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Sunday saw one of the most exciting Premier League season’s in recent history reach its conclusion, with Manchester City pipping Liverpool to the title in a race that for much of the season also encompassed both Arsenal and Chelsea.
As World Cup fever prepares to sweep across the nation, following the announcement of England’s World Cup Squad, Squawka takes a look back at some of the best pictures from the season gone by.
1. Sun comes out at Goodison Park
The lone man with the shades must have been feeling pretty smug at this point. Not so much the man with the wooly hat.
2. That Selfie
Arsenal’s season may have petered out, but they did record three wins over north London rivals Tottenham. Goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny celebrated one with a selfie with Kieran Gibbs, although he was left looking markedly less impressed a few games later as the Gunners’ form collapsed.
3.The Spirit of Croydon
Even before their surge towards safety Crystal Palace were turning heads due to their vociferous home support. The banner above welcomed the team out for their final home game of the season; the miraculous comeback from three goals down to a 3-3 draw with Liverpool.
4. Chelsea’s strikers
Strikers were the story of Chelsea’s season, with Jose Mourinho vocal about his lack of confidence in any of his forward line.
Samuel Eto’o finished as the top scoring of the trio, helped by a hat trick against Manchester United, celebrated above.
5. David Moyes
As publicity stunts go, this one couldn’t have got much better for Paddy Power. Timed to coincide with David Moyes’ return to his old club, the bookmaker planted a grim reaper figure behind the dugout to watch over the Man United boss.
United duly lost and Moyes was sacked within days as last season’s champions slumped to a seventh placed finish.
6. Phil Jones
No pictorial round up would be complete without a weird Phil Jones face. So here’s one of our favourites from the year gone by.
7. Liverpool 5-1 Arsenal
Early season leaders Arsenal can point to their record against the top four as a large part of their fall to fourth place, with a 5-1 defeat at Anfield, followed by a 6-0 battering at the hands of Chelsea, putting a massive dent in their title hopes.
8.Van Persie scores against his old side
Remember, way back when, when Man United weren’t the butt of all jokes? Jose Mourinho went to Old Trafford early in the season with ambitions that stretched no further than a 0-0 draw, while Arsenal’s early season visit to Manchester saw United run out 1-0 winners thanks a to a goal from former Gunner Robin van Persie.
9. Marouane Fellaini
Arguably the flop of the season, Maraoune Fellaini did at least manage to succeed in one thing this season – looking scary with a head injury and blood running down his face.
10. City edge closer to the title
A day after Liverpool’s capitulation at Selhurst Park, Manchester City underlined their title credentials with a win over Aston Villa. Edin Dzeko’s double helped secure a 4-0 win at the Etihad, but Villa’s defence had initially proven a tough nut to crack before Dzeko’s opener, celebrated above.
11. The Adebayor Salute
Perhaps the biggest plus point of Tim Sherwood’s short reign at Tottenham was his re invigoration of Emmanuel Adebayor. Sadly, this extended to mimicking the Togo striker’s goal celebration along with coach Chris Ramsey.
12. Kompany gets a punch to the face in the Manchester derby
Not only did Manchester City secure a second Premier League title in three years, they also managed to put seven goals past their city rivals United over two games. Here’s Vincent Kompany getting an accidental whack in the face from United keeper David de Gea.
