Premier League game of the season decided after Liverpool beat Spurs in thriller
Liverpool versus Tottenham produced the goods. And then some.
After the Reds raced into a three-goal lead in the first quarter of an hour it had looked as though we were set for another repeat of Tottenham's mauling at St James' Park, but to their credit they battled their way back.
When Richarlison launched himself first toward the ball and then toward the celebrating Tottenham fans in the away end it had looked as though Spurs had completed one of the all-time great Premier League comebacks, only for Diogo Jota to pounce on Lucas Moura's backpass to win it for the Reds.
It was a chaotic ending to a remarkable game of football, but is it your Premier League game of the season so far? We asked the Mirror Football team for their choices.
James Nursey
Aston Villa 3-1 Manchester United, November 6
Marcel Sabitzer completes Man Utd transfer after last-minute deadline day dash
Unai Emery made an immediate impact at Aston Villa (PA)
Unai Emery's first game in charge of Aston Villa made a huge impression and was definitely very memorable for the home fans back in November when they beat Manchester United 3-1.
The Spaniard had returned to the Premier League after an underwhelming spell in charge of Arsenal.
Yet at his unveiling, ahead of his opening game versus Manchester United, Emery seemed very confident he could get a performance and potentially a win out of his struggling new side.
Frankly i was sceptical as Villa hadn't beaten United at home in the Premier League since 1995.
Yet Emery's men raced into a 2-0 lead inside 11 minutes in a dream start and were sensational en route to a 3-1 triumph.
It was a real taste of what was to come because Villa have flourished under Emery to quickly ease any relegation fears and storm up the Premier League into European contention.
It has been highly impressive to see stars like Ollie Watkins, Emiliano Buendia, Tyrone Mings, John McGinn and Jacob Ramsey flourish under his coaching.
A 1-0 loss at Old Trafford on Sunday has done little to take the shine off an incredible revival and Emery's historic opening win will live long in the memory.
Andy Dunn
Brentford 4-0 Manchester United, August 13
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Man Utd slumped to a 4-0 defeat at Brentford in August (Getty Images)
It seems like an age ago - a time when the sun was melting the London streets, not a single Premier League manager had been sacked and radio phone-ins actually fielded some happy calls.
Apart from those from Manchester United fans, of course.
And apologies to those supporters but their first half demise at the Gtech Community Stadium is still the occasion - many, many games down the line from that second fixture of the season - that sticks in my mind.
For a start, it was my first trip to Brentford’s newish stadium and, then, there were 45 minutes of football that reminded why you love the game - the giant that is Manchester United brought to its knees by the David that is Brentford.
The goals - from Josh Dasilva, Mathias Jensen, Ben Mee and Bryan Mbeumo - came in a 25-minute spell but the whole evening was a joy … as long as you were not a United follower.
But as a footnote, it is to Erik ten Hag’s and his players’ credit that they now sit where they are in the table, having also lost the opening match to Brighton.
Mike Walters
Arsenal 3-2 Liverpool, October 9
Arsenal showed their title credentials in a thrilling win over Liverpool (Getty Images)
It's easy to pick out games where the goals were flying in - like Newcastle's 3-3 draw with Manchester City and Liverpool's madcap 4-3 win against Tottenham - but defenders and managers don't recall them with any fondness.
Let's be honest: There wouldn't even have been a title race without Arsenal. The Gunners have spent 247 days on top of the pile this season, and without them carrying the torch for so long it would have been another City procession.
So the best game I saw live was Arsenal's 3-2 win against Liverpool - where Jurgen Klopp's men were the better side for the middle hour of the contest, and it didn't lack controversy or quality throughout.
But there have been other stand-out games packed with the 'wow' factor. Brentford's 4-0 thrashing of Manchester United in a sauna by Kew Bridge was jaw-dropping in its own right, and Brighton dismantling Liverpool 3-0 was the first time I realised Roberto De Zerbi was a cut above other new faces on the Premier League managerial merry-go-round.
