Having looked at the most overrated and underrated players in the Premier League, we look at the best games in the division over the last 19 years.
20. West Ham United 3 Tottenham Hotspur 4 – 2007
West ham nearly scuppered their survival chances after throwing away a 2-0 and a 3-2 lead. A Mark Noble strike and a Carlos Tevez free-kick put West Ham in control before Jermain Defoe scored a penalty. Teemu Tainio volleyed Spurs level from Lennon’s audacious flick before West Ham’s Bobby Zamora headed in late on. Dimitar Berbatov scored a free-kick before Paul Stalteri scored a dramatic injury-time winner.
19. Wolverhampton Wanderers 4 Leicester City 3 – 2003
The visitors had made a blistering start after two goals from Les Ferdinand and a third from Riccardo Scimeca gave the Foxes a 3-0 lead at half-time. But Colin Cameron scored a brace, while Alex Rae and Henri Camara scored one each in Wolves’ second half revival to help secure the three points in this relegation battle.
18. Newcastle United 5 Manchester United 0 – 1996
Alan Shearer inspired Newcastle to condemn Sir Alex Ferguson to his biggest league defeat. Goals from Gavin Peacock, David Ginola, Les Ferdinand and Shearer had put the Toon Army in seventh heaven, but the real icing on the cake came on 83 minutes, when Newcastle centre-back Philip Albert lobbed Peter Schmeichel with a delightful lofted finish.
17. Leicester City 3 Arsenal 3 – 1997
The game is best remembered for the greatest hat-trick ever scored in the Premier League, courtesy of Dennis Bergkamp, but it was also a classic game. The Dutchman put the Gunners two up before Emile Heskey and Matt Elliot equalised with 90 minutes gone. Bergkamp scored again before deep into injury time before Steve Walsh grabbed a point for the Foxes.
16. West Ham United 5 Bradford City 4 – 2000
Paulo di Canio inspired a great comeback by the Hammers. Bradford were 4-2 in front at the start of the second half. The eccentric Italian is well known for his on-field histrionics, but he surpassed himself as he demanded Harry Redknapp take him off after his third penalty shout was turned down by referee, Neale Barry. And then, when the Hammers were awarded a penalty, Di Canio argued with Frank Lampard to take the kick. Lampard gave up the argument, Di Canio scored, and suddenly West Ham were back in the game at 3-4 with 25 minutes left. Joe Cole’s first league goal for his side, and a beautiful strike by Lampard, finished off City.
15. Newcastle United 4 Leicester City 3 – 1997
Alan Shearer turned this game on its head with a hat-trick in the final 14 minutes. He had been anonymous as Newcastle went 3-1 down (thanks to Steve Claridge, Matt Elliot and Emile Heskey), but then proved his class. A long-range free-kick, a clever strike through a crowd of players and a late, late tap-in did the trick at the beginning of Kenny Dalglish’s reign.
14. Arsenal 2 Leeds United 3 – 2003
Mark Viduka ended Arsenal’s double dream with a brilliant, curling 89th-minute winner after Leeds had twice squandered the lead, through Harry Kewell and Ian Harte. Arsenal’s goalscoring duo of Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp levelled the match, but they could not silence the big Aussie and the relegation fears of the Yorkshire side were eased.
13. Southampton 6 Manchester United 3 – 1996
A Matthew Le Tissier inspired Southampton, and an Egil Ostenstad hat-trick, won the game for the Saints, less than six months after beating the same opposition 3-1 at the Dell during the infamous half-time shirt change. After Eyal Berkovic had given the Saints an early lead, Roy Keane was sent off, and the game descended into an attacking goal fest that saw four goals plundered in the last ten minutes.
12. Leeds United 4 Liverpool 3 – 2000
Also known as Mark Viduka 4-3 Liverpool, this match saw the Australian striker at his very best. Viduka scored all four goals for Leeds, as they fought back from 2-0 and 3-2 down to win 4-3 at Elland Road. The Reds goalscorers were Sami Hypia, Christian Ziege and Vladimer Smicer. Leeds were injury-hit and could not even fill the bench, but Viduka carried the team single-handedly to victory.
11. Liverpool 4 Newcastle United 3 – 1997
The game that proves lightning can strike twice. Both teams were fighting for second place and Kenny Dalglish returned to Anfield. Liverpool raced into a three goal lead, thanks to Steve McManaman, Patrick Berger and Robbie Fowler. Newcastle fought back through Keith Gillespie, Faustino Asprilla and Warren Barton. But Fowler sealed three points with a winner in injury time.
