With Britain stuck in an apocalyptic state, I have taken the opportunity to reflect upon what has been a typically dramatic and exciting season of football, at all levels. This is the first of a three-part miniseries on the best games of the season so far. This piece, part one, will look at the top ten games of the Premier League 2019/20, up until the enforced break we are currently enduring. These matches have been selected because of their thrill, spectacle and meaningfulness. Let’s get on with the countdown…
10) Liverpool 2-0 Manchester United
Anfield. 19th January 2020. Premier League Match 22.
This was Liverpool’s most symbolic win on their way to what will surely be a first Premier League title. At this point, United were the only team to have taken points from Liverpool after a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford in October. Adam Lallana rescued a point in the 87th minute that day but that was nothing to match the late drama of January. Liverpool hit the front with a bullet header through Virgil Van Dijk from Trent Alexander-Arnold’s corner. The Reds had two more strikes ruled out in the first half, first from Roberto Firmino and then Georginio Wijnaldum, who ran the show in midfield. The table-toppers continued to dominate in the second half but couldn’t find the all-important second goal and United began to go in search of an equaliser. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s team had a corner in the dying moments, which Alisson Becker dealt with, and with a bit of quick-thinking, set Mohamed Salah away. The Egyptian fought off the challenge of Harry Maguire and slotted past David De Gea to confirm the win in the 93rd minute, sparking scenes of delirium on the terraces as choruses of ‘we’re gonna win the league’ reverberated around Anfield for the first time since 2014. A truly wonderful Premier League clash between the two powerhouses of the competition.
9) Southampton 0-9 Leicester City
St Mary’s Stadium. 25th October 2019. Premier League Match 10.
A record-breaking match in October as Brendan Rodgers’ Leicester turned up to Southampton on a rainy Friday night and well and truly turned Ralph Hasenhuttl’s team over. The Foxes were in front after just ten minutes when left-back Ben Chilwell made the most of a parried Angus Gunn save after good work from Leicester’s engine Wilfred Ndidi. It was the tale of two left-backs early on as after Chilwell’s goal, Saints no.21 Ryan Bertrand was sent off for a high boot on Ayoze Perez. Southampton couldn’t cope with ten men and after Youri Tielemans coolly finished off an attack, Ayoze Perez saw his shot go in off Gunn after a one-two with Tielemans. The Spaniard had his second of the night with a thumping finish at Gunn’s near post before Jamie Vardy made it 0-5 on the stroke of half-time after turning Maya Yoshida inside out and smashing in a thunderous effort. Saints’ embarrassment continued into the second half and their fans – and luck – deserted them. Perez got on the end of a lovely chipped ball from Harvey Barnes and sealed his hat-trick by capitalising on a woeful defensive line. It was seven when an unmarked Vardy headed home a simple cross before a terrific pinpoint free-kick from James Maddison made it 0-8. Vardy joined Perez in the hat-trick club in stoppage time by thumping home a penalty after he was fouled in the box to compound the Southampton misery. A remarkable night of Premier League action on the South Coast –a dark, dark night for the Saints and a magnificent one for Leicester.
8) Brighton 3-2 Everton
The AMEX Stadium. 26th October 2019. Premier League Match 10.
A to-and-fro match at the AMEX in October between Brighton and Everton. The Seagulls hit the front after just fifteen minutes with a rasping Pascal Gross free-kick, though Jordan Pickford really should’ve managed to keep it out. The German found a gap in the wall and exploited it, though Graham Potter’s team weren’t in front for long. An Everton corner was swung in towards Richarlison, who got something on it but the goal actually went down as an Adam Webster own goal, the former Bristol City man diverting Richarlison’s header goal-bound. Everton took the lead with just sixteen minutes remaining when Mason Holgate’s delightful through ball was finished with aplomb in the bottom corner by Dominic Calvert-Lewin, and the Toffees thought they’d won it. It wasn’t to be though, as with six minutes to go, VAR awarded an extremely soft penalty for Michael Keane bringing down Aaron Connolly. Former Brentford striker Neal Maupay lashed the spot-kick home but Brighton were not done there – they would not settle for a single point. Instead, they went after all three and after a great ball from Dale Stephens to Dan Burn, the full-back found the ultra-impressive Leandro Trossard out wide. The Belgian winger sent a low cross across the face of the box and it was turned in by Everton left-back Lucas Digne for an own goal in the 94th minute and a 3-2 win for Brighton.
