Best Premier League Matches Ever – Top 25 Games
11. Newcastle United 5-0 Manchester United (Oct 1996)
Any heavy Manchester United defeat is remembered by fans of the victors, but this loss suffered by the Double winners was so magnificent that it was celebrated far more widely and is remembered as one of the best Premier League matches ever.
Darren Peacock scored the first, his header crossing the line despite the protestations of Peter Schmeichel. David Ginola’s outrageous second set the tone, while Les Ferdinand and Alan Shearer made it 4-0 after the break. Just when the Manchester United fans thought that things couldn’t get any worse, Philippe Albert scored from 25 yards out to make it 5-0 in favour of Newcastle.
10. Tottenham Hotspur 3-5 Man Utd (Oct 2001)
This game truly defined that football as a game of two halves. Surely, one of the best Premier League matches ever.
Spurs romped into a 3-0 half-time lead thanks to a debut goal from Dean Richards and one each from Les Ferdinand and Christian Ziege, but Sir Alex Ferguson worked his magic in the champions’ dressing room during the break and United returned to the pitch for the second half like a wounded animal.
Andy Cole scored within a minute of the restart, which prompted goals from Laurent Blanc, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Juan Sebastien Veron, and, finally, David Beckham to seal a memorable win for the Red Devils.
9. Man Utd 4-3 Man City (Sep 2009)
Wayne Rooney gave United the lead after just a bit more than one minute, but Gareth Barry was able to equalise after a quarter of an hour. Midfielder Fletcher then entered the frame, scoring on 49 minutes. A quick equaliser from Bellamy made sure the scores were levelled after 52 minutes.
With ten minutes remaining, Fletcher made it 3–2. The game was far from won for United, however, since Bellamy scored a dramatic equaliser on 90 minutes. However, lots of time was added on, and in the sixth additional minute, substitute Michael Owen struck 4–3 from close range to cap a remarkable derby.
8. Newcastle 4-4 Arsenal (Feb 2011)
Theo Walcott and Johan Djourou put Arsenal 2-0 up before the fourth minute, before Robin van Persie scored two more, sending the Gunners 0-4 up into half-time.
However, Newcastle had something spectacular in store for the second half. Soon after the re-start, Abou Diaby saw red for pushing Joey Barton and Kevin Nolan, providing Newcastle the opportunity to make a comeback.
Barton scored penalties on either side of a strike from Leon Best making it 3-4. And then it was a blistering strike from Tiote, who showed great technique to volley the ball into the bottom corner from 20 yards with three minutes of normal time left, to level the scores. Undoubtedly, one of the best Premier League matches ever.
7. Man Utd 1-6 Man City (Sep 2011)
Manchester City inflicted Manchester United’s worst home defeat since February 1955 as they thrashed the champions in ruthless fashion.
Mario Balotelli opened the scoring for the away side and added a second after halftime. It all went wrong for United when Johnny Evans was sent off for bringing down the Italian striker before Sergio Aguero added a third. Darren Fletcher pulled one back for the home side, which some thought would spark a fightback.
Yet, City went on to score three more, substitute Edin Dzeko scrambled in a fourth and the magnificent David Silva ran clear to add another before Dzeko scored his second to make it 1-6. This game is widely regarded as one of the best Premier League matches ever.
6. Wigan 3-2 West Ham (May 2011)
West Ham United were relegated to the Championship as Wigan Athletic staged a dramatic recovery from two goals down to keep their hopes of Premier League survival alive with victory at the DW Stadium.
To stand a chance of surviving relegation West Ham needed three points at fellow relegation scrappers Wigan and a Fulham win at Birmingham. All looked rosy for Avram Grant’s side for nearly an hour, as both they and Fulham went two goals clear – but where the Cottagers held on to win, the Hammers collapsed into ignominy despite Demba Ba’s first-half double.
Charles N’Zogbia took charge to start and finish an inspired Wigan comeback. Twelve minutes into the second half, the Frenchman curled a delightful free-kick into the top corner, before Connor Sammon – thrown on at half-time – equalised in the 68th minute.
With time ticking down, N’Zogbia cut in from the right and squeezed a shot under Rob Green in the fourth minute of added time. Wigan got the win, West Ham got that sinking feeling and Avram Grant got the sack.
How do you miss out Man City 6 Arsenal 3, Spurs 1 Man City 5, Man City 6 Spurs 0, Liverpool 1 Man City 4.