Is Liverpool 4-3 Tottenham your Premier League game of the season so far? Have your say in the comments section
Neil McLeman
Chelsea 2-2 Tottenham, August 14
Antonio Conte and Thomas Tuchel went head-to-head in August (Javier Garcia/REX/Shutterstock)
This latest Battle of the Bridge seems a long time ago back in August when Chelsea and Tottenham were both title pretenders - and Thomas Tuchel and Antonio Conte were in charge.
Chelsea dominated play and chances but their lack of a striker set the tone for the season. Tuchel’s Jose Mourinho-style sprint down the touchline infuriated Conte when Reece James gave the home side the lead for the second time after 77 minutes.
Cristian Romero then pulled the hair of Marc Cucurella before Harry Kane headed in the 96th-minute equaliser - and Spurs celebrated the point like a win.
Then the pandemonium started with the German refusing to let go of the Italian’s hand in the post-match handshake because he wanted Conte to look him in the eye.
Both were sent off by Anthony Taylor - and Tuchel then accused the FIFA referee of bias against Chelsea. The Premier League is a poorer place without two of the world’s best - and fiery - coaches.
David McDonnell
Manchester City 4-1 Arsenal, April 26
Manchester City thrashed Arsenal to take the initiative in the title race (AP)
I've been fortunate to report on some incredible games this season - Manchester City's 6-3 win over local rivals Manchester United, Liverpool's 7-0 mauling of Erik ten Hag's side at Anfield and City's 4-1 home win over Liverpool last month, coming from 1-0 down.
But in terms of atmosphere, the significance of the game and the quality of football played, my game of the season has to be City's emphatic 4-1 win over Arsenal last week at the Etihad Stadium, which saw Pep Guardiola's side take control of the title race.
It was a completely one-sided affair, which showcased City at their ruthless best, and the final scoreline could have been 8-1, had Aaron Ramsdale not made some key saves and had Guardiola's side managed to convert the many chances they created.
Kevin De Bruyne was at the top of his game, scoring twice and setting up another, while Erling Haaland set up two goals and got on the scoresheet himself, as is the norm.
It was, effectively, a title decider, with City stepping up to show just why they are champions, with their performance of the season in what was, for me, the game of the season.
Felix Keith
Diogo Jota won a thriller for Liverpool in stoppage time (Getty Images)
There may be an element of recency bias involved in this decision, but Liverpool’s 4-3 win over Tottenham at Anfield pretty much had everything.
A match between two deeply flawed, yet talented sides simply makes better viewing – when you are a neutral at least – than one featuring an extremely well-oiled machine. And, in truth, the games between the two best sides, Manchester City and Arsenal, have been disappointingly one-sided.
Give me seven goals, chaotic periods of play, a questionable refereeing performance that leaves both sides angry, a dramatic comeback and a last-gasp winner any day, thank you. The match at Anfield was a classic in seesawing momentum and the calamitous way Spurs conceded Diogo Jota’s winner was a perfect tragicomic icing on the cake.
Mentions also go to Arsenal 3-2 Man Utd in January, which saw a 90th minute winner from Eddie Nketiah, and Man City 6-3 Man Utd in October, in which Erling Haaland and Phil Foden both hit hat-tricks.
I also very much enjoyed a day out to my local side Raynes Park Vale on Non-League Day on March 25. They scored an injury-time winner in a 3-2 victory which was savoured amongst a fun atmosphere with a few pints.
Darren Wells
Liverpool 7-0 Manchester United, March 5
Liverpool's thrashing of Manchester United was barely believable (AFP via Getty Images)
There have been some brilliant high-scoring matches this season packed with drama, but if you wrote one scoreline down on a piece of paper that you'd be certain would never happen, Liverpool beating fierce rivals Manchester United 7-0 would be it.
Perhaps it wouldn't have been that surprising had it come whilst Liverpool were at their peak and United were at their lowest ebb, but the tables had seemingly been temporarily reversed for this fixture.
United were high on confidence after a run of just one defeat in 11 games, while Liverpool had only just rediscovered glimpses of some of their better form after a nightmare start to the campaign.
It proved to be United's heaviest defeat since 1931 and the joint-biggest in their history.
Which is even more remarkable when you consider Liverpool only took the lead after 43 minutes before the mother of all second-half collapses.