7) Arsenal 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur
The Emirates Stadium. 1st September 2019. Premier League Match 4.
The North London Derby is always one of the most exciting events of the season, and this instalment at the Emirates was no different. Tottenham started well and after some good hold-up play from Harry Kane, Heung Min-Son drove forward. Erik Lamela’s low shot was parried by Bernd Leno into the path of Christian Eriksen, who had the easy task of tapping into the empty net to give Spurs a tenth minute lead. Leno redeemed himself when he made a brilliant one-handed save to deny a powerful curling effort from Son, though things got worse for Arsenal when captain Granit Xhaka went straight through the Korean winger in the box, giving Tottenham a penalty, which Kane converted for his tenth derby goal five minutes before the break. The Gunners had a lifeline in added time though when Alexandre Lacazette received the ball at pace and cleverly took it round Toby Alderweireld before firing an unstoppable shot past Hugo Lloris to half the deficit. Arsenal took control of the second half and it was Lloris’ turn for goalkeeping heroics when he turned Matteo Guendouzi’s low shot around the post before Spurs nearly wrapped it up when Kane unleashed a piledriver that hit the inside of the post. The drama was not over though, for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang produced a glorious deft finish to turn Guendouzi’s chipped ball home for a level game nineteen minutes from time. Dele Alli was denied a probable penalty when he was wrestled to the ground by Dani Ceballos but the game ended 2-2, a point that the two teams – both under new management these days – had to work hard for.
6) Manchester City 2-1 Chelsea
The Etihad Stadium. 23rd November 2019. Premier League Match 13.
Chelsea went into this huge clash at the Etihad a point in front of the champions, but Pep Guardiola’s team soon went about changing that. This, the two sides’ first meeting since the 2019 Carabao Cup Final, was every bit as exciting as a showpiece affair at Wembley and was played with phenomenal tempo and intensity. City could’ve taken the lead through Kevin De Bruyne after two minutes but Chelsea dominated from there and were nearly in front when Fikayo Tomori swung at a corner and sent his shot just wide, but Frank Lampard’s team got their reward when a raking long pass from Mateo Kovacic found the run of N’Golo Kante, and he fought off Benjamin Mendy to slide his shot under the onrushing Ederson in the 21st minute. David Silva’s pass found its way to Kevin De Bruyne, just outside the area, and his low shot deflected in and drew City level. City were exceptional from that moment and led after 37 minutes when Rodri found Riyad Mahrez, who ran at Emerson Palmieri before cutting inside and slotting in the bottom corner with his left foot – an absolutely exquisite goal. Kepa got very lucky when his atrocious clearance was nearly capitalised on by Sergio Aguero – the Argentine hitting the bar from 20 yards. Kante nearly equalised in the second half but for a saving block by Fernandinho before at the other end, Kepa came up with a superb save to deny Mahrez a second goal. Willian went agonisingly close before Raheem Sterling controversially had a goal ruled out by VAR to conclude an immense evening of entertainment and drama in Manchester.
5) Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Manchester City
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. 2nd February 2020. Premier League Match 25.
