arsenal were declared league champions shortly before the reverse league fixture on 6 may 1991, a 3–1 defeat of united courtesy of an alan smith hat-trick, after liverpool's 2–1 loss at nottingham forest earlier in the day. they became england's first representatives in the european cup since the ban imposed after the heysel stadium disaster in 1985 was lifted. manchester united finished sixth, but did not end the season empty-handed, winning the 1990–91 european cup winners' cup in the first season english clubs were allowed back into uefa competitions.