Felli's winner the latest adrenaline shot in 2018/19

1: LUKE SHAW, GOALSCORER
What a wait… but what a moment! Our no.23 had never netted as a pro in six seasons and over 100 games, so when he flicked the ball over Ricardo Pereira (intentionally, of course!) late in the season-opener v Leicester and nipped round the defender for a sight of goal, Old Trafford collectively gasped in split-second suspense. On the left peg, on the angle… on the scoresheet!

2: SMALLING ON THE VOLLEY
A net-bursting volley blasted home is always a high-octane moment. When it comes on the swivel, left-footed – from a centre-back – it has that extra ‘what have I just seen?’ frisson. Chris’s striker-like effort against Watford in September was a corker – and one from Jose Mourinho’s training ground playbook, too.

3: TWENTY MANIC MINUTES
It would take some serious warrior spirit if we were going to fight back against Newcastle at Old Trafford in early October, two-nil down as we were with only 20 minutes to play. Cue a classic United cavalry charge, with each goal ratcheting up the heart-rate yet further. Juan Mata sparked the kindling with a wizardly free-kick, Anthony Martial fired in the equaliser and then Alexis Sanchez headed the roof-raising third. Electric.

4: MEGA MART
Stamford Bridge has scarce been a happy hunting ground in recent times, and at one-nil down in the second half, odds on a positive return from West London seemed stacked against the Reds. Anthony Martial, though, had other ideas – first lashing home a leveller from close-range, then whipping a second into the bottom corner from one of his favourite goalscoring spots to send pulses soaring. (Ross Barkley’s equaliser probably features in Chelsea’s version of this feature!)

5: CHERRY BOMB
Eddie Howe’s impressive Bournemouth looked set to take a share of the points on the south coast as the final seconds of our November encounter ebbed away. One especially miraculous escape involving the crossbar, a desperate block and a goal-line clearance in quick succession had seemed to suggest that any United effort to find a winner would not be rewarded. In the dying moments, though – those familiar frayed seconds of clung-to hope – Marcus Rashford scrambled a close-range goal to send the away end barmy.

6: JUVE GOT TO BE KIDDING
Whatever heights of breathlessness had been reached thus far in 2018/19, five minutes in Turin topped the lot. Having defended manfully and rode a bit of luck to keep Ronaldo and co at only 1-0, the Reds effected a late smash-and-grab not seen in Europe since May 1999. Juan Mata was the dead-ball genius to provide ‘Wow!’ moment number one, curling in a sublime effort. Alex Sandro was then the United hero/Juve fall guy as he got the last touch on Ashley’s Young’s mischief-laden free-kick. Adrenaline through the roof!

7: RUBBER DAVE
Split-seconds of drama don’t only happen at one end. David De Gea provides them on a regular basis, and his save against Young Boys was the work of an illusionist in goalkeeper gloves. That ‘We’ve just conceded’ downer became a ‘No we haven’t!’ high within the blink of an eye, as our resident escapologist clawed what looked a certain goal off the line with an impossible-looking lunge and paw. Rollercoaster moments for the emotions!

8: ONE FELL SWOOP
De Gea’s act of mirage set the stage for an almighty adrenaline-rush at the other end, courtesy of Marouane Fellaini. The cause of victory looked lost as the battling Swiss, who had manned the barricades with honour for 90-plus minutes, looked like prising a point off the Old Trafford turf to take home as a memorable souvenir. But one final foray into the box came good when the big man controlled, turned and banged a shot into the far corner. Bedlam.

The opinions in this story are personal to the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Manchester United Football Club.