As we enter the home straight of a fascinating and unpredictable Premier League campaign, it looks like the race for the title will go right down to the wire.
Manchester United and Chelsea – the teams currently first and second – clash at Old Trafford tomorrow. However, Arsenal, in third - four points behind United - cannot be discounted.
On paper, the Gunners have the easiest run in, and the fact that their two main rivals play tomorrow means something has to give.
The phrase ‘the closest Premiership title race in years’, has been used many times in previous seasons, but how close is it really this year? Is it the closest race in history?
Below, I will present a few facts and figures from seasons gone by, illustrating some tight Premiership title races between three clubs.
At this point, all three teams at the top have played 32 games.
So how close was the title race after 32 games in the selected previous seasons, and what eventually happened?
SEASON 1995-1996
Liverpool’s legendary 4-3 defeat of Newcastle United meant that only four points separated the top three teams with six games to go. However, the Merseyside team would only take nine points from their last six games and dropped out of the title race.
The race between the top two, however, went to the wire, with Manchester United crowned as champions with a last day victory at Middlesbrough.
Newcastle were 12 points clear with only 13 games left in February, but eventually inished four points behind.
League table after 32 matches
P Pts
1 Manchester United 32 66
2 Newcastle United 32 65
3 Liverpool 32 62
Final League table
1 Manchester United 38 82
2 Newcastle United 38 78
3 Liverpool 38 71
SEASON 1998-1999
This season will always be synonymous with Manchester United and their unique treble. But what is often forgotten is that the title race went down to the final day. Any one of three teams could still have won it.
Chelsea, under Gianluca Vialli, were contenders from day one, and on many occasions throughout the season, the title looked like it could be heading for Stamford Bridge for the first time in 44 years.
However, tremendous late runs from Arsenal and Manchester United meant that the West London club missed out and the trophy headed to Old Trafford for the fifth time in seven seasons.
The title was clinched following a David Beckham inspired 2-1 victory at home to Tottenham. Ten days later, Alex Ferguson’s men had also won the FA Cup and the Champions League. The rest as they say, is history.
League table after 32 matches
P Pts
1 Manchester United 32 65
2 Arsenal 32 63
3 Chelsea 32 61
Final League table
1 Manchester United 38 79
2 Arsenal 38 78
3 Chelsea 38 75
SEASON 2001-2002
This particular season turned out to be an enthralling three way race for the title.
At the half way stage only four points separated Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United and Newcastle, but the Tynesiders couldn’t maintain their challenge and it subsequently became a three way battle for the crown.
Manchester United’s surprise home defeat to Middlesbrough on week 32 meant that Liverpool went top for the first time in four months following a last gasp win over Chelsea.
In fact, the Anfield club won 12 of their last 14 matches, and perhaps in any other season this may have been enough to clinch the title.
However, Arsenal – who always had vital games in hand throughout the run-in - won all of their last thirteen matches, and clinched the title with a sweet victory at Old Trafford in the penultimate league game of the season.
Arsene Wenger’s team went onto win the double, while Liverpool had the consolation of finishing runners up in the Premier League for the first time. This is to date, the only time the club have finished above their great rivals – Manchester United – in the Premier League era.
League table after 32 matches
1 Liverpool 32 65
2 Manchester United 32 64
3 Arsenal 30 63
Final league table
1 Arsenal 38 87
2 Liverpool 38 80
3 Manchester United 38 77
SEASON 2007-2008
Week 31 had seen a huge weekend of matches, which, in the end, proved to be crucial in a tight three way battle for the title.
Arsenal, who led the table for so many months up to March, lost, after taking the lead at Chelsea.
Manchester United went to the top of the table after defeating fourth placed Liverpool 3-0 at Old Trafford.
Week 32 saw Manchester United surprisingly held at Middlesbrough, while Arsenal could only draw at home to Liverpool.
A tremendous late surge from Chelsea (including a 2-1 win over United at Stamford Bridge) took the title race right down to the last day. But, while Chelsea were being held at home by Bolton, Manchester United won at Wigan, giving themselves and Ryan Giggs their tenth Premiership titles.
The two teams would also meet in the Champions League final in Moscow ten days later, with United again prevailing in a dramatic penalty shoot out victory.
Arsenal, meanwhile, were left to rue a crucial 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford in week 33 after taking an early lead. This six point swing in Manchester United’s favour was to prove fatal in Arsenal’s bid as they eventually trailed the champions by four points in the final reckoning.
League table after 32 matches
1 Manchester United 32 72
2 Chelsea 31 68
3 Arsenal 31 67
Final League table
1 Manchester United 38 87
2 Chelsea 38 85
3 Arsenal 38 83
References:
Wikipedia
youtube.com
bbc.co.uk
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