This seasons Premier League title race has all the elementof a classic: an unlikely challenger in Liverpool, a megabucks powerhouse in Manchester City and a returning hero in Jose Mourinho at Chelsea.But where does it rank inthe all-time title races?Can anything compare with Sergio Ageuros last gasp heroics from two years ago? What about Kevin Keegans meltdownin 1996?Weve taken a trip down memory lane and revisited some of the best run-ins in recent history and you can have your say on which you think is best below.2011-12: Manchester City 89pts, Manchester United 89ptsA title race that can be summed up in one throat-gargling sound from Martin Tyler.The script-writers had a humdinger on the final day of the 2011-12 season, wherethe Etihadplayed host to more narrative than an episode of Game of Thrones.To win their first title since 1968, Manchester City simply needed to beat struggling QPR at home, as they knew their goal difference would pipcross-city rivals United, who were up at Sunderland.As the clock ticked past the 90 minute mark though, Roberto Mancinis side were 2-1 down to 10-man QPR after Joey Barton left the a trail of destruction in his wake after seeing red at the start of the second half.As the United squad prepared for a trophy presentation on the Stadium of Light pitch, Edin Dzeko equalised for City and then Agueros 95th minute strike drew a curtain on possibly the most exciting finish the Premier League has seen so far.And it also gave us scenes like this:1997-98: Arsenal 78pts, Manchester United 77ptsOr, when the hunter became the hunted.After Fergies charges had successfully pecked away at Newcastles 12-point Premier League lead two seasons earlier, this was their time to blow a similar-sized advantage - although the Gunners left their charge improbably late.Wengers side were down 12 points on March 1st, with some bookmakers having already paid out on United to win the title. But with three games in hand, Arsenal began chipping away, with their charge really gathering momentum with a 1-0 win at Old Trafford in mid-March.After another seven straight wins, Tony Adams was hoisting up the Premier League trophy - with two games tospare.1995-96: Manchester United 82pts, Newcastle 78ptsHed have loved. Loved it.When Manchester United went down 4-1 at White Hart Lane in January 1996, Kevin Keegans side had a 12-point cushion and an unlikely title win looked on the cards. Fast forward to April 27 though and a rattled Keegan was spectacularly losing the plot on Sky Sports in the greatest meltdown the Premier League has ever seen.The tide began turning when an Eric Cantona strike was enough for the Red Devils to leave St James Park with three points at the start of March. In fact single goal wins courtesy of Cantona would be Manchester Uniteds calling card that season, with Arsenal, Spurs and Coventry all being dispatched in similar circumstances as the red United chipped away at the crumbling black and white Uniteds lead. The Magpies collective heads had gone though and Fergies young bucks were champions again.1994-95: Blackburn Rovers 89pts, Manchester United 88ptsOn the last day of the season, it all came down to a three-way Dalglish-Ferguson-Anfield narrative. Perches everywhere.The Jack Walker-bankrolled Blackburn side bullied their way into the title race as Shearer and Suttons SAS partnership plundered defenses all season long, putting them on the verge of first title win for 81 years.All that manager Kenny Dalglish needed to do was take his new side to Liverpool and win at Anfield. If they were unable to that, then Manchester United could win the title by taking three points at West Ham.It was a day tailor made for Sky Go/red buttons/splitscreens and the like, but alas, this was a simpler time of Teletext and transistor radios.United had been making do with an Eric Cantona-shaped hole in their side since the mercurial Frenchman showed off his kung fu prowess against a Crystal Palace supporter in January, while Rovers were had been limping to the finish line, having lost three of their previous five games before that fateful final day.And this poor form continued, as Rovers toiled at Anfield, going down 2-1 to a last minute Jamie Redknapp goal - but Uniteds failure to do keep their end of the bargain at Upton Park denied them a third-consecutive title.Cue a hearty rendition of Always Look on the Bright Side ofLife at Anfield, where both sets of fans enjoyed the title win.1991-92: Leeds United 82pts, Manchester United 78ptsThe final title race before the creation of the Premier League didnt disappoint.The footballing landscape was a very different one back in the early 90s - we had the backpass rule, Saint and Greavsie, players that looked like blokes youd see in a rough pub on a Tuesday afternoon.Manchester United spent most of the 1991-92 season edging towards a first title in 25 years, but fell away badly at the end, almost doing the Devon Loch that Alex Ferguson prayed Manchester City would do in 2012.A congested run-in saw them secure only four points from their final five games, as Howard Wilkinsons relentless Leeds United side only dropped two points in the same spell to nudge ahead in the Division One table.The title races decisive match at Bramall Lane, with Brian Gayle and Lee Chapman trading own goals before the WestYorkshire side edged it 3-2, while Liverpool downed Manchester United 2-0 at Anfield to hand Leeds the title.1981-82: Liverpool 87pts, Ipswich Town 83ptsDont call it a comeback.Whilst the final league table from 1981-82 doesnt give the impression of a title race for the ages, its worth digging up the table from Christmas Day that season, when Liverpool sat in tenth place. Tenth!The Reds had finished fifth the previous season and were ina spot of transition as the likes of Bruce Grobbelaar, Mark Lawrenson and Ian Rush came into the side and would stay there for the best part of a decade but took a little while to get going.Liverpools early season problems were overshadowed by the passing of Bill Shankly, who died from a heart attack in September, but they came roaring back to see off the challenges of Ipswich Town, Tottenham and Manchester United to land their 13th title.It was also noticeable for being the first season in England where three points were given for a win, so perhaps the Reds just took a while to get their heads round this brave new world.
Posted on: Fri, 18 Apr 2014 06:50:22 +0000
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