20 Years Later: Why Man United's Treble-Winning Season Will Never Be Bettered

In the modern game, it’s unthinkable for a team to have four out-and-out centre-forwards given how most sides now line up with just one (or none at all if adopting the ‘false nine’ mentality). Dwight Yorke (29), Andy Cole (24), Ole Gunnar Solskjaer (18) and Teddy Sheringham (5) combined to score 76 goals throughout the 98/99 campaign, 60% of the 128 netted by the entire team, epitomising their attacking prowess.

Before the season started, long odds could’ve been gotten on the foursome coming anywhere close to that total. Yorke was a proven goalscorer at Aston Villa, but they were an upper mid-table side and he was unproven against the highest calibre of opposition, Sheringham had been considered a poor replacement for Eric Cantona the previous campaign and Solskjaer was deemed surplus to requirements, only staying at Old Trafford at his own insistence after a transfer was agreed with Tottenham for his services.

Cole had a solid 97/98 season but was seemingly out of favour following the arrival of Yorke, who was initially paired with Solskjaer and Sheringham up front. Following a game against Southampton in early October, however, the pair became the first names on the teamsheet, developing an incredible rapport both on and off the pitch that led to the demolition of so many opposing sides.

Solskjaer responded by enhancing his ‘super-sub’ reputation, most notably coming off the bench to score 4 goals in 13 minutes against Nottingham Forest.