As Klopp said last week: "I hope when people speak about it [this season] in a few years they will look back on it and [say] 'that is the year we beat United 7-0.'"
Don't worry, Jurgen. This one will live long in the memory.
Daniel Orme
Manchester City 6-3 Manchester United, October 2
Erling Haaland and Phil Foden both scored hat-tricks against Manchester United (Getty Images)
Supporters have certainly gotten used to the destructive power of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City over recent seasons - but somebody clearly forgot to give Manchester United a warning back in October.
The Red Devils were in the midst of a resurgence after four consecutive league wins and in a confident mood.
Things could not have gone worse though as Phil Foden got the reigning Premier League champions off to the perfect start after just eight minutes before Erling Haaland invariably doubled the lead with an excellent header. The Norwegian rounded off a devastating couple of minutes with another strike before Foden got on the scoresheet once more before the break.
Antony threatened somewhat of a comeback with a well-taken strike but that hope was halted very quickly as Haaland and Foden both secured their trebles. Anthony Martial came off the bench to score twice and restore a bit of pride.
This was Man City at their very best though and was a perfect display of the huge chasm between the two sides. Whilst Man Utd supporters might not feel the same, the Etihad mauling was a pleasure to witness.
Josh O'Brien
Arsenal 3-3 Southampton, April 21
Arsenal drew 3-3 at home to bottom side Southampton last month (Getty Images)
While many will think the title was won and lost at the Etihad when Man City brushed Arsenal aside, the Gunners title charge felt like it truly finished the game prior.
In one of the most thrilling games of the season, bottom-placed Southampton put three past the then-league leaders on their own patch and still didn't win as a result of two last-gasp goals from Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka to make it 3-3.
What followed as eight breathless minutes of second-half stoppage time as Mikel Arteta's men fought 'till the very end to keep their hopes of a league triumph alive, but as is so often the case in the Premier League, a shock was served to shake things up at both ends of the table.
The kind of game neutrals came away from having loved every second, while fans of either side could barely believe how their own team didn't end up winning.
Is Liverpool 4-3 Tottenham your Premier League game of the season so far? Have your say in the comments section
Kieran King
Manchester City 6-3 Manchester United, October 2
City showed their title intentions with a win over their rivals (Getty Images)
What a game this was. Manchester derbies are usually special but this one had an extra bit of spice to it. Erik ten Hag's first meeting with Pep Guardiola in England and Erling Haaland's bow in this fixture.
It is safe to say that only one of Ten Hag and Haaland impressed at the Etihad - and it was the latter that blew United away with a terrific hat-trick - his third in a matter of months.
Phil Foden also showed his worth with a treble of his own as City ran riot against their nearest rivals.
Despite a late second-half fightback from the Red Devils that saw Antony score and Anthony Martial bag a brace, it was a day to forget for Ten Hag and United as they suffered a damaging defeat against City.
In fact, this was the highest-scoring Manchester derby in history - eclipsing the previous record of seven goals - which occurred on five occasions.
However, to United's credit, they didn't allow this hammering to derail their season. They also bounced back by winning the reverse fixture against City in January, with Marcus Rashford scoring the winner.
Mark Jones
Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal, April 9
Roberto Firmino headed Liverpool's equaliser (Getty Images)
In terms of games and scorelines that will echo through the ages then it is Liverpool 7-0 Manchester United hands down, but if we want a game that tells the story of the season then we have to go back to Anfield a month later.
If it wasn't for Liverpool then the Premier League would have been nothing but a simple Manchester City procession over the past few years, but after all of those stresses and strains accumulated over years of trying to keep up with City's power came home to roost for the Reds this season, it was Arsenal who picked up the baton.
The Gunners have played some tremendous football over the campaign, and did so again in the opening 35 minutes at Anfield as they went 2-0 up. But then when the Reds came roaring back, Arsenal peered over into the abyss as the magnitude of what they were trying to achieve hit home.
As Oleksandr Zinchenko sat on the bench in tears, the Gunners clung on for dear life to get a point that they then desperately, and understandably, tried to convince themselves was a good result.
They've only won two from the nine available since.
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