Blackburn v Manchester United 1995
Kenny Dalglish’s Blackburn had led since November but went into the final weekend on a jittery run of form as they attempted to be crowned champions for the first time since 1914, whereas Manchester United had picked up 17 points from their previous seven games before heading to Upton Park. Michael Hughes gave West Ham the lead in the first half as Alan Shearer scored his 34th goal of the season at Anfield but when Brian McClair and then John Barnes equalised, suddenly United had hope. Jamie Redknapp fulfilled Liverpool’s end of the bargain by scoring from a late free-kick that was greeted with silence from the home crowd. Yet an inspired Ludek Miklosko performance in goal denied United and meant Dalglish could celebrate.
Manchester United v Arsenal 1999
Any Arsenal fans looking for omens will hope that Sunday is more 1998 than 1999. A 4-0 win over Everton at Highbury on the final day that was rounded off by a thumping finish by the captain, Tony Adams, had famously sealed the title for Arsène Wenger’s side. But, 12 months later, and with Arsenal trailing United by a point with one game remaining, they missed out despite beating Aston Villa after their arch-enemies Tottenham surrendered a 1-0 lead to hand the title to Sir Alex Ferguson’s side. You have to go back to before the Premier League era for the last time a team went into the final day in second place and became champions: Arsenal’s epic final-minute triumph at Anfield in 1989 thanks to a dramatic late goal from Michael Thomas.
Manchester City v Manchester United 2012
“Agüerooo!” and all that. With Manchester City trailing against Mark Hughes’s relegation-threatened QPR at the Etihad after goals from Djibril Cissé and Jamie Mackie and Manchester United winning at Sunderland, Roberto Mancini’s side appeared to have blown City’s chance of becoming champions for the first time in 44 years as the game reached injury time. But in the most thrilling finish to a Premier League season, Edin Dzeko headed home a corner from David Silva before a one-two between Sergio Agüero and Mario Balotelli set up the Argentina forward to send Martin Tyler into hysterics and create history for City.
Manchester City v Liverpool 2019
In a finale that has some similarities to this season, Liverpool headed into their last game against Wolves needing to make up a one-point deficit on Pep Guardiola’s side despite having lost only once – to their rivals – and won 10 and drawn three of their previous 13 matches. But having set a record of 18 straight league wins the previous year, City proved their ruthlessness by thrashing Brighton 4-1 to record a 14th victory in succession. Liverpool’s 2-0 win meant they finished second on 97 points – the fourth highest total in Premier League history.
Manchester City v Liverpool 2022
There were only 15 minutes to play at the Etihad Stadium and City found themselves 2-0 down against Aston Villa. Meanwhile, Liverpool were pressing for victory against Wolves and could have been forgiven for thinking their luck might finally be in on the final day. But, in an astonishing turnaround sparked by Ilkay Gündogan, City scored three goals in five minutes and ended those hopes just before Liverpool finally went ahead. “The moment we found a goal it changed everything,” admitted Pep Guardiola. “We are playing in not normal circumstances but you have to handle it.” Gündogan later revealed that Jürgen Klopp was “one of the first” to congratulate him for his crucial role. “We have always treated each other with the utmost respect,” said the Germany midfielder. “He had another very good season with Liverpool and made life extremely difficult for us.”