10. Portsmouth 7 Reading 4 – 2007
Benjani’s hat-trick helped secure an incredible win for Portsmouth in a match which took everybody by surprise. He gave his side a two-goal lead and they were coasting until Stephen Hunt and Dave Kitson sparked a mini-revival for Reading, who wouldn’t give up. David James saved a Nicky Shorey penalty, which inspired Pompey to score goal after goal.
9. Tottenham Hotspur 3 Arsenal 3 – 2011
Both sides were desperate for three points as the season came to an end. Tottenham need a win to keep Champions League dreams alive, while the Gunners needed to keep the pressure on the league leaders. Theo Walcott scored after five minutes but Rafael van der Vaart equalised straight after. Arsenal had a two-goal lead, thanks to Samir Nasri and Robin van Persie, but squandered it. Tom Huddlestone and Van der Vaart levelled.
8. Arsenal 4 Tottenham Hotspur 4 – 2007
Harry Redknapp ‘s first game as Spurs boss was a little bit lively. There were goalkeeping errors, defensive howlers (typical Arsenal display) and David Bentley’s superb 39-yard half-volley. Oh, and Arsenal had a two-goal advantage, with goals from Robin van Persie and Emmanuel Adebayor, with a minute to play before Jermaine Jenas and Aaron Lennon struck.
7. Tottenham Hotspur 3 Manchester United 5 – 2001
Literally a game of two-halves. Tottenham thought they had won it at the break but Sir Alex Ferguson’s men had other ideas. Dean Richards, Les Ferdinand and Christian Ziege put Spurs 3-0 up, but Man United were sensational in the second half and goals from Andy Cole, Laurent Blanc, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Juan Sebastian Veron and David Beckham turned the match on its head.
6. Liverpool 4 Arsenal 4 – 2009
Andrey Arshavin announced himself to the Premier League with four goals in this classic encounter. Two doubles from Fernando Torres and Yossi Benayoun earned Liverpool a point in a game either side could have won.
5. Liverpool 3 Manchester United 3 – 1994
United raced into a three-goal lead within 24 minutes, through Steve Bruce, Ryan Giggs, Dennis Irwin, but when Liverpool woke up they revived memories of their golden years as they mounted a spectacular comeback. Nigel Clough scored twice before the break, and Neil Ruddock equalised 11 minutes from time.
4. Tottenham Hotspur 4 Arsenal 5 – 2004
Martin Jol’s first match as Spurs boss was a classic. Two attacking teams slugging it out until the very end. Noureddine Naybet volleyed Spurs ahead before Thierry Henry levelled and Lauren’s penalty put Arsenal ahead. Patrick Vieira added a third on the hour, and even though Jermain Defoe’s strike gave Spurs hope, Freddie Ljungberg restored the two-goal lead. Ledley King headed Spurs’ third, and even after Robert Pires hit Arsenal’s fifth, Freddie Kanoute was on target.
3. Manchester United 4 Manchester City 3 – 2009
Michael Owen endeared himself to United fans after grabbing a trademark winner in the 97th minute. Wayne Rooney and a Darren Fletcher double had three times given the Red Devils the lead. ‘Noisy neighbours’ City thought Craig Bellamy’s goal in the 90th minute, his second of the match, had earned a draw, but the former Liverpool striker had the final word.
2. Newcastle United 4 Arsenal 4 – 2011
Arsene Wenger’s men raced into a 4-0 lead at St James’ Park, through Theo Walcott, Johan Djourou and a Robin van Persie double, and it was just a question of how many they’d score. But in the second half Abou Diaby got sent off, a Leon Best strike was sandwiched by a couple of Joey Barton penalties and then Cheik Tiote scored a stunning volley to level up the match.
1. Liverpool 4 Newcastle United 3 – 1996
Newcastle’s fading title hopes suffered a killer blow as Stan Collymore first sapped their morale with Liverpool’s 68th-minute equaliser, making the score 3-3 after both sides had led. Robbie Fowler had bagged a brace, while Les Ferdinand, David Ginola and Tino Asprilla had scored for the visitors. Then Collymore grabbed the winner two minutes into injury time to leave Kevin Keegan in despair.