Comeback Kings Manchester United Destroy Spurs in Seven-Goal Thriller

Manchester United started Saturday's Premier League clash against Tottenham Hotspur with their Champions League semifinal against Arsenal in mid-week firmly at the back of their minds.

The Red Devils chose to start with Wayne Rooney up front alongside ex-Spurs forward Dimitar Berbatov, while Cristiano Ronaldo and Nani were to placed on the flanks to provide an injection of pace for United's attack.

Micheal Carrick and Darren Fletcher started in central midfield as veteran Paul Scholes, who recently celebrated 600 appearances for the club, looked on from the bench. Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic were recently reunited at the back as United looks to gain some solidarity in defense before the final games of the season.

United had a shaky start to the game, as Spurs striker Darren Bent's header was just barely saved by Edwin Van der Sar's fingertips in the opening minutes of play at Old Trafford. The Dutch stopper was kept busy, as Aaron Lennon and Jermaine Jenas followed up.

Later, Rooney's fierce strike looked as if it was going to take Gomes' hand off, but luckily for the ex-PSV keeper, he managed to parry it away for a corner.

Ronaldo had a couple of decent freekicks at Gomes, but one was blocked by the wall, and the other was saved by the Brazilian.

But then, in a shocking run of events completely against the run of play, the Spurs took the lead and completely silenced the Old Trafford crowd.

Darren Bent's strike ended up in the back of the net, and a look of despair on Sir Alex Ferguson's face suggested the that title race was all but over.

And it got worse for the Red Devils before it got better, as Luka Modric doubled the Spurs advantage ahead of the break.

Modric, signed from Dinamo Zagreb to a contract worth up to 16 million pounds, scored a goal that shocked Van der Sar even more than the United faithful, who were already beginning to think of another upset ala Liverpool and Fulham.

United went into the break in tatters. They had been broken apart by the rampaging Spurs to that point, but whatever Sir Alex Ferguson said to them during the break breathed new life into the players.

They seemed inspired to come out and crush the living hell out of Spurs. Though United had perhaps been influenced by Berbatov in the first half, as they came out looking on the lazier side, came back an entirely different team after the interval.

Carlos Tevez made a visible difference in United's attack; the Argentine forward was out and about. His pace, undying spirit, and constant hustling and bustling lifted the rest of the team, as the likes of Carrick and Rooney also made some crunching, ball-winning tackles.

Rooney was pushed onto the left with Nani being taken off, and it proved to be a fantastic move.

United were given a chance to get back into the game when they were rewarded a penalty after Carrick collided with Gomes. It was a controversial decision, to say the very least, but Ronaldo confidently dispatched the spot kick as United began to sniff the possibility of a comeback.

Soon, the equalizer came through a brilliant combination of Berbatov and Tevez. The Bulgarian won possession and sent Tevez through, who picked out Rooney unmarked on the left. The ex-Everton striker proceeded to guide the ball home, and Gomes failed to save it, despite getting a hand on it.

Then, a minute later, Evra found Rooney on the left, and Rooney provided the perfect cross for Ronaldo. It was ball which begged to be headed in, and Ronaldo obliged.

A couple ticks later, Ronaldo turned provider for Rooney, who's finish put United up 4-2. One could clearly hear chants of "Glory, Glory Man United" from what had earlier been a dead-silent crowd at the Theatre of Dreams.

Later, Berbatov's scrappy goal gave United a fifth and sealed the win for the Red Devils.

It was a truly magnificent comeback. Perhaps United were lucky to be given the penalty due on a dubious decision by Howard Webb, but take no credit away from what was a spectacular recovery by the European Champions.

They truly displayed what champions are made of and why United are champions. Three points ahead of Liverpool with a game in hand, United move one step closer to retaining the Premier League.

The focus will now shift to Arsenal and the Champions League as United vow to "never surrender, never give up."