Manchester City will welcome Liverpool to the Etihad this weekend as the two clubs look to put one hand on the Premier League title with a win. We’ve used this opportunity to look back on the biggest title clashes in the competition’s history.
Manchester City 2-1 Liverpool – 2019
As will be the case this weekend, Liverpool went to Manchester in 2019 knowing a win would position them as the clear favorites for the Premier League trophy. Back then, however, a win would have put them 10 points clear and all but assure them the title without much debate.
Sadio Mane stunningly had his effort saved off the line by 1.12cm, as Sergio Aguero scored in the first half for Manchester City. Roberto Firmino equalized in the second 45, but it was Leroy Sane who etched his name in City folklore with a 72nd-minute winner to cut the gap to four points in the final four months of the campaign.
City eventually won the league by one point having gradually chipped away at the Reds’ lead for weeks.
Chelsea 3-0 Manchester United – 2006
Despite the title being handed to Chelsea that day following a win, there was little doubt in the Blues winning the trophy anyway as they were already eight clear with three games left to play. For United, they had to win all three games and hope the Blues lost all their games to claim the league back.
So while this was far from the most crucial moment in the title race, it was still one side snatching the title directly in front of their rivals, and they also did so very comfortably in the end with a 3-0 win.
Manchester United 1-2 Chelsea – 2010
Four years on from Chelsea’s title win in front of their rivals, they all but sealed Premier League supremacy once more in 2010. United sat top of the table throughout March after a tense fight between the two all season long, and Sir Alex Ferguson’s men only had to match or better Chelsea’s results for the final six games to keep hold of the title for a fourth year running.
Controversy surrounded the game, however, as Didier Drogba’s decisive goal was clearly offside, but in a pre-VAR world, the goal stood and Chelsea put one hand on the title as a result.
The Blues would win the league by two points in the end, meaning this game was mathematically the difference despite the goal wrongly being allowed to stand.
Manchester United 0-1 Arsenal – 2002
The second addition to this list which saw United lose the title to an arch rival as Arsenal famously won the title back from United after a three-year wait. The game is remembered as one of the most famous in Premier League history, as the Red Devils dominated the first 10 years of the competition, but on the 10-year anniversary, the Gunners won the title at Old Trafford.
Sylvain Wiltord scored the game’s only goal that day as pandemonium occurred in the away end at Old Trafford in scenes no Arsenal fan will ever forget.
Chelsea 2-2 Tottenham – 2016
The only one on this list that doesn’t actually include the title winner, but it must be included for its historical significance. Tottenham Hotspur were favored to win the title for much of the season having made exceptional growth under Mauricio Pochettino and how they were up against a 5000/1 underdog in the race, Leicester City.
In sport’s most epic story ever told, the Foxes won the title that day when Chelsea’s Eden Hazard equalized in the final 10 minutes of the game after the Spurs blew a two-goal lead. To this day, it’s perhaps the Premier League’s craziest moment.
Manchester City 1-0 Manchester United – 2012
It’s one thing facing your title rivals with two games left where the victor all but wins the trophy, but it’s another when it’s against your rivals just a few miles down the road.
City were hunting down their first league title in 44 years after seeing their neighbors rack up 12 of the past 20 Premier League medals, and it was Vincent Kompany who thumped in a header to give the Sky Blues all three points.
This gave City the lead in the title for the first time in many weeks as United’s lead was cut from eight points to nothing, as Roberto Mancini’s men went ahead on goal difference and won the league in that manner just two weeks later.
Arsenal 2-2 Manchester United – 2003
Almost a year to the day since Arsenal won the title on United’s home patch, the Red Devils were in search of redemption as the Gunners lost grip on the top of the table a week prior following a United thrashing of Newcastle 6-2.
A win would have put the Gunners top of the table by goal difference as Ferguson’s men led by three points at the time. However, a 2-2 draw meant Arsenal’s hopes now fell on winning their game in hand. But a draw with the Bolton Wanderers and a defeat at home against Leeds United ended Arsene Wenger’s hopes of retaining the title as Fergie’s side won the league by five points.
-Grant McQuillan
Twitter: @Grant_McQuillan