Liverpool have dominated the Premier League so far this season. The Reds were tipped to struggle by many, primarily thanks to the departure of iconic manager Jurgen Klopp in the summer. However, new man Arne Slot picked up right where the maverick German left off, building up an almighty lead at the division’s summit.
That lead was sitting pretty at nine points as Slot’s men led by two goals to one deep into injury time in the recent Merseyside Derby at Goodison Park – the final intra-Liverpool clash at the famous old ground. But then, with one lashing of James Tarkowski’s right boot in the 98th minute, Everton was level, and their archrival’s lead to second-placed Arsenal was cut to seven points. Then, chaos ensued, with red cards being brandished left, right, and center, with two issued to Liverpool and one to The Toffees.
Now, the question is, could that slip-up and subsequent meltdown trigger a downfall in fortunes that could somehow cost the Merseysiders the title in the final 14 games of the season? Well, prominent online betting sites don’t seem to think so. Despite dropping two points, the latest Premier League title odds from a popular online sports betting site in Canada still make the Anfield club an overwhelming 1/4 favourite to claim the crown this term.
However, stranger things have happened…
Liverpool – 2013/14
The Reds have thrown away titles before. Back in 2014, it was supposed to be their year. After a staggering 24-year wait, Liverpool appeared destined to lift their long-sought Premier League trophy.
Brendan Rodgers’ team played thrilling football built around the shredding pace of a teenage Raheem Sterling, the guile of Philippe Coutinho, and the terrifying SAS strike force of Luis Suárez and Daniel Sturridge. Those two combined to score a whopping 52 goals, and by mid-April, they’d put their side in pole position to win the title. The Reds had won 11 straight matches at that point, including a seismic 3-2 victory over title rivals Manchester City. Dreams on Merseyside soared higher than ever before.
But then came the moment that still haunts Kopites to this day despite recent successes. Hosting Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea with a five-point cushion, the Reds just needed to hold their nerve. Instead, disaster struck. Captain Steven Gerrard, the club icon embodying their title hopes in the twilight of his career, slipped while receiving a simple pass. Demba Ba pounced, raced through on goal, and slid past Simon Mignolet.
Liverpool lost 2-0, and the title was no longer in their hands.
A week later, Liverpool saw a 3-0 lead evaporate to a 3-3 draw against Crystal Palace in a collapse cruelly dubbed “Crystanbul.” Manchester City capitalised, winning their games in hand at a canter before clinching the trophy on the final day.
Manchester United – 2011/12
If Gerrard’s slip became an icon of personal tragedy, Manchester United’s collapse two years prior was defined by sheer emotional devastation. For much of that season, Sir Alex Ferguson’s Red Devils did what they always seemed to do – grind out wins, chip away at rivals, and march unstoppably toward the summit.
By mid-March, they had built an eight-point lead over cross-city rivals Manchester City with just six games remaining. The Blues were gunning for their first title since their Abu Dhabi-backed takeover four years prior, but surely the deficit was insurmountable. Well, the football gods had other plans.
A shock 1-0 defeat to Wigan sparked unease. It snowballed when United threw away a 4-2 lead against Everton to draw 4-4 at Old Trafford. Suddenly, City was surging. When the sides met in late April, Roberto Mancini’s side triumphed 1-0, thanks to Vincent Kompany’s thundering header, powering his side to the top of the table on goal difference and taking the title race down to the final day.
And what a final day it was. United secured a workmanlike 1-0 win at Sunderland and were waiting on the Stadium of Light pitch to celebrate. City found themselves shockingly 2-1 down to 10-man relegation-threatened QPR in stoppage time, but surely it was over?
The Etihad was a cauldron of despair – but then came the most dramatic sequence in Premier League history. Edin Džeko headed City level in the 92nd minute. Just moments later, Sergio Agüero latched onto Mario Balotelli’s pass, slalomed through QPR’s defence, and smashed an unstoppable shot past Paddy Kenny and into the net. Martin Tyler’s now-iconic scream of “AGÜEROOOO” was etched into football lore.
For United, it was gut-wrenching. They had the title within their grasp before letting it slip away to their “noisy neighbours” in the most theatrical fashion imaginable.
Arsenal – 2002/03
One year before Arsenal’s fabled unbeaten 2003/04 campaign, Arsène Wenger’s side looked poised to conquer the title. With Thierry Henry at the peak of his powers, supported by Robert Pirès, Patrick Vieira, and Dennis Bergkamp, the Gunners boasted a breathtaking side capable of beating any team on the planet.
They stormed to the top of the table, at one point building up an eight-point lead over their perennial rivals Manchester United. Wenger boldly declared his side could finish the season “unbeaten.” But underestimating Fergie’s Red Devils proved to be a grave miscalculation. The French manager’s words kicked United into life, and they began to relentlessly hunt the table toppers week after week.
A crucial turning point came in April when Arsenal hosted a Leeds side in disarray at Highbury. A win would have boosted their dwindling title hopes, but instead, Mark Viduka delivered a dagger to their dream. The Aussie striker blasted home a hat trick, helping his Yorkshiremen to a shocking 3-2 victory, effectively handing United the initiative. Ferguson’s men seized the initiative and roared past Arsenal, claiming the title by five points.
While Arsenal would recover spectacularly the following season, 2002/03 was a painful lesson in how quickly fortunes can change.
