The Premier League has witnessed few things more thrilling than a fiercely contested match between two top teams.
And when it comes to epic clashes, recent fixtures between Chelsea and Manchester United have provided some of the most heart-stopping moments in recent memory.
One of such matches that stands out is Chelsea’s thrilling 4-3 victory over Manchester United on Thursday, April 4.
But that’s not the only memorable match involving two giants of English football.
Just a few seasons ago, Manchester United put on a masterclass performance against Arsenal, thrashing them 8-2 in a display of attacking brilliance.
Meanwhile, these matches are just a small taste of the drama and excitement in the Premier League as we have gathered our 10 favourite maddest matches
Man City 3-2 QPR – Etihad Stadium (May 2012)
Sergio Aguero led Manchester City to their first league title in 44 years on a day that would go down as one of the most dramatic in Premier League history.
Despite City players thinking they had already secured the title, relegation-threatened QPR proved to be a tougher challenge than expected.
Pablo Zabaleta scored first and at halftime, and it seemed like City was on their way to victory. However, Djibril Cisse’s equalizer and Joey Barton’s red card added unexpected twists to the game.
With City chasing the game and time running out, Edin Dzeko’s late equalizer gave hope to City fans. But it was Aguero’s 94th-minute goal that sealed the title for Manchester City in 2012, leaving an indelible mark on football history.
Liverpool 4-3 Newcastle – Anfield (April 1996)
Formerly hailed as the best Premier League game ever, it was a thrilling ride from start to finish.
Liverpool struck first, but Newcastle rallied to take a 2-1 lead. Thereafter, Liverpool equalized, only for Newcastle to regain the lead before Liverpool leveled the score again.
The rollercoaster match culminated in a dramatic late goal by Stan Collymore, securing a 4-3 victory for Liverpool over Newcastle and leaving Toon manager Kevin Keegan depressed on the sidelines.
Tottenham 1-4 Chelsea – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (November 2023)
It was a wild and brilliant encounter as five goals were scored and five were disallowed.
Spurs had two men sent off for acts of stupidity in each half, making Mauricio Pochettino’s return to his former home ground a nightmare for the home team.
Cristian Romero and Destiny Udogie were both sent off, leaving Tottenham with only nine men on the pitch. Nicolas Jackson capitalized on the situation by scoring a hat-trick.
Newcastle 4-4 Arsenal – St James’ Park (February 2011)
Newcastle found themselves three goals down within the first 10 minutes, which was certainly not part of Alan Pardew’s game plan.
The situation worsened when Robin van Persie added a fourth goal midway through the first half.
This came at a time when the fans were still reeling from Andy Carroll’s recent £35million transfer to Liverpool, a move which was met with disapproval by supporters.
With a lack of viable options up front, the match seemed destined to become a disaster for Newcastle. However, Abou Diaby’s red card turned the tide in their favor.
Two penalties from Joey Barton and a goal from the seldom-used Leon Best pulled Newcastle back into the game.
In a miraculous turn of events, Cheick Tiote’s late volley salvaged a point for Newcastle in a match where they were four goals down to the Gunners.
Chelsea 2-2 Tottenham – Stamford Bridge (May 2016)
The Battle of the Bridge was a chaotic scene of poor discipline from both sides.
Despite holding a two-goal advantage, Spurs crumbled in the second half and received a staggering nine yellow cards.
Chelsea’s comeback dashed Tottenham’s hopes of claiming the championship leading to Spur’s downfall in the title race in favour of Leicester City.
Man United 4-3 Man City – Old Trafford (September 2009)
Sir Alex Ferguson famously referred to Manchester City as the ‘noisy neighbors’ for signing Tevez from United which added tension to the match.
Despite Man United leading three times, City managed to equalize each time, with Craig Bellamy scoring in the 90th minute.
However, with four minutes of stoppage time, Giggs assisted Owen for a calm finish, securing a United’s victory in the Manchester derby.
Norwich 4-5 Liverpool – Carrow Road (January 2016)
It was a thrillingly messy game, with Liverpool taking the lead, falling behind 3-1, regaining the lead 4-3, and then almost losing it again with a late equalizer.
Despite the Red’s poor defending, Adam Lallana salvaged the game with a spectacular volley to secure Liverpool’s victory.
In the chaotic end of the match, Jurgen Klopp’s glasses were shattered during the jubilant celebrations.
Portsmouth 7-4 Reading – Fratton Park (September 2007)
This particular game has its own Wikipedia page, known as the highest-scoring match in Premier League history.
With nine different scorers and two own goals, including Niko Kranjcar for a team managed by Harry Redknapp, the match held a high significant value in the Premier League.
Remarkably, the score was only 2-1 at halftime before the floodgates opened, with Portsmouth’s striker Benjani eventually completing a hat-trick in their 7-4 victory over Reading in 2007.
Manchester United 8-2 Arsenal – Old Trafford (August 2011)
The intense club rivalry that once existed between United and Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal was starkly evident at Old Trafford, where the growing gap between the two teams was brutally exposed.
Despite Arsenal suffering their worst defeat since 1896, with Wayne Rooney securing a hat-trick in the match, it was clear that they were outmatched in every aspect of the game.
Meanwhile, the Gunners’ struggles in the transfer market, due to the financial constraints of building a new stadium, were evident in their lineup.
Chelsea 4-3 Man United – Stamford Bridge (April 2024)
The Premier League recently witnessed a historic comeback with Manchester United and Chelsea colliding in an intense battle on Thursday, April 4.
Erik Ten Hag’s men appeared to have sealed a remarkable turnaround from 2-0 down to 3-2 up. However, Cole Palmer’s last-minute goals in the 10th and 11th minutes of stoppage time saw Chelsea snatched a thrilling 4-3 victory.
Stamford Bridge erupted in euphoria as Chelsea emerged victorious in a truly unforgettable match.
