After an enthralling and action packed game at St James Park on Wednesday evening, where Newcastle and Liverpool played out a thrilling 3-3 draw, it got us thinking about the best games in Premier league history. There were many games that we remembered which included plenty of goals, bookings, sending-off’s and last minute winners in addition to having significant impacts on the title race, European qualification or relegation, however we have aimed to condense it down into a Top 5.
Liverpool 4-3 Newcastle Utd (3rd April, 1996)
In respect to the greatest Premier league games of all time, it is safe to say that Liverpool and Newcastle have history. As the Toon Army were battling away with Manchester Utd for the Premier league title, this is perhaps the defining game that led to Kevin Keegan’s great entertainers falling just short at the end of an epic season. Knowing that only a win would keep the pressure on the Red Devils, Newcastle recovered from an early Robbie Fowler opener to lead 2-1 at half-time. However, as the game moved into the latter stages, the scores were level at 3-3 before up stepped Stan Collymore to break Geordie hearts with a 92nd minute winner. Who can ever forget the iconic image of Kevin Keegan slumping over the advertising hoardings to end one of the best games of football the Premier league has even seen?
Man City 3-2 QPR (13th May, 2012)
Man City had clawed their way back into the title hunt and after defeating nearest rivals Man Utd at the Etihad 1-0, knew that it was in their own hands if they were to win their first title in 44 years. Manchester Utd had kept their end of the bargain, a 1-0 win at Sunderland meaning anything less than a win for City would hand the title to their bitter rivals. It was all going to plan, as City led 1-0 at half-time, however two second-half goals had QPR leading moving into the dying stages of the game. After Edin Dzeko scored a 92nd minute equaliser, the stage was set for the most dramatic finishes in Premier League history as Sergio Aguero sent the blue half of Manchester into ecstasy with a 96th minute winner to spark scenes of absolute pandemonium.
Chelsea 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur (2nd May, 2016)
There is certainly no love lost when Chelsea and Spurs meet, however this match had even more significance given it would decide the outcome of one of the most unbelievable title races that has ever been seen. Tottenham were still in with a chance of winning the title and raced into a 2-0 half-time lead. However, a Edan Hazard inspired Chelsea roared back in the second-half to level the scores at 2-2 and as tempers flared, nine Spurs players were booked as their title dreams were extinguished. The result also started one of the biggest parties ever held in Leicester as the Foxes were crowned Premier League champions – the stuff of dreams.
Manchester Utd 4-3 Manchester City (20th September, 2009)
After their takeover by the Abu Dhabi Group in 2008, Man City were starting to build a side that were capable of challenging at the top end of the Premier League table. One of their most controversial signings was luring Carlos Tevez from their cross city rivals the previous summer, adding further emotion to an already fervent atmosphere in the first Manchester derby of the season. The game didn’t disappoint either, with the scores level at 3-3 leading into the final stages, super sub Michael Owen scored a dramatic 96th minute winner to send Old Trafford into delirium.
Portsmouth 7-4 Reading (29th September, 2007)
We couldn’t have a top 5 without including the highest scoring game in Premier League history, where Portsmouth and Reading scored an incredible 12 goals between them across the 90 minutes. Even more surprisingly was the score was only 4-2 to Portsmouth in the 70th minute before the floodgates well and truly opened with a further 5 goals scored in the last 20 minutes. Portsmouth striker Benjani helped himself to a hat-trick, whilst there were seven other goalscorers and even an own goal to add to the mix. An amazing game.
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