Manchester City and Chelsea’s Premier League title battle looks set to rage throughout the season…
The Premier League title race took another twist on Saturday as Chelsea edged two point ahead of rivals Manchester City, thanks to their 2-0 home win over Newcastle United, and City’s 1-1 draw away at Everton.
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Prior to the games, the two sides were dead level at the top of the table, with the same number of points, wins, goal difference and goals scored. It seems that despite Chelsea taking an early eight point lead, this year’s title race is shaping up to be one of the closest yet.
Of course, it will have to maintain this form for the entire season if it’s to live up to these five classics. Here are the five most memorable title races in Premier League history:
5) Manchester City beat Liverpool by two points (2013-14)
With just three games to go, Liverpool led the league table, having beaten City at Anfield, and looked set to claim their first title in over two decades. But, in a moment that will go down in Premier League folklore, Steven Gerrard’s slip against Chelsea, which allowed Demba Ba to gallop through on goal and score for Chelsea, would ultimately prove costly. The Reds lost the game 2-0, and were undone again just days later as they through away a three goal lead to draw with Crystal Palace. But even if they’d have won the game, they’d have lost the title on goal difference.
4) Chelsea beat Manchester United by one point (2009-10)
Chelsea went into the final game of the season just a point ahead of rivals United, who ramped up the pressure on the Blues with a 4-0 thrashing of Stoke City. However, the Blues were not to be denied as they beat Wigan Athletic 8-0 to secure the title under the leadership of Carlo Ancelotti. Chelsea won home and away against Sir Alex Ferguson’s side, and it was those result that eventually proved crucial.
3) Manchester United beat Arsenal by one point (1998-99)
In the season United would go onto win the treble, they famously bested Arsenal by just a solitary point to win the league title. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s goal condemned the Gunners to defeat against Leeds in the penultimate game of the season, and the Red Devils took full advantage, grabbing the point they needed against Blackburn. Sir Alex Ferguson and co went into the final day of the season with a one point advantage, and beat Tottenham to take the title.
2) Blackburn Rovers beat Manchester United by one point (1994-95)
United missed out in dramatic style as Kenny Dalglish guided Rovers to their first title win since 1913. Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton netted goals galore on the way to Blackburn’s title success, with the former scoring 34. On the last day, Rovers lost 2-1 to Liverpool, meaning United needed only to beat West Ham to snatch the title. However, the Hammers hung on to draw 1-1, and the entirety of Anfield celebrated Rovers success and United’s failure.
1) Manchester City beat Manchester United on goal difference (2011-12)
Going into the final day City were top of the league, ahead of United on goal difference, but with Wayne Rooney’s solitary strike securing the Red Devils victory against Sunderland, Roberto Mancini’s side needed three points as well. Inexplicably, they found themselves 2-1 down at home to QPR with just minutes remaining. Edin Dzeko equalised in the second minute of stoppage time, but it still looked unlikely to be enough. That was until, Aguero struck.
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