Jose Mourinho vs Pep Guardiola just doesn’t disappoint, does it? Manchester City completely dominated the first half of this game as Spurs looked timid and toothless without the focal point of Harry Kane up front. They may not have had Kane, but in the form of Hugo Lloris they had one of their leaders and the captain made a great save to turn Sergio Aguero’s lethal shot onto the post. Lloris was at the centre of attention once again when VAR correctly awarded City a penalty after some terribly clumsy defending from Serge Aurier brought Aguero down. Nearly four minutes after the initial challenge, the spot-kick was taken – by Ilkay Gundogan – and the German saw his strike expertly saved by Lloris, who dived correctly to his left. Raheem Sterling clashed with Lloris as he went rushing in to catch the rebound and was lucky not to be shown a second yellow card for diving, as Jose Mourinho famously remonstrated. Early in the second half, Japhet Tanganga clattered into Lloris, leaving Aguero a near-open net, but Toby Alderweireld managed to clear it before Gundogan sent his shot from a few yards out over. City were made to pay when Oleksandr Zinchenko was sent off for cynically stopping a Harry Winks break. Spurs made the extra man count when a poorly cleared free-kick came to Steven Bergwijn, who on his debut for the Londoners, sent them in front with a stunning volley on 63 minutes. Eight minutes later, their lead was doubled when Heung Min-Son found space on the edge of the area, and fired a low shot, which deflected slightly into the bottom corner and out of Ederson’s reach as Spurs recorded their first big win of the Mourinho era.
4) Norwich City 3-2 Manchester City
Carrow Road. 14th September 2019. Premier League Match 5.
Norwich’s second win of the season was a special one over the reigning champions. Despite missing eight players while in the midst of an injury crisis, the Canaries fought hard from minute one. Midfielder Kenny McLean rose highest to head home Emiliano Buendia’s lofted corner and give Norwich the lead after fourteen minutes. It got better for Daniel Farke’s team when a lovely move started by Buendia seeing off the challenge of Rodri progressed when Marco Stieperman played a pinpoint through-ball for Teemu Pukki to chase. The Finnish striker was in fine form and would’ve fancied his chances in the two-on-one situation, but rather than shooting, selflessly dragged a cross square across the box for the totally unmarked Todd Cantwell to slot into the empty net for a spectacular 2-0 lead after half an hour. The inevitable City onslaught came though and Raheem Sterling headed against the post before Sergio Aguero diverted David Silva’s cross in with his head to half the arrears just before the break. Norwich were not to be thwarted though, as Nicolas Otamendi was pressed brilliantly by Buendia, who robbed his countryman of the ball and fed Pukki, who deliberated before finishing in the roof of the net for 3-1, sparking delirium on East Anglia. Tim Krul, who had been excellent otherwise, couldn’t keep Rodri’s late shot from distance out but it wasn’t enough for City, who succumbed to Norwich’s positive and intense approach, despite being so depleted that Farke had to name two goalkeepers on the bench. A fabulous team effort from Norwich, who will be missed if they are to be relegated from the Premier League.
3) Wolves 1-2 Liverpool
Molineux. 23rd January 2020. Premier League Match 23.
This was one of the most intense football matches you’re ever likely to see and probably the hardest Liverpool have been pushed on their way to a win in their phenomenal season. The Reds were 1-0 up after just eight minutes when captain Jordan Henderson connected with Trent Alexander-Arnold’s corner. The rest of the half was a game of chess as both teams were edging their way into the contest, wary of each other’s threats. Rui Patricio made a fine save to deny Mohamed Salah in the early moments of the second half, before a goal of exceptional quality was scored. Raul Jimenez beat Andy Robertson all ends up in the middle of the park and played the ball down the channel for Adama Traore to go after. Traore delivered a looping cross first-time and it was headed in by Jimenez, who finished the move he started. Traore’s ridiculous pace and strength was causing Liverpool all kinds of trouble and it took a top Alisson save to deny him a goal of his own, while the Brazilian keeper made another good stop to prevent Jimenez after Traore had played the Mexican through on goal. It was all Wolves until the 81st minute when Georginio Wijnaldum fashioned a chance for Roberto Firmino, but he hit his shot straight at Patricio’s outstretched leg. He wasn’t to be denied second time though, as two minutes later, tricky work from Salah allowed Henderson to find Firmino, who went past two defenders before crashing a shot past Patricio and restoring Liverpool’s lead. Wolves nearly levelled in injury time when Traore’s cross was nearly turned in by Diogo Jota. A monumental game of football which wouldn’t have looked out of place in the latter stages of the Champions League.
