ROVER AND OUT FOR BIG SAM

New Blackburn owners the Venky's Group instantly made their presence felt in English football by relieving the experienced Sam Allardyce of his duties in mid-December. Allardyce stabilised the Ewood Park club in his two-year reign and did so with very little money to spend on attracting new players. He left with Rovers 13th in the Premier League and the side remained on the fringes of the relegation zone under rookie manager Steve Kean.

THE ROO-TURN

Wayne Rooney went from wanting to quit Manchester United and angering the Old Trafford faithful to signing a new five-year deal believed to be worth over £200,000 a week in the space of two tense days in October. The England striker initially questioned the club's ambition and there was talk of a move to Manchester City before he had a swift change of heart, rekindling his love affair with United by scoring a stunning overhead kick against City in February.

TIME UP FOR HUGHTON

The manager's post at Newcastle has long been regarded as a tough one to hold on to and so it proved for Chris Hughton, who was sacked in December with the club 11th in the Premier League. That Hughton had guided the Magpies back to the top flight at the first time of asking - which is no mean feat as the likes of Leeds can testify - counted for nothing when controversial owner Mike Ashley took the decision to dispense with his services after a 3-1 defeat against West Brom. "It makes no sense," said defender Sol Campbell. Alan Pardew was appointed as his successor on a long-term deal.

CARROLL MAKES HISTORY

A season of tumultuous highs and crushing lows for Andy Carroll took a turn for the better in January when he became the most expensive British player of all time at the age of just 22. It is believed that Liverpool paid £35million to lure the striker from Newcastle two months after making his first senior England appearance. The loss of Fernando Torres was quickly offset by the addition of Carroll and Luis Suarez from Ajax. It was Carroll's transfer, though, that attracted the most interest and he was immediately handed the coveted number nine shirt at Anfield.

REDS BID TA-RA TO TORRES

After months of intense speculation regarding his future, Fernando Torres left Liverpool in sensational fashion on the final day of the January transfer window to join Chelsea, smashing the British transfer record in the process. If the £50million price tag did not raise enough eyebrows, then Torres' comments after moving to Stamford Bridge will have. "The target for every player is to play for one of the tops clubs in the world and I can do it now," said the World Cup winner, further upsetting Liverpool fans.

KING KENNY RETURNS

Roy Hodgson's ill-fated tenure at Liverpool lasted just over six months before club legend Kenny Dalglish was installed as manager until at least the end of the season. Dalglish, who masterminded Liverpool's last league title success in 1990 during his previous spell in the Anfield dugout, was on a cruise sailing around the Arabian Gulf when news broke that Hodgson had left by mutual consent at the start of January and the Scot jetted back to Merseyside to take the reins, having most recently worked behind the scenes as a club ambassador. Needless to say the man widely considered to be the greatest player in Liverpool's history was afforded the warmest of welcomes upon his return to management from the club's supporters, and was given a three-year deal at the season's end.

ROLLERCOASTER RIDE FOR SEASIDERS

Blackpool defied expectations and logic to beat the likes of Liverpool (twice), Newcastle, Sunderland and Tottenham before ultimately being relegated on the final day of the season. Ian Holloway's side showed a refreshing thirst to attack rather than merely 'park the bus' against the division's leading sides, with Charlie Adam leading the side superbly.

BALE BLOSSOMS AT SPURS

It was not that long ago that Gareth Bale was best known for being the unluckiest Premier League player after waiting more than two years - a run that stretched 24 games - to be on a winning side in the top flight with Tottenham. The 22-year-old is now considered one of the most exciting youngsters on the planet after a 2010-11 campaign in which he reached new heights. Bale's hat-trick against Inter Milan in the San Siro in October propelled him to almost overnight stardom, although a back injury hampered his progress at the start of this year.

GUNNERS KEPT WAITING FOR SILVERWARE

Another season that promised so much ended in failure for Arsenal. Gunners fans were dreaming of an historic quadruple as the end of February approached. Some three weeks later, however, familiar frailties in Arsene Wenger's squad were ruthlessly exposed yet again as the Gunners suffered a shock Carling Cup final defeat against Birmingham before crashing out of the Champions League and FA Cup and slipping off the pace in the Premier League.

UNITED KNOCK REDS OFF PERCH

Sir Alex Ferguson spoke of his desire to "knock Liverpool off their perch" early in his reign as Manchester United manager and he achieved it in 2011 as the Red Devils overhauled Liverpool's record of 18 league titles. Wayne Rooney's second-half penalty clinched a point at Blackburn which was enough to ensure United finished top of the pile with a match to spare.