April 2: Another comeback for United
2-0 down at half-time again, this time to West Ham, Manchester United pull yet another impressive comeback out of the bag. Behind to a pair of Mark Noble penalties, Wayne Rooney nets a hat-trick and Javier Hernandez seals three more points. United take another enormous stride towards the title, while West Ham’s Premier League future begins to look very precarious.
April 11: Liverpool have a new hero
Injured when they first signed him, it took a while for £35m Andy Carroll to have the chance to win over the fans, but he seizes his opportunity in an emphatic 3-0 win over Manchester City at Anfield. Two goals – the first a thumping drive from outside the box – well and truly announce his arrival, and the victory lifts Liverpool to within five points of Tottenham and a Europa League place. The turnaround since Kenny Dalglish arrived as manager has been marked, Manchester United already having been vanquished at Anfield thanks to Dirk Kuyt’s hat-trick.
April 19: Arsenal’s implosion in microcosm
If the surrender of that 4-0 lead at Newcastle, the loss of the Carling Cup final or the quickfire exits from the Champions League and FA Cup hadn’t completely destroyed their self-belief, it’s the 1-1 draw with Liverpool at the Emirates that does for Arsenal for good. A turgid game overruns because of lengthy injury treatment to Jamie Carragher, but it seems Arsenal have won it when Jonjo Shelvey concedes a penalty in the 98th minute. Robin Van Persie converts, and the roof nearly comes off the stadium. Only one team in England can take the lead in the 98th minute and still not win, however; Emmanuel Eboue’s foul on Lucas Leiva in the penalty area gives Dirk Kuyt the chance to score a 102nd minute equaliser. The draw leaves Arsenal eight points adrift of Manchester United with six games left.
April 23: Fernando Torres finally scores
Chelsea’s £50m signing has played over fifteen feckless hours of football without scoring in a blue shirt before the visit of West Ham, and he finally begins the lengthy process of paying back his transfer fee with a goal. The scrappy strike on the sodden pitch at Stamford Bridge puts Chelsea 2-0 up; they go on to win 3-0, and go just six points behind Manchester United with a trip to Old Trafford to come.
April 30: Chelsea re-open the technology debate
Some preposterous refereeing at Stamford Bridge lets Chelsea draw to within just three points of Manchester United in a pulsating game against Tottenham Hotspur. Still chasing fourth place, Spurs go into a 1-0 lead thanks to a wonderful strike from Sandro (admonished by Harry Redknapp for his troubles), but on the stroke of half-time Chelsea draw level with one of the most controversial goals of the season. Frank Lampard’s shot from 30-yards is struck well but without the requisite venom or direction to cause Heurelho Gomes serious trouble, but the Brazilian lets the ball slip through his fingers and towards the goal. The goalkeeper gets back to scoop the ball out before it crosses the line, but the linesman’s flag signals for a goal and Chelsea are level. With time running down on their title challenge, Salomon Kalou scrambles the ball home from an offside position and the points are Chelsea’s. The day after, Manchester United lose to an Arsenal side playing for pride, setting up the biggest game of the season.
May 8: United race to the title; Wolves get a huge win
Thirty-six seconds into the game billed as a ‘title decider’, Javier Hernandez puts Manchester United into the lead against Chelsea. Nemanja Vidic heads in a second, and a consolation goal from Frank Lampard isn’t enough for Chelsea, for whom defeat means a six point deficit with two games remaining. United are jubilant, and they require just one point from their remaining games with Blackburn Rovers and Blackpool. At Molineux, meanwhile, Mick McCarthy’s Wolves bag a vital three points in the Black Country derby, Steve Fletcher the hero with two goals in a 3-1 win. Wolves leapfrog Blackpool and Wigan and leave the North Westerners in the drop zone with two games left.
May 10: City earn an invitation to the top table.
Almost a year ago to the day, a Peter Crouch goal in the corresponding fixture had won Spurs a Champions League place. This time another Crouch goal secured that spot, albeit this time it was an own goal. City’s 1-0 win means Roberto Mancini’s pre-season objective is achieved; he would soon add an FA Cup as well.
May 15: Relegation bites; The title is won
West Ham lose their top flight status after an astonishing turnaround at Wigan Athletic. The Hammers went in at half-time with a 2-0 lead thanks to two Demba Ba headers, but goals from Charles N’Zogbia (two) and Conor Sammon mean Wigan stay just about in touch with a Premier League place. West Ham manager Avram Grant is sacked in the tunnel after the game. Blackpool also take a win in another topsy-turvy game, Charlie Adam slamming home the winner in a 4-3 defeat of Bolton Wanderers. Wolves win at Sunderland to keep them afloat, but Birmingham suffer a huge blow in their fight against the drop, falling to an insipid 0-2 defeat at home to Fulham. Meanwhile a hard-earned point in Blackburn’s battle is overshadowed by Manchester United’s achievement – the 1-1 draw at Ewood Park secures the title. The crucial goal is scored by Wayne Rooney, and United celebrate a record 19th league title.
May 22: Intoxicating day of football sends Blackpool and Birmingham down
The final day of the season is one of the most exciting yet, with five teams in danger of the drop and all of them bar Blackburn spending some time in the bottom three. Blackpool go to Manchester United and take a 2-1 lead before falling apart and losing 4-2, and they are going down with Wolves until Stephen Hunt’s 87th minute goal against Blackburn, making the scoreline 2-3, lifts Mick McCarthy’s side above Birmingham on goals scored. With Wigan safe after Hugo Rodallega’s goal earns them a 1-0 win at Stoke, Birmingham go all out for a winner at Spurs and Roman Pavlyuchenko’s second goal makes it 2-1 to sink Alex McLeish’s side. Birmingham and Blackpool pay the price for failing at the basics, with Birmingham having scored just 37 and Blackpool having conceded 75.
The exhibition 4-2 win against Ian Holloway’s side is the last laugh for Sir Alex Ferguson’s team, who are a cut above the rest for the 12th time since the Premier League was formed.
