When Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City surrendered a one-goal lead to become a 2-1 defeat to Frank Lampard’s Chelsea, the result was celebrated most hundreds of miles from Stamford Bridge.
With the champions’ defeat in West London, Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool were crowned the Kings of England – a 19th time for the club – and their 30-year title hoodoo was broken. This was their first title since 1990 and their first ever in the English Premier League era.
Considering Manchester United have won 13 in that time to take the record to 20 with Alex Ferguson’s final title back in 2013, it tells you of the dominance that Liverpool used to enjoy over the rest of the country.
Many think that might have returned now Klopp has ended their three-decade wait but while the weight of pressure has allowed them to rise back to their perch, there are no guarantees.
That is typified by the fact that Liverpool are unable to celebrate with their fans during the coronavirus pandemic.
Record-chasing Liverpool would have put out their strongest possible lineup for that short trip to Manchester.
We won’t see what happened when United played title rivals Chelsea a week after beating them to the 2006-07 season title.
After securing the title he sent out a bizarre lineup at Stamford Bridge, one that would never be seen again. Here’s what happened to them.
Tomasz Kuszczak
The Polish keeper stayed at United until 2012 but barely played before leaving for Brighton & Hove Albion. His career took in stops at Wolves and Birmingham, where he retired in 2019.
Kieran Lee
The game marked his only league appearance for United and he left the club to go to Oldham Athletic before a move to Sheffield Wednesday where he remains. He signed an extension to finish the season.
Wes Brown
A United stalwart, the youth team full back and central defender left United after more than 200 appearances for Blackburn Rovers then Sunderland. His final club was the Kerala Blasters of India where he retired in 2018.
John O’Shea
Another youth team product, although O’Shea arrived from Ireland rather than South Manchester, and another full-back turned central defender. He left United for Sunderland and then Reading where he retired in 2019.
Gabriel Heinze
The Argentine was a beloved but controversial figure, most notably after trying to force through a move to Liverpool, but he left for Real Madrid. Marseille, Roma and Newell’s Old Boys in his homeland called before he moved into management. Most recently he was at Argentine top flight side Velez Sarsfield.
Chris Eagles
The midfielder made a total of six appearances for United, almost as many haircuts as he sported in that time, before a whistle-stop tour of England’s Northwest. Burnley, Bolton Wanderers, Blackpool and Bury were split with a stint at Charlton Athletic before Accrington Stanley, Port Vale, Scotland’s Ross County and then Oldham Athletic.
Alan Smith
Leeds born and bred it was as much of a shock as the striker’s blonde mop that Ferguson turned him from striker to midfield enforcer as he did coax him from Elland Road in the first place. He made it a trio of English football’s biggest Uniteds with a move to Newcastle in 2007 before dropping to MK Dons and then Notts County as player-coach under Kevin Nolan.
Darren Fletcher
It might not seem like it but Fletcher spent two decades at Old Trafford before moving to Stoke City in 2015 and then West Brom where he retired in 2017. The Scot was a Ferguson favorite and won five Premier League titles, an FA Cup and a League Cup. His achievements are all the more impressive as he came back from a debilitating battle with ulcerative colitis at United.
Kieran Richardson
The Londoner won eight England caps during his career, but Old Trafford was inarguably the high point of it at club level. He left for Sunderland in 2007 and then took in Fulham, Aston Villa, West Brom and Cardiff City before calling time in 2016.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
The club legend won six league titles with the Manchester side and retired at the end of that season. He is now the club’s manager. After acting as caretaker in December 2018, he was handed the permanent job in March 2019.
Dong Fangzhuo
The Chinese forward made his only Premier League appearance that night before returning to Dalian Shide. His career did not reach such heights again.
John O’Shea of Manchester United shouts at the referee during the match against Chelsea on May 9, 2007 in London. Photo: VCG
