Best Premier League Matches Ever – Top 25 Games
5. Liverpool 4-4 Arsenal (Oct 2010)
Liverpool were still chasing the title at this point in the season and their title hopes suffered a setback as they played out an astonishing 4-4 draw with Arsenal at Anfield.
The Gunners had taken a surprise 1-0 lead into halftime despite being firmly on the back foot for long periods, with Arshavin crashing the ball in off the crossbar after 36 minutes.
However, Liverpool scored two early goals in the second half to take the lead, with Yossi Benayoun and Fernando Torres finding the back of the net. Yet, Arshavin struck again and scored two more in quick succession to complete his hat trick, only for Torres to equalize once more and it looked like an entertaining game has reached its fate with the score being 3-3.
However, there was more to come, Arshavin scored his fourth in the 90th minute after a quick counter-attack but Benayoun scored yet another Liverpool equalizer in the fifth minute of stoppage time.
4. Arsenal 3-2 Man Utd (Nov 1997)
The Gunners had started the 1997/98 season well, with just one defeat in their first 13 matches, but the visit of champions and league leaders Manchester United to Highbury was by far their toughest test yet.
Arsenal went ahead when 18-year-old Nicolas Anelka brilliantly blasted the ball past Peter Schmeichel for his first Premier League goal. The lead was doubled before the half-hour mark when Patrick Vieira brilliantly swept a loose ball back across the Dane’s head and into the net.
But a brace from Teddy Sheringham, the man all Arsenal used to hate, brought United level, only for their efforts to be rendered futile by a fine Platt header.
3. Man City 1-0 Man Utd (April 2012)
This match was the most hyped Manchester Derby of all time and rightly so, as it was for the first time in the Premier League that both the Manchester clubs were competing with each other for the league. A win for United would possibly have ended City’s title hopes, while a win for City would put them on top of the league table ahead of United on goal difference with 2 games to go.
Vincent Kompany’s header won the game for City, who went on to win their first title in 44 years and prove their status as Manchester’s new dominant force. Manchester United could not manage a single shot on target and Sir Alex Ferguson was criticised for his defensive tactics.
This game also tops our list of the greatest Manchester Derbies of all time.
2. Liverpool 4-3 Newcastle (April 1996)
This is one of the best Premier League matches ever. Both sides were pushing Manchester United for the title, with the visitors knowing a win would take them level on points with the leaders.
Robbie Fowler opened the scoring at Anfield, heading home Stan Collymore’s cross. Newcastle were quick to respond and Les Ferdinand scored past David James eight minutes later. Newcastle scored again soon after through David Ginola and the scores remained that way as the halftime whistle blew.
Fowler scored his 28th of the season after the break, but Newcastle responded immediately, Faustino Asprilla scoring with the outside of his foot. Collymore then equalized for Liverpool, as both teams went in search of a winner. The winner came in stoppage time thanks to Collymore again, who got it after a neat passing move involving veteran duo John Barnes and Ian Rush.
1. Manchester City 3-2 QPR (May 2012)
This game automatically tops the list due to it producing arguably the most dramatic moments in the Premier League’s history. Manchester City needed a win to secure the title against relegation-threatened QPR and Pablo Zabaleta scored the game’s first goal five minutes before halftime.
Djibril Cisse levelled for QPR soon after the restart before the visitors lost Joey Barton when he was shown a red card against his former club following a clash with Carlos Tevez.
QPR shrugged off their numerical disadvantage to reduce the Etihad to stunned silence when Jamie Mackie gave them the lead with a far-post header in the 66th minute.
Mancini’s team played with their supporters’ nerves to the point of brutality. They were 2-1 down going into stoppage time, on the verge of a defeat so harrowing they would never have been allowed to forget it. There were supporters leaving the ground in tears, scarcely believing the team could have been so reckless.
City needed an unlikely two goals to win the league by the time the game reached the 90th minute and Edin Dzeko’s 92nd-minute header gave them a lifeline. Unbelievably, City’s despair turned to delirium as Sergio Aguero scored a 94th minute equalizer to win the title for the first time in 44 years for City. The best ever finish to a Premier League season.
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.