Another year of Premier League football has come and gone and what a season it turned out to be. There was drama and suspense from first whistle to last as Manchester City pipped Liverpool to the title on the final day, making it four out of the last five for Pep Guardiola. The Spaniard orchestrated another coupe on the league despite the lack of a recognised striker, having failed to secure the services of Harry Kane.
Nonetheless, City were still firm favourites on the bet exchange and it is testament to Liverpool that they stayed in the title race as long as they did. Aside from the top two, the battle for Champions League football went to the wire as did the relegation battle in one of the most entertaining campaigns in modern history. There were plenty of goals and entertaining matches, so read on as we look at a few of the best games of the past season.
Manchester United 4-1 Newcastle United – September
For a brief, brief moment, the feel-good factor was restored at Old Trafford. Having enjoyed a brilliant start to the season under Ole Gunnar Solskjær, Manchester United were on the periphery of the title race, and despite struggling to break down opponents in their two games before the end of the transfer window, they went into the home tie against Newcastle United with unwavering optimism. Why? Cristiano Ronaldo.
In his second debut, Ronaldo stunned the Stretford End, rolling back the years with a brace to deny the Magpies a first win of the season, albeit with some questionable goalkeeping from Karl Darlow. The famous ‘Siu’ celebration bellowed around all four corners of the 80,000-capacity ground, and while Ronaldo felt like a signing for the league, rather thanUnited’s sole purposes, the Portuguese reminded us just what we had been missing with his second coming.
Aston Villa 3-3 Leeds United
From one side of the table to the other; Aston Villa have been entertainers this season under Steven Gerrard, whilst Leeds United were shipping goals at will under Marcelo Bielsa before his dismissal against Tottenham Hotspur. This was a perfect example of both side’sdefensive fragility, something that would be a theme of both their seasons. Dan James put the visitors ahead at Villa Park before Phillipe Coutinho pulled one back and a Jacob Ramsey brace put Villa two to the good.
3-1 up and in cruise control, it was the spirit Leeds showed in their first Premier League campaign, channelling the energy from the away end to come back and draw 3-3; James grabbing his second just before half time before Diego Llorente completed the comeback on the hour mark. Despite some big chances at both ends neither side could settle their difference, but Villa ended up in a much stronger position in the table.
Liverpool 2-2 Manchester City – April
In terms of pure quality, you could make a case that this is the highest standard of football we’ve ever seen in the Premier League’s history. In a game that ultimately decided the title race, Manchester City, who were leaders at the time, gained the early ascendancy through Kevin De Bruyne, but Diogo Jota drew the visitors level just minutes later.
There was a cagey atmosphere about the first half but in it’s dying embers Gabriel Jesus pulled away at the back most to put his side ahead at the interval. Liverpool let themselves loose in the second half and acted swiftly — Sadio Manécoolly slotting home for 2-2. Riyad Mahrez could have just as easily won his side the game after blundering a close-range chance and then missing a free kick that kept Liverpool’s quadruple bid alive until the final day of the season.
