During almost a quarter of a century of the English Premier League, there have been brilliant goals, world class players and some amazing results. All this has kept us fascinated and obsessed by the world’s greatest club football competition.
In this feature, we will look at 5 of the most one-sided games ever to grace the EPL and what the results meant for the teams involved.
Do you remember Manchester City’s thrashing of Fergie’s Man United? Perhaps you recall when The Red Devils hit eight past a hapless Arsenal?
Both these hammerings and more are reviewed, so strap yourselves in, it could be a bumpy ride!!
#1 Man United 9-0 Ipswich, 4th March 1995
During the 1994/95 season, it was expected that Man United (Premier League Champions in both previous seasons) would be challenging for the title once more. On the 4th March 1995, they were lying in 2nd place, just 3 points behind Blackburn Rovers and desperate for a win to keep the pressure on the league leaders.
Ipswich meanwhile were languishing second from bottom (Leicester City being the only team below them!) and seven points adrift of safety, were desperate for some kind of result that would have seen them prolong their Premier League survival hopes.
The reverse fixture earlier that season had been something of a surprise, with Ipswich running out 3-2 winners in September 1994.
What ensued was one of the most one-sided match-ups in the history of the Premier League. United were ahead after just 16 minutes when Roy Keane struck from distance, beating ‘keeper Craig Forrest (whose day was about to get far worse!)
Goal machine Andy Cole followed that up with 2 clinical finishes before half time and the Old Trafford faithful scented blood. During the break, Alex Fergusson suggested Ipswich already looked a beaten side and that United should focus on trying to finish with six goals.
They must have misheard him because 6 more goals followed in 45 breathless second half minutes. Andy Cole finished with five (A joint Premier League record for goals in a match) Mark ‘Sparky’ Hughes grabbing 2 and Paul Ince getting the other.
So what did it mean for both teams?
Unfortunately, it was relegation that season for Ipswich, finishing bottom of the League. While Man United, despite wiping out Blackburn’s goal difference at the top of the table, went on to finish runners-up in the EPL by just a single point.
#2 Man United 1-6 Manchester City, 23rd October 2011
Though not one of the biggest margins of victory, the significance of this result in the history of the Manchester clubs cannot be underestimated.
Man United’s dominance of the Premier League era was coming to an end. The ‘noisy neighbours’ as Sir Alex Ferguson had named City during the previous campaign, were suddenly threatening to win the title.
It was only 0-1 at halftime, a Mario Balotelli stroked finish into the bottom corner, allowing the striker to calmly pull up his top to reveal a t-shirt bearing the words “Why Always Me?” A reference to the fact that he accidentally set off fireworks in his house that caused substantial damage.
The second half saw more problems for United. Evans who was enduring an awful afternoon, let Balotelli in behind him and ended up receiving a red card after hauling the Italian down.
Balotelli doubled his and City’s goals on 60 minutes after good work from Silva meant a square ball from James Milner left him with the easiest of finishes.
There followed a goal from Sergio Aguero, before Darren Fletcher pulled one back for the home side. This proved to be the only thing that United fans could cheer that day. Soon after, Edin Dzeko got City’s 4th before the excellent David Silva got the goal he deserved making it 5.
It was Dzeko again that completed the rout deep into ‘Fergie time’ with a low left-footed strike.
Though still early in the season, the result sent shockwaves through the Premier League and had a huge impact on one of the most amazing title races ever seen in Football.
The season finale - seeing Man City beat QPR 3-2 with literally the last kick of the game from Sergio Aguero – meant the sky blues won the title purely on goal difference from their neighbours and remains the closest finish ever in a Premier League title race.
#3 Tottenham 9-1 Wigan, 22nd November 2009
During the reign of Harry Redknapp, Tottenham Hotspur were regularly known for their confident, attacking style of football. When Wigan Athletic turned up at White Hart Lane on a cold Sunday in November, nobody could have foreseen the level that Spurs would elevate to during the course of those 90 minutes.
What makes the score line all the more remarkable is that all but one of those goals came in the second half!
Blown apart by 5 Jermaine Defoe strikes, Wigan and the then manager Roberto Martinez must have been begging for mercy before the full-time whistle.
Tottenham opened the scoring after just 9 minutes when Peter Crouch headed them into the lead.