2) Sheffield United 3-3 Manchester United
Bramall Lane. 24th November 2019. Premier League Match 13.
A match which encapsulated what these two teams are about. Sheffield United started the game on fire and the Red Devils had David De Gea to thank after the Spaniard had produced big saves from John Lundstram and David McGoldrick. The Blades’ dominance finally counted when Lys Mousset robbed Phil Jones of possession and crossed for Lundstram, whose shot De Gea could only parry into the path of the thankful John Fleck, who bundled it home for the first goal of the game. Manchester United were terrible in the first half and were deservedly 2-0 down when Fleck’s ball found Mousset in space outside the penalty area. The Frenchman drilled home a precise shot to make it 2-0 seven minutes into the second half. Chris Wilder’s men were in cruise control until an astonishing seven-minute period turned the game on its head. It was started by young left-back Brandon Williams, making just his second Premier League start, who finished first-time from an angled position after a Daniel James cross, before Mason Greenwood equalised five minutes later after sliding in to get on the end of a Marcus Rashford delivery. Rashford himself thought he’d won it less than two minutes after when he turned home James’ cross with a fine finish to give Solksjaer’s men a 3-2 lead with a trio of goals in seven crazy minutes. However, Sheffield United had dominated for 72 minutes and deserved something from the game, which they got when good work from Enda Stevens and Callum Robinson set up Oliver McBurnie to score in added time – though it went to a VAR check. Sheffield United showed what they are about as a club with their effort, commitment and admirable spirit, as well as a fearless approach against the big boys, while with James (21), Greenwood (18), Rashford (22) and Williams (19) turning the game around for them, Manchester United exhibited their long-standing commitment to youth and the reason that they are never written off.
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1) Wolves 3-2 Manchester City
Molineux. 27th December 2019. Premier League Match 19.
More drama than a Hollywood thriller, more twists than an EastEnders whodunnit and more turns than Adam Lallana in 2015/16. Despite there being five goals and 28 shots, the first major action of the match was neither – it was a red card for City goalkeeper Ederson for colliding with Diogo Jota outside the area when the winger was through on goal. Despite this, it was City who took the lead fifteen minutes later, but in very controversial circumstances. They were awarded a penalty when VAR adjudged Leander Dendoncker to have stepped on Riyad Mahrez and brought him down. Raheem Sterling’s penalty was superbly saved by Rui Patricio. Then more controversy arrived as VAR identified encroachment leading to the clearance of the first penalty, meaning Sterling had another chance, and though Patricio again brilliantly saved his initial strike, the Englishman tapped home the rebound and finally gave City the lead. There was nothing controversial about his second goal though, as he raced onto a weighted pass from Kevin De Bruyne and lobbed the ball over Patricio to double City’s lead early in the second half. Wolves were soon back in it though when Ruben Neves won back possession and fed Adama Traore, who unleashed a rocket of a shot into the bottom corner from outside the box. Traore was at the centre of Wolves’ equaliser in the 82nd minute too, nicking the ball from Benjamin Mendy and putting it on a plate for Raul Jimenez to tap home. Then, in the 89th minute, Wolves sealed their improbable comeback when a delightful backheel from Raul Jimenez completed a one-two with Matt Doherty, and the Irish right-back sparked scenes of bedlam inside Molineux as he turned past Eric Garcia and slotted home with his left foot from 18 yards out. Sterling nearly got a hat-trick and drew City level with a free-kick which hit the bar with the last kick of the game. A wonderfully raucous and passionate atmosphere in Wolverhampton and wild celebrations for the best Premier League match of the season so far.
Daniel (@daykind19)
Daniel Daykin
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