The final day of the Premier League season is always an exciting one, with the title, survival and Champions League spots all up for grabs. Nine months of top-flight football comes to a breathtaking end, and the results of one team can have a seismic impact on another. Here we revisit some of the most dramatic final days in Premier League history.
In 2010-11, five clubs were at risk of relegation with bottom side West Ham, and one point separated 19th-placed Wigan and 15th-placed Blackburn. Wigan pulled clear with a 1-0 win at Stoke, while Birmingham were relegated instead after Roman Pavlyuchenko scored a 93rd-minute winner for Tottenham. Blackpool looked as if they might escape but were beaten 4-2 at Manchester United.
In 2006-07, West Ham battled to avoid relegation on the final day and were heading to Manchester United, who had just been crowned champions. Carlos Tevez scored the only goal of the game to steer the Hammers clear of danger, but Sheffield United went down as relegation rivals Wigan saved themselves with a 2-1 win at Bramall Lane.
In 2005-06, north London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur were both going for the same prize – Champions League football. Tottenham knew if they beat West Ham, they would secure the fourth Champions League place at the expense of their neighbours. Arsenal kept up their end of the bargain thanks to a Thierry Henry hat-trick in a 4-2 win, but Tottenham lost 2-1 against West Ham to finish fifth and miss out on Europe’s highest-profile club competition.
In 1999-2000, Bradford City headed into the final day of their first Premier League season looking to avoid the drop. David Wetherall headed home the only goal of the game as the Bantams remained in the top flight, relegating Wimbledon after 14 years in the top tier.
In 1995-96, Manchester City went into their final match needing to better the result of either Southampton or Coventry to stay up. Alan Ball thought his side were on course for safety but had been fed false information, and City could not find another goal, and were relegated.
In 1994-95, title-chasing Blackburn headed to Anfield on the final day with a two-point lead over second-placed Manchester United. Blackburn went ahead against Liverpool but lost 2-1 thanks to a Jamie Redknapp free-kick in the 90th minute, but United could only draw 1-1 at Upton Park and Blackburn were champions for the first time in 81 years.
In 2004-05, West Bromwich Albion needed to win at home against Portsmouth in order to stay up. Geoff Horsfield and Kieran Richardson scored in the second half as Bryan Robson’s side won 2-0 and survived at the expense of Norwich and Southampton, who lost, and Crystal Palace, who drew.
In 2011-12, Manchester City hosted QPR, while rivals Manchester United went to Sunderland. City knew they had to match United’s result to win the league. QPR did not read the script and were 2-1 up with 66 minutes played at Etihad Stadium, but Edin Dzeko equalised for City in added time and Sergio Aguero sealed his place in Premier League folklore by scoring the winner with 93 minutes and 20 seconds on the clock. As well as being in one of the most iconic moments in top flight history, Aguero’s winner set City on the path to sustained top-flight success, ending a 44-year wait to be champions.
In 1992-93, Oldham were founder members of the Premier League but were six points from safety with a week of the season to play. They had three matches in seven days to try to save themselves and beat Southampton 4-3 despite Matt Le Tissier’s hat-trick. Rivals Crystal Palace lost 3-0 at Arsenal to slip out of the top flight, despite finishing on 49 points, and Oldham survived on goal difference, finishing two goals better off than Palace.
In 2021-22, Liverpool were eyeing an unprecedented quadruple but Manchester City knew a victory would secure them the title instead. City were 2-0 down against Aston Villa heading into the final 15 minutes but three goals in five minutes saw them win 3-2 and secure a fourth title in five years under Pep Guardiola.
