The Eagles’ fight-back was a hark back to epic Premier League battles from years gone by and here we look at three games to rival last night’s drama.
Liverpool 3 – 3 Manchester United – January 1994
Liverpool may well have seen their title bid collapse with last night’s result and the Reds will kick themselves for not channelling the fight and passion of their 1994 side to ensure victory.
In January that year Anfield hosted a rampant United side that raced into a 3-0 lead via a well-taken Steve Bruce header, a sublime Ryan Giggs chip and a trademark Dennis Irwin free-kick that found the top corner or Bruce Grobbelaar’s goal.
Liverpool refused to lie down that night though and were soon within touching distance thanks to two goals from Nigel Clough, the first of which was a thumping effort from 25 yards.
Fantastic saves from Grobbelaar and then United stopper Peter Schmeichel looked to have ended the game as a contest before Reds legend Neil Ruddock pooped up with a daring header to restore parity.
Tottenham Hotspur 3 – 5 Manchester United – September 2001
Spurs debutant Dean Richards started his White Hart Lane career in the best possible fashion by firing the Lilywhites ahead against the Red Devils.
Further goals from ‘Sir’ Les Ferdinand and Christian Ziege had the hosts 3-0 and cruising at half time but that would soon change.
United already had a reputation as comeback kings but no-one could have predicted the final result as Andy Cole, Laurent Blanc, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Juan Sebastian Veron combined to put United level before David Beckham sent the away fans into raptures with a scorching effort to win the game.
The Tottenham players were deflated but not as much as one Spurs fan that, legend has it, had a cheeky £10,000 on his side to win at half time. Ooops!
Newcastle 4 – 4 Arsenal – February 2011
While Spurs were overcome by the sheer class and determination of United, Arsenal were the architects of their own demise in this St James’ park thriller.
Theo Walcott, Johann Djourou and a Robin van Persie brace had the Gunners on the home straight on Tyneside and many were predicting a cricket score.
All that changed however, when Abou Diaby was sent off for a needless push on Joey Barton.
Not content with giving the Magpies a numerical advantage, Arsenal gave away not one but two penalties which Barton dispatched with ease.
These spot kicks sandwiched a Leon Best strike and set up the most dramatic of finishes as Cheick Tiote fired a goal-of–the-season contending volley to complete the comeback.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
