo, although the best player in the world had a patchy first half of the season, only reaching his sublime best around the Easter period.

For another, the defensive solidity which saw goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar keep a European record 14 clean sheets.

But when historians come to evaluate Ferguson's latest trophy perhaps they will point most of all to the exquisite balance between attack and defence, to the physical presence of Nemanja Vidic, the unsung work of midfielders Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher plus the unselfish work-rate of Wayne Rooney.

They will also measure the strength of the opposition and on that basis this could go down as United's finest triumph.

True, Arsene Wenger's Arsenal were disappointing. They possess talent in abundance, play pretty football but they lack leaders and their defensive shortcomings were exposed. They also miss a midfield enforcer in the mould of Patrick Vieira and Wenger has struggled to replace the consistent goal threat of Thierry Henry. Wenger must break the habit of a lifetime and buy three or four leading players if the club are to challenge for the title anytime soon.

As for Chelsea they will always wonder what might have been if they had been able to acquire the managerial services of Guus Hiddink at the start of the season, rather than after Luis Felipe Scolari had wrought uncertainty and tactical confusion at Stamford Bridge.

Yet it was left to Liverpool to push United in the league and it proved to be the Anfield clubs' best title challenge for 19 years. It might have been even closer if injuries had not prevented Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard from starting together on so many occasions.

Elsewhere, the Premier League saw a constant jockeying for position in one of the tightest competitions for years.

Aston Villa, with Ashley Young and Gabriel Agbonlahor providing pace and goals, flirted with breaking into the Big Four before imploding. Everton manager David Moyes defied an injury jinx which claimed all the club's strikers to prove what determination and organisation can achieve, reaching the FA Cup final.

Roy Hodgson was many people's idea of the manager of the year for his rejuvenation of Fulham, who earned a Europa League place in finishing seventh, while Harry Redknapp worked his magic after taking over a Tottenham side rock bottom with two points from eight matches.

Mark Hughes rode out a tough start and constant speculation at Manchester City, the world's latest richest club.

Gianfranco Zola proved a splendid choice in his debut season with a West Ham side which made light of the club's financial worries in a campaign which saw Roy Keane walk out on Sunderland and six Premier League clubs change managers mid-term. One, Newcastle, sported four managers in the course of 10 months.

The last one, Alan Shearer, had just eight matches to save them from relegation after another season of boardroom bungling on Tyneside. He failed, managing just one win and so a club with arguably the most loyal supporters in the land slid out of the top flight. Along with Middlesbrough and West Brom.

They can have no excuses. After all the twists and turns, the table, as the old cliche goes, never lies.