37. Man United 2-0 Arsenal, 24/10/2004

After 49 unbeaten league games, the Invincibles were finally, er, vinced in a match now better remembered for what happened after it – the ‘Battle of the Buffet’.

Never a man to shy from a battle, Sir Alex Ferguson sent out his side to ruffle Arsenal feathers, with Jose Antonio Reyes targeted in what Arsene Wenger called "bully-boy tactics". It was United who got the key decision, Ruud van Nistelrooy converting a penalty contentiously awarded for a Sol Campbell challenge on Wayne Rooney, before the England striker finished an injury-time counter-attack to mark his 19th birthday in style. Fittingly enough for a teenage celebration, pizza appeared soon after. GP

 

 

 

 

 

36. Arsenal 2-3 Leeds, 04/05/2003

For the sixth season in a row, the title race came down to a straight battle between Arsenal and Manchester United. The Red Devils’ win over Charlton on the penultimate weekend of the season meant the Gunners had to beat Leeds 24 hours later to keep themselves in contention. It looked a relatively simple task, with the Yorkshire side struggling towards the bottom of the Premier League; the threat of relegation was a real one, though, and Leeds were duly fired up for the battle.

Harry Kewell gave the visitors an early lead following a glorious pass from Jason Wilcox, before Thierry Henry tapped in an equaliser after Paul Robinson had tipped Ray Parlour's effort onto the bar.

The teams exchanged blows again through an Ian Harte free-kick and a clever finish from Dennis Bergkamp, with the Gunners pushing hard for a winner thereafter. Leeds hit the hosts on the break with just two minutes remaining, however, Mark Viduka selling Oleg Luzhny a dummy before guiding the ball past David Seaman. It's not often Manchester United fans will celebrate a Leeds goal, but they did it three times in May 2003. JM

 

 

35. Man City 0-1 Tottenham, 05/05/2010

The timing and table meant this was effectively a fourth-place play-off – and Peter Crouch’s goal earned Harry Redknapp's team a Champions League spot while holding up the Manchester City project for a season. As well as being important, it was also tactically fascinating, with Spurs’ staunch defence repelling City’s fierce attack: Ledley King excelled at the back, foiling dangerous forwards Craig Bellamy and Carlos Tevez, while much-maligned keeper Heurelho Gomes produced a string of splendid saves.

The winner, from a Younes Kaboul cross palmed by Martin Fulop onto Crouch’s head, prompted post-game hi-jinks when David Bentley doused manager Harry Redknapp with a barrelful of water. Almost exactly a year later City would win the rematch by the reverse score to qualify themselves for Europe's top competition – although Spurs had enjoyed a glorious journey in the meantime. RS

 

 

34. Man United 1-4 Liverpool 14/03/2009

When old rivals United and Liverpool met in the spring of 2009, the Merseysiders knew defeat would all but end their faint title hopes. By full-time, though, it was United whose championship credentials were being questioned, as the Reds left Old Trafford with the points and pride after an emphatic victory.

Sir Alex Ferguson's charges looked on course to stretch their advantage at the top of the table when Cristiano Ronaldo's penalty gave them an early lead, but Fernando Torres hounded Nemanja Vidic into a mistake and raced through to beat Edwin van der Sar eight minutes later. The quick turnaround was complete a minute before the interval, when Steven Gerrard scored from the spot having been upended in the box by Patrice Evra - cue slobbery camera snog.

United's day of misery was summed up 15 minutes from time when Vidic, who had been given the runaround by Torres all afternoon, was sent off for a foul on Gerrard, with Fabio Aurelio brilliantly curling home the resulting free-kick from 25 yards. Things got worse still for United in stoppage time, when Liverpool substitute Andrea Dossena (remember him?) lobbed Van der Sar to complete the rout.

Sadly for Liverpool, United had the last laugh by going on to win a third successive title – equalling the Anfield side’s record of 18 domestic crowns. JG

 

 

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