It remained that way until 6 minutes after the break, when Jermaine Defoe went on a scoring spree and delivered a 7-minute hat-trick – the second quickest hat-trick in Premier League History – and put the result beyond any doubt. (Robbie Fowler still holds the quickest, for Liverpool against Arsenal back in 1994)
From then on it was simply a case of how many Defoe – and Spurs – were going to score. The Tottenham right winger Aaron Lennon got involved on 64 minutes steering in a rebound from a Peter Crouch header that was superbly saved by Wigan ‘keeper Chris Kirkland.
The Latics shot-stopper went on to make several world class saves over the course of the game and without him, the scoreline (as bad as it was) would have been a lot worse.
After Lennon made it 5, Defoe got on the scoresheet twice more, after 69 and 87 minutes. The rout was then completed by David Bentley (who replaced the unplayable Aaron Lennon to rapturous applause) on 88 minutes and Nico Kranjcar with a drive into the top corner of the Wigan net on 94 minutes.
Poor, poor Wigan.
#4 Man United 8-2 Arsenal, 28th August 2011
Although not one of the Premier Leagues biggest margins of victory, this match - or rather mismatch - should be high up on the list of biggest results.
With Arsenal regularly challenging for honours alongside Manchester United this one-sided affair stands out as one of the most surprising results in Premier League history.
Arsene Wenger wasn’t without his excuses. His makeshift side hit by suspensions and a long injury list may have given clues as to why they were beaten, but there is no way they should have been outclassed and out gunned so easily in the manner they were.
With names such as Koscielny, Walcott, Arshavin and Van Persie in the starting line-up, there was no indication of the sort of hammering the Gunners were going to sustain at Old Trafford – their worst defeat since 1896.
Danny Welbeck (currently playing for Arsenal!) opened the scoring on 22 minutes with a looping header. The Gunners then had their chance to get back level when Jonny Evans fouled Theo Walcott in the area. However, Robin Van Persie’s tame penalty was saved by De Gea.
That was the miss that may well have shaped the game. Ashley Young, just 2 minutes later, curled a stunning 25-yard shot into the top corner of Arsenal’s net.
Wayne Rooney followed that with a superb curling free-kick (interestingly his 150th for United – he’s since gone on to beat Sir Bobby Charlton’s record of 249 back in January this year) to make it 3-0.
Walcott managed to pull one back for the Gunners however, Rooney nailed a trademark free-kick in the 63rd minute. Nani and Park both added goals, before Arsenal and Van Persie made the score 6-2.
The unfortunate Carl Jenkinson was then sent off for a foul on Hernandez and what was already a difficult day was made much harder. Rooney then completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot, after make-shift right back Walcott fouled Evra in the box.
The scoring was then completed in stoppage time, when Young curled in yet another 25-yard effort.
According to reports, Arsenal fans were heard chanting “We’re going to win 9-8!” Toward the end of the game, but this surely was one of the Gunners and Arsene Wenger’s darkest days.
#5 Chelsea 8-0 Wigan, 9th May 2010
The last game of the 2009-10 season saw Chelsea needing a win to secure the title. And what a way to do it. Their closest rivals for the Premier League, Man United knew that any slip up would allow them to pounce and secure a 4th title in-a-row.
With Wigan’s season effectively over, having pulled clear of the relegation places with a few games to spare, Chelsea would have been confident of securing a victory. The manner of the victory, however, would have surprised even the most partisan of Blues fans.
Nicolas Anelka gave the home side early reason to celebrate by drilling home at the near post after Florent Malouda's chest down into his path after just 6 minutes.
After 32 minutes, however, Stamford Bridge’s inhabitants could really start to celebrate. Frank Lampard was hauled down by Gary Caldwell as he raced into the box. The Wigan defender subsequently received the red card and Lampard thumped in the resultant penalty to ensure the title was once again theirs.
Chelsea could have been forgiven for being complacent, coming out for the second half 2 goals to the good and having a man extra. However, they seemed determined to put on a show for the fans and that they did.
Six additional goals followed. Saloman Kalou and another for Nicolas Anelka made it 4, before their main man, Didier Drogba headed in a 5th from a Lampard cross. That was Chelsea’s 100th Premier league goal for the season and secured Drogba the Golden Boot.
He wasn’t finished there though, capping off a marvellous display by converting a penalty and then firing in from close range to make it 7-0.
Ashley Cole completed the rout with a low finish which sent the home support and the whole Chelsea squad into raptures. It was their biggest win in their history and they finished the season scoring 103 goals – which is still a Premier League record.
