'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The 2017 Premier League season is on track to become one of the most entertaining, anticipated seasons in history. With United and City neck and neck at the top, this season could yet produce one of the most exciting finishes to a PL campaign.
The Premier League Champions club is an elite group, comprising, the only six teams to have won the Premier League. Manchester United, Blackburn Rovers, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Leicester City make up the group.
These elite group of teams have thwarted away exciting teams over the past 25 years of the Premier League, including each other, to win the elusive crown.
Here we take a look at five of the most exciting teams that crumbled in their bid to win the Premier League title.
5. Benitez' Liverpool 08/09
Liverpool's wait for their first League trophy since 1990, remains the Merseyside club's most alarming issue. However, during the 08/09 season, there were many who believed that the run would come to an end.
Rafa Benitez was in charge of the Liverpool team with the likes of Torres, Gerrard and Mascherano all vying for their first title in England. An exciting and powerful team with incredible bursts of energy and intensity blew away opponents during the course of the season.
Despite Liverpool picking up a League double over United and finishing the campaign as overall top scorers with 77 goals, defensive issues coupled with lack of squad depth led to Liverpool crumbling towards the end of the season.
The eight-goal PL classic draw at Anfield with Arsenal signalled the end of an encouraging season, as Liverpool ended the campaign 14 points off Man United who dropped just two points in their last ten games en route to their third consecutive title in as many years.
With players of high calibre and a fluent, steady system under Benitez, Liverpool's maiden Premier League crown still eludes the club, ten years on from Benitez.
4. Pochettino’s Spurs 15/16
Mauricio Pochettino's 2015/16 Tottenham Hotspur team fell short in their attempt to claim the club's maiden Premier League title, although they challenged eventual winners Leicester City, till the end of the season.
Only in his second year as Spurs' boss during the 15/16 season, Pochettino transformed the team into title challengers playing a brave, dynamic brand of football. With a core of young English talents such as Kane, Alli and Dier driving the squad, a host of quality international players like Lloris, Vertonghen, Lamela and Eriksen assembled the rest of the North London squad.
Revitalized and eager to stake their claim in PL history, Poch's team outran all their opposition, playing a fluid style of intense attacking football.
On May 3rd, Spurs travelled to Stamford Bridge to take on Chelsea, with a couple of games remaining in the season knowing full well that only a victory could keep their hopes of challenging for the crown alive. However, a draw against rivals and neighbours Chelsea helped Leicester secure their first title and complete the greatest triumph in modern sports history.
Poch's Spurs will go down in history as one of the most exciting PL losers, as the club finished the season in third, behind rivals Arsenal who pounced on Spurs' terrible end of season form to nip ahead and finish second.
3. Ferguson’s United 11/12
In what remains the closest finish to a PL season in history, Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United suffered a final day heartbreak at the hands of Mancini's Manchester City, who pipped United to the title on goal difference with the last kick of the football for the 11/12 season.
The most dramatic finish in history was created largely thanks to United's errors in the lead up to the final day of the season. An eight-point lead was surrendered to City in the last five games of the season, as United finished second after an impressive season boasting the likes of young English players.
A brilliant season that could've been capped with a title, turned into one of the darkest hours in United's recent history. An exciting team that blew past opponents early on in the season, United crumbled at the death almost handing over the title to City.
2. Rodgers' Liverpool 13/14
Liverpool's title run in 13/14 under Brendan Rodgers, was the season where the club almost ended their wait for a league crown since 1990. The Northern Irishman assembled an experienced team with a dynamic attacking line up only to cover for their weak defensive setup.
It paid dividends early on as Liverpool were rampant going forward with Rodgers containing the issue of leaking goals with more attacking firepower, as the likes of Suarez, Coutinho, Gerrard, Sterling and Sturridge continued to break open defences.
However, costly slip-ups against Chelsea and Palace in the most crucial moments of the season gave Manchester City the opportunity they needed to pull away from Liverpool reclaiming the title they lost the previous year to Manchester United.
Liverpool has not come close to playing a more attractive brand of football or challenging for the league title since Rodgers' team of 13/14.
1.Keegans' Newcastle 96/97
The greatest, most exciting team to have not won the PL trophy is Kevin Keegan's Newcastle team of 96/97. Newcastle's gung-ho approach throughout the 96/97 season, like so many others teams in this bracket, remains the main reason for their ultimate failure to land to the league title.
A 12 point lead was thrown away by Keegan's team giving Ferguson's United a chance to steal the trophy away from the Magpies. Newcastle's failings like many others on this list also stem from some terrible away form and the inability to grind out results on the road, during crunch periods of the season.
Boasting the likes of Ginola, Lee, Les Ferdinand and Asprilla Newcastle were moulded into a powerful, energetic side capable of destroying their opposition, under Keegan, who gave the players license to express themselves.
Lacking title-winning credentials, Newcastle still challenged the eventual champions right down to the wire. A flamboyant side with two attacking wingers and a mindset to push the envelope, Keegan's Newcastle will always be remembered as the most exciting team to have not won the prize.
