This year’s English Premier League campaign has been one of the most thrilling that we have seen in recent seasons. An ongoing title race between three of the most in-form sides in Europe, a highly entertaining relegation battle that could see any three of seven teams go down, and battles for European places between a whole host of sides.
We have also seen some huge comeback results this season, with the biggest of the lot seeing Bournemouth become just the fifth team to win a Premier League game after being 3-0 down. With this huge comeback victory, we’re taking a look at our pick of the five greatest comebacks in English Premier League history:
5- Manchester City 3-2 Queens Park Rangers – May 13 2012
Arguably the most famous of any comeback that the Premier League has seen, and may ever see, is that of Manchester City’s 3-2 victory over QPR that saw them lift their first-ever Premier League trophy.
Manchester United and Manchester City were neck and neck going into the final day of the season, with City only ahead on goal difference. United went on to beat Sunderland 1-0 on the final day, meaning City had to win their game to lift the title.
It started off well for City as they went into half-time leading 1-0, but QPR took the lead thanks to goals from Dijbril Cisse and Jamie Mackie. QPR would hold this lead until the 92nd minute when Edin Dzeko equalised for Manchester City, leaving them just one goal away from their first title since 1968.
The game looked as though it was set to finish 2-2 and United would lift the trophy once again, but QPR kicked the ball far into the City half from the kick-off of the Dzeko goal and in doing so gave them one last chance.
Sergio Aguero got the ball outside the area and played a pass into Mario Balotelli inside the box, the Italian controlled it and laid it back off to the now onrushing Aguero. The striker skipped past one defender and then smashed into the back of the net to make it 3-2, winning Man City their first-ever Premier League title and creating the now iconic ‘Aguero moment’ thanks to Martin Tyler’s commentary on the day.
4- Crystal Palace 3-3 Liverpool – May 5 2014
While not a comeback victory, this game had huge effects on the final standings in the Premier League table and so it has to have a place in the top five.
Liverpool were on the hunt for their first league title in 24 years and a win in this one would have sent them top with one game remaining, and it looked to be going exactly to plan when Liverpool went 3-0 with goals from Joe Allen in the 18th minute, Daniel Sturridge in the 53rd, and Luis Suarez in the 55th.
However, Crystal Palace didn’t let the game pass them by after going three goals down as strikers Glenn Murray and Dwight Gayle were subbed on.
The first goal back for Palace came in the 79th minute from Damien Delaney, with Gayle quickly scoring just two minutes later. Gayle then slotted home again in the 88th minute to equalise for Palace, leaving Liverpool just a point clear of Man City who had a game in hand that they went on to win as they lifted the Premier League trophy ahead of the Reds.
3- Bournemouth 4-3 Luton Town – March 13 2024
Bournemouth and Luton were both heading into this game with the threat of relegation looming large, leaving this one as a potential relegation six-pointer.
The visitors had the perfect first half as they scored three in the first 45 minutes thanks to goals from Tahith Chong in the ninth minute, Chiedozie Ogbene in the 31st minute, and Ross Barkley hammering in a third just before the half-time whistle went.
Bournemouth came out in the second half and took almost complete control of the game though, vitally scoring just five minutes after the restart thanks to Dominic Solanke’s outrageous goal. The striker brought the ball into his control with his back to goal before quickly turning, dragging the ball through the defender’s legs, and lifting the ball over the onrushing Thomas Kaminski and into the net.
Illia Zabarnyi and Antoine Semenyo then scored two in two minutes to drag Bournemouth level, leaving the home side now just one goal away from a historic comeback victory and one that could hold huge weight in their survival. The fourth goal eventually came in the 83rd minute when Semenyo was put through and smashed the ball into the back of the net to complete the momentous victory.
2- Tottenham Hotspur 3-5 Manchester United – September 29 2001
Another of the Premier League’s comeback victories after being 3-0 down is this one between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United.
The hosts went into half-time three goals to the good thanks to Dean Richards’s 15th-minute strike, Les Ferdinand scoring in the 25th minute and Christian Ziege scoring just before half-time.
Manchester United have become rather synonymous with comeback victories in Premier League history, and this is yet another example of this happening. Andy Cole scored just a minute after the game restarted, quickly setting the tone for the rest of the second half.
Laurent Blanc scored in the 58th and Ruud van Nistelrooy in the 72nd to equalise for the Red Devils before Juan Sebastian Veron scored just four minutes later to put them 4-3 up. United weren’t done there though as David Beckham topped it all off with a fantastic driven finish into the back of the net to make it 5-3.
1- Newcastle United 4-4 Arsenal – February 5 2011
Another draw on this list as Newcastle United came from behind to draw with Arsenal, resulting in the only ever time a side has come from four goals behind to earn a result in the Premier League era.
Arsenal quickly took the lead in this game through a first-minute goal from Theo Walcott, before Johan Djourou scored a second in the third minute. Robin van Persie then scored the third in the 10th minute and another in the 26th as Arsenal cruised to a 4-0 lead, leaving many expecting the Gunners to run away with a huge victory.
However, things changed in the second half when Abou Diaby was sent off in the 50th minute, leaving Newcastle United with the numerical advantage and providing a slither of hope. This hope increased further when Joey Barton scored a penalty in the 68th minute before Leon Best scored a second in the 75th, cutting the deficit in half. Barton then scored his second penalty and Newcastle’s third of the game with seven minutes to play, leaving Arsenal in panic mode.
Check Tiote saved the best for last when a headed clearance from a Barton free-kick looped to the edge of the area, where Tiote was lurking. The Ivorian midfielder waited for the ball to drop and smashed a volley with his weaker left foot which swerved into the bottom right corner of Wojciech Szczesny’s goal to complete the unbelievable comeback.
What was your favourite comeback? Comment below!
