With Sunday’s match between Liverpool and Man City shaping up as a title decider, we decided to take a look in the Premier League archives for previous games where the title race has been won and lost. These are the type of games where an opponent can do mortal damage to the aspirations of their rivals while providing momentum and belief to their own push for the crown.
2011/12 - Man City 1-0 Man United
Of course, this was just one of a few decisive games in a cross-city race to the Premier League title in 2012.
First of all, some context. United had fought back brilliantly in the spring to catch and then overtake City. Amazingly, they had built an eight point lead with six games to play. However, a shock defeat at Wigan and a crucial late collapse at home to Everton ensured that just three points separated the sides at kick-off. With City’s goal difference far superior, if they won, the title would be in their hands.
As it happened, United never really showed up and City, despite not playing their best and missing several chances, won comfortably through Vincent Kompany’s first-half header. Despite teasing every United fan in the world in an astonishing final game, City won the title on goal difference. People talk of Aguero’s winner against QPR, and rightly so, but it was this win which decisively shifted the balance.
2009/10 - Man United 1-2 Chelsea
With six matches remaining, a face-off between the Premier League’s top two teams promised a match which would decide the title. And it did.
With Chelsea a point behind at kick-off and facing a difficult run-in to their season, they knew only a win would suffice in order to win the league for the first time since 2006. They went ahead early on through Joe Cole’s improvised finish and were hanging on to a precious victory when Didier Drogba scored a decisive second goal. Drogba was about 420 metres offside, but United’s protests fell upon deaf ears, and despite a reply from Federico Macheda, they fell short.
Both teams stumbled before the end, with United drawing at Blackburn and Chelsea losing at Tottenham, but Chelsea clung on to win the title by a solitary point. In the end, it was this victory which made all the difference, as United were left to rue a disastrous finish to the season.
2003/04 Chelsea 1-2 Arsenal
The only match in our list which does not feature Manchester United. In February 2004, Chelsea were four points behind their unbeaten visitors and needing a win to keep the pressure on. Could they? Well, no. The title says they didn’t. But you know what I mean.
Chelsea, who had spent millions of pounds over the summer, were now in a position to compete for the Premier League title and took the lead inside a minute when Eidur Gudjohnsen fired home. However, a brilliant goal from Patrick Vieira saw Arsenal level. Minutes later, they were ahead, as Neil Sullivan misjudged a corner and Edu scored what proved to be the winner. Yep, Neil Sullivan. All that money. And Neil Sullivan.
Arsenal would go on to stroll to the Premier League title without losing a game, while Chelsea hung on to finish second, with this game ultimately proving to be the turning point in a tense battle for superiority.
1997/98 Man United 0-1 Arsenal
It may come as a surprise to those of a certain age but Arsenal under Arsene Wenger did actually win things once upon a time.
This was the French manager’s first great team and the North Londoners werre trailing league leaders United by 9 points but had 3 games in hand. It was mid-March and the Gunners were on the up with the likes of Martin Keown and Tony Adams rock solid at the back, Dennis Bergkamp pulling the strings and his speedy Dutch compatriot Marc Overmars on the wing.
Arsenal controlled the game and it was just a question of if they could make the breakthrough. They had to wait until the 79th minute to do it but it proved to be the tipping point of the campaign for both teams. Arsenal eventually ground down United and went on to win the League and FA Cup Double.
1995/96 Newcastle United 0-1 Man United
As Eric Cantona’s right foot met Phil Neville’s cross the legendary Frenchman’s volley found the net and changed the whole course of the title race in a split second.
His second half strike proved decisive in a top of the table clash between Man United and Newcastle on March 4th 1996. Two months previously the Magpies, flying high with a brand of cavalier football symbolised by the mercurial French winger David Ginola, held a 12 point lead over United.
Alex Ferguson’s team slowly eroded the gap and by the time this game took place the lead had been whittled down to just 4 points. Newcastle, with Sir Les Ferdinand as a spearhead in attack, blasted out of the blocks and United had their Great Danish keeper Peter Schmeichel to thank for keeping them in the game before Cantona decided the game. After their victory United never looked back while Keegan’s Toon Army crumbled under the pressure.
