The 10 Greatest Premier League Matches of All-Time
- Think Football Ideas
- 8 hours ago
- 6 min read
Trying to rank the greatest Premier League matches of all time can be as tricky as predicting the outcome of a 90th-minute penalty. Even when you think you have a shortlist, there are games that defy expectation, erupting with twists, comebacks, and moments that linger in memory long after the final whistle.
These are the nights when momentum flips in seconds, goals arrive from the unlikeliest sources, and ordinary matches turn into spectacles. They are the fixtures that make fans cheer, groan, and remember why football, at its best, feels limitless.
The following ten matches are some of those unforgettable evenings, where drama, skill, and sheer unpredictability collided to produce moments that will always be talked about.
The 10 Greatest Premier League Matches Ever Seen
1. Arsenal 2–4 Manchester United
Highbury Stadium, (1 February 2005)
Highbury hosted the final chapter of a rivalry that had shaped English football for nearly a decade. Long before kick-off on 1 February 2005, tensions spilt into the tunnel, where Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira set the tone.
Vieira opened the scoring from a corner, giving Arsenal early control. Manchester United responded with pace, using Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney to stretch play.
Dennis Bergkamp restored Arsenal’s lead, yet United refused to fade. Cristiano Ronaldo struck twice with calm finishes that shifted momentum. Even after Mikaël Silvestre’s dismissal, United stayed on the front foot. John O’Shea’s late chip sealed a win that closed an era.
2. Liverpool 4–4 Arsenal
Anfield Stadium, (21 April 2009)
Anfield hosted a night of relentless attacking on 21 April 2009, when Liverpool and Arsenal played out a draw that felt heavier than a defeat for the home side.
With the title race tightening, Liverpool responded repeatedly to Arsenal’s threat, only to find themselves undone each time by Andrey Arshavin. The Russian forward delivered a rare individual masterclass, scoring four times and turning every Arsenal attack into a moment of danger.
Liverpool showed resolve through goals from Fernando Torres and Yossi Benayoun, twice clawing their way back in front, yet control remained elusive as the match shifted constantly.
Arsenal struck late to regain the lead before Benayoun rescued a point in stoppage time, sealing a contest defined by momentum swings, defensive fragility, and a performance that reshaped the league conversation in the closing weeks of the season.
3. Crystal Palace 3–3 Liverpool
Selhurst Park, (5 May 2014)
Selhurst Park became the stage where Liverpool’s title charge lost its balance late in the evening of 5 May 2014. Brendan Rodgers’ side arrived knowing every goal mattered in a tight race with Manchester City, and for long spells they played with control.
Joe Allen opened the scoring in the 17th minute, ghosting into space to head in from a corner, before Liverpool tightened their grip after the break. Daniel Sturridge struck next, followed quickly by Luis Suárez to make it 3–0.
What followed stunned everyone. Damien Delaney pulled one back, Yannick Bolasie tore down the flank to create another, and Dwight Gayle’s late double sealed a comeback that reshaped the title race.
4. Leeds United 4–3 Liverpool
Elland Road, (4 November 2000)
Elland Road staged one of the Premier League’s most unforgettable afternoons on 4 November 2000, a day defined by Mark Viduka.
Liverpool looked in control after early goals from Sami Hyypia and Christian Ziege put them two ahead. Leeds responded before the interval, with Viduka scoring twice to level the match.
The contest continued to swing. Vladimir Smicer restored Liverpool’s lead, but Viduka completed his four-goal haul with two quick finishes, sending Elland Road into celebration.
Leeds held firm as Liverpool searched for a response. The result remains a classic Premier League story, a day when one striker carried the weight of a stadium.
5. Manchester United 4–3 Manchester City
Old Trafford, (21 September 2009)
Old Trafford was the stage for one of the most dramatic Manchester derbies in history on 21 September 2009. Manchester United and City traded goals in a pulsating contest, with the game swinging back and forth through skill, resilience, and raw determination.
Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs, and Darren Fletcher played pivotal roles, keeping United in the fight even as City equalised repeatedly.
The climax came in the 96th minute when Michael Owen, introduced from the bench, timed his run perfectly and slotted a precise finish past Shay Given, sealing a thrilling 4–3 victory and reaffirming United’s reputation for late heroics.
6. Newcastle 4–4 Arsenal
St James' Park, (5 February 2011)
At St James’ Park on 5 February 2011, Arsenal appeared in complete control, racing to a four-goal lead inside the first half, with contributions from Theo Walcott, Johan Djourou, and Robin van Persie.
The game shifted dramatically after Abou Diaby’s red card in the 50th minute, leaving the Gunners down to ten men. Newcastle sensed an opening and responded with relentless pressure.
Joey Barton converted two penalties, Leon Best capitalised on a scramble, and Cheik Tiote’s thunderous volley completed an extraordinary comeback.
Arsenal, dominant in the first half, were undone by numerical disadvantage, while Newcastle’s resilience turned a certain defeat into a remarkable draw.
7. Tottenham 3–5 Man Utd
White Hart Lane, 29 Sept 2001
At White Hart Lane on 29 September 2001, Manchester United produced a remarkable comeback to snatch a 5–3 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in a game full of tension and drama.
United trailed 3–0 at one point, with the home side looking in complete control, but the Red Devils responded with pace, precision, and relentless attacking play.
Goals from Andy Cole, Laurent Blanc, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Juan Sebastián Verón, and David Beckham overturned the deficit, showcasing their depth and composure under pressure.
Tottenham fought valiantly, but United’s ability to exploit space and maintain belief made the match a memorable example of Premier League resilience and flair.
8. Newcastle 5–0 Manchester United
St James' Park, 20 October 1996
On 20 October 1996, St James’ Park witnessed one of the Premier League’s most shocking scorelines. Newcastle, under Kevin Keegan, were in fine attacking form with Alan Shearer leading the line, supported by Les Ferdinand and David Ginola.
Darren Peacock opened the scoring with a header, followed by Ginola’s powerful strike to give the hosts a 2-0 lead at half-time.
Shearer and Ferdinand extended the advantage after the break, and Philippe Albert rounded off the humiliation with a sublime chip over Peter Schmeichel. Despite the defeat, Manchester United recovered to claim the league title, making the result a stunning but temporary setback.
9. Man City 3–2 QPR
Etihad Stadium, 13 May 2012
On 13 May 2012, Manchester City faced Queens Park Rangers at the Etihad, knowing victory would secure their first league title in 44 years. City controlled possession for much of the match, opening the scoring when Pablo Zabaleta’s shot, deflected off the post, found the net.
QPR fought back, levelling through Djibril Cissé and later taking the lead with a headed goal from Jamie Mackie.
With time running out, Edin Džeko equalised in stoppage time before Sergio Agüero struck a dramatic winner in the 94th minute. City’s triumph ended decades of waiting and became one of the most iconic Premier League finales.
10. Liverpool 4–3 Newcastle
Anfield, 3 April 1996
Anfield witnessed one of the Premier League’s most gripping contests on 3 April 1996, as Liverpool edged Newcastle 4–3 in stoppage time.
Newcastle surged ahead twice in the opening 14 minutes through Les Ferdinand and David Ginola after Robbie Fowler had opened the scoring, creating a seesaw battle that kept fans on edge.
Fowler equalised again before half-time, while Stan Collymore’s late first-half strike restored Liverpool’s momentum.
In the closing moments, Collymore met a John Barnes pass to fire home the winner in the 92nd minute, leaving Kevin Keegan and Newcastle stunned and ensuring this game is remembered for drama, intensity, and relentless attacking football.