From Kevin Keegan’s rant live on television to Steven Gerrard’s slip, there have been some spectacular Premier League title races over the years.
We, as football spectators, were blessed last year to witness a truly epic title tussle. It felt like the first proper one we have had in years and, quite aptly, that was between the same two teams: Manchester City and Liverpool. Since that top of the table tussle in 2014, each one of Chelsea, Leicester City and Man City have had relatively unperturbed triumphs in the four campaigns since then.
Last season we had a full-blown contest between the two sides all the way through the season, despite the pre-season expectation that Pep Guardiola’s troops would march to the title once again without much of a challenge. In fact, at one point they found themselves seven points behind their Red challengers, but subsequently clawed back the pretenders to the throne to reclaim the title.
Between March and May the leadership changed hands eleven times as both teams charged towards the finish line in Terminator mode, swatting aside everyone who gets in their way. City went on a 14 game winning streak, while ‘Pool finished on 12. While that did not allow for a whole lot of drama in their tête-à-tête, but it did lead to some minor tragedy. Indeed, Liverpool finished on 97 points and still did not win the title.
The Merseyside outfit have bounced back in a big way, however, and we might not even have a title race this campaign; they are eight points ahead of their closest rivals, while City lag nine points behind. If anyone did manage to challenge the league leaders for top spot, it would probably deserve a place on this list.
Here are the best Premier League title races ever:
Blackburn Rovers get lucky on the final day – 1994/95
Backed by Jack Walker’s millions, Blackburn Rovers became a force to be reckoned with in the early nineties, finishing fourth and second in the table in the first two seasons of the newly created Premier League. Manchester United had won the first two and were highly tipped to win a third on the trot.
It was Rovers who led the way for most of the campaign however, and enjoyed a two point lead over United going into the final day. The fact they were facing Liverpool was even seen as an advantage: the Red Devils greatest rivals could hand the title to Kenny Dalglish, club legend and now manager of the Riversiders, at Anfield. As well as having nothing themselves to play for, they had every reason to lie down and let the opposition walk over them.
It didn’t turn out that way though, as goals from John Barnes and Jamie Redknapp completed a comeback victory for the Reds. It would be a tense wait to see how the second-placed United fared against West Ham United. Thankfully for them, you could say that United ‘bottled’ it, drawing 1-1 when a win would have secured another title.
Chance after chance went abegging, but the ball would not go into the net. Instead it was Rovers, driven by Alan Shearer’s 34 goals, who obtained their first crown in 81 years.
See Also: The five highest points totals in Premier League history
Newcastle United’s 12 point lead fades away in late season collapse – 1995/96
“I would love it if we beat them” were the immortal words of Magpies manager Kevin Keegan as the battle with Man United came closer and closer to its climax. Unfortunately for him, they didn’t beat them.
Newcastle United, with the likes of David Ginola, Les Ferdinand and Peter Beardsley in their ranks, enjoyed a 12 point lead over Alex Ferguson’s charges with 15 games to go.
Five defeats in eight games, including a 1-0 loss at home to United, allowed their foes to chip away at their advantage, before overhauling them and finishing on top four points ahead. A 4-3 loss to Liverpool at Anfield, considered the greatest Premier League game ever, also proved to be crucial.
They would finish runners-up again the very next season.
Arsenal overturn 11 point deficit to win their first Premier League – 1997/98
Arsenal began the season slowly enough and found themselves far behind the league leaders, who else but Man United. The Gunners would go on an 18 game unbeaten streak that saw them pass by the holders, winning the league by a solitary point.
The crucial game in the run-in came at Old Trafford, when a Marc Overmars goal gave Arsenal a 1-0 win. Dennis Bergkamp, Patrick Vieira, and Tony Adams were also part of an incredible team that would go on to claim more glory in the years to come.
Read: The ten best Ajax products to have played in the Premier League
Man City win it all with a last gasp goal – 2011/12
It gets lost amidst all of the hysteria surrounding the final day drama, but it shouldn’t be forgotten that Man United had an eight lead over their local rivals with six games to go. No team had ever turned around that big a deficit in such a short space of time.
And yet, City did so. A 1-0 win at the Etihad was crucial in this regard, as it gave Roberto Mancini’s side real hope they could win their first title since 1968. They had already famously beaten United 6-1 at Old Trafford, so for them, there was no lingering self-doubt over who was the better team.
United had one hand on the title though, after beating Sunderland 1-0 on the final day as City struggled to overcome relegation-threatened QPR. Edin Dzeko’s late equaliser appeared nothing more than a consolation, but moments later the unthinkable happened and Sergio Aguero made it 3-2, resulting in arguably the greatest moment in Premier League history.
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See Also: The eight biggest winning margins in the Premier League era
Liverpool let the title slip out of their hands – 2013-14
In 2014 Liverpool were an unstoppable juggernaut riding the crest of a wave that saw Luis Suarez destroy defences, Philippe Coutinho weaving his way past markers, Raheem Sterling breaking through lines, and Steven Gerrard leading as ever.
It was the latter who was responsible for the slip seen around the world, allowing Demba Ba score for Chelsea, who won 2-0 at Anfield. That was all Man City needed to get back in the hunt, and held the advantage with their superior goal difference.
In the end they didn’t need it, as Liverpool surrendered a three-goal lead at Crystal Palace to draw 3-3, all but handing City the title. Curiously, the Reds weren’t in contention for much of the season, but a 11 game winning streak put them on top until that fateful game against the Blues.
Bonus Ball: The Treble
Nobody really remembers the title race in 1999 in too much detail, mainly because the Treble itself was such a seminal moment in English football, but it was a great one that went right to the last day. Man United overcame Arsenal in the end, although Chelsea were also there or thereabouts but couldn’t manage to keep up.
Given how tight the margins between victory and defeat were in the major games of that season, it’s crazy to look back on that campaign and think that the Red Devils could have ended up trophyless.
Read: The most famous title collapses in the Premier League era
