25 YEARS OF THE PREMIER LEAGUE

It’s been 25 years since the Premier League was formed.

We take a trip back to bring the last 25 years to look at some of the highlights and lowlights of one of the biggest and best football leagues in the world.

Chelsea winners 2017

We look at the best, the worst and most controversial and the weirdest moments in the history of the Premier League.

Luis Suarez bites Branislav Ivanovic

Talking about controversial, Luis Suarez has to receive the most controversial moment when Suarez decided to bite Branislav Ivanovic during the Liverpool vs Chelsea game in 2013.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GopdzPxE2gk

Arsenal become the ‘Invincibles’

Back in 2004, Arsenal became the first team to win the Premier League title without losing a game throughout the tournament. They played 38 games, won 26 and drew 12, scored 73 goals giving them a total of 90 points.

Arsenal 'The invincibles''

The team was captained by Frenchman Patrick Vieira, and had some of the greatest players of the Premier League era including: Thierry Henry, Ashley Cole and Sol Campbell.

Underdogs Leicester win the Premier League

Leicester started the tournament as outsiders as they were almost relegated the season before, but somehow, they managed to pull it out of the bag and become winners of the Premier League.

At the end of March, they became favourites for the first time, and in May took the title.

Fergie bows out

In 2013, the manager of one of the world’s most famous clubs, Sir Alex Ferguson- the most successful footballer manager in British history- bowed out with a Premier League title.

Alex Ferguson

He ended his successful reign with 49 trophies, 13 Premier League titles, five FA Cups, four League Cups and two Champions League titles, with other awards intact as well.

Gerrard’s famous slip

In a match against Chelsea, Steven Gerrard unfortunately took a nasty slip which became the most ridiculed moment in the Premier League history. Liverpool needed a win to keep their chance of winning a title in 2014, but the slip cost them the game.

The ‘Special One’ arrives

In 2004, the Premier League saw the arrival of Jose Mourinho. With his arrogance and style of football, his arrival was something English football hadn’t seen in years.

“We have top players and we have a top manager, I’m European champion and I think I’m a Special One”. A quote that has gone down in history.

David Beckham scores from the halfway line

No one had ever seen anything like it before. With his technique, grace and how he made it look so easy is certainly a moment to never forget.

Whilst he was still a small player at the time at Manchester United, this marked the start of the Beckham era.

Eric Cantona Kung Fu kick

Crystal Palace and Manchester United went head to head with each other in 1995. It was an ordinary match until Eric Cantona decided to kick a Crystal Palace fan.

He was given an eight month ban and this is a moment that has gone down in books.

Rooney arrives

Wayne Rooney came on to the football scene as an unknown teenager playing for his boyhood club earning £80 a week. Whilst in a match against Arsenal, he ruined their unbeaten streak and became a football legend.

The Aguero Goal

Manchester City and Manchester United started the final day of the season level on points and City needed to win their match against QPR to become Premier League Champions.

United were on track to win their game and to become champions again. Luckily, Mario Balotelli found Sergio Aguero who kicked the ball into the bottom-left corner and the City won the title for the first time in 44 years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=49&v=PcYVs3k3-P0

Arsenal mess up a penalty

From one iconic goal to a truly embarrassing one. In a match against Manchester City, Arsenal’s Robert Pires and Thierry Henry decide to re-create an infamous penalty taken by Dutch player Johan Cruyff in 1982.

Unluckily, Pires went to take his shot and lost his inability to kick the ball and ended up losing the ball to City.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=33&v=_-ajDTudr3c

Pepe Reina is beaten by a beach ball

In a match between Liverpool vs Sunderland, a Liverpool-branded beach ball was thrown onto the pitch from the visiting section of the stadium. it then glided onto the pitch during the opening minutes of Sunderland’s encounter with Liverpool.

The beach ball started a debated when Darren Bent’s strike beat Liverpool’s Jose Reina with the help of the ball, which secured a 1-0 victory to Sunderland.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=13&v=K5loeV-_4og

Liverpool’s players protested and criticized the decision as the FIFA law states “the referee should stop, suspend or abandon the match because of outside interference of any kind”, which meant the goal should’ve been ruled out.

Fight between teammates

Newcastle United and Aston Villa went head to head with each other at St James’ Park, and when Newcastle were three goals down and down to 10 men with eight minutes to go, the players turned on each other.

Fight between teams

Teammates Kieron Dyer and Lee Bowyer ended up taking their anger out on each other, and had to be dragged apart by teammates and Villa’s Gareth Barry. The players were both sent off, made a public apology and were suspended.

Phil Brown gives his team a talk on the Pitch

Phil brown, manager of Hull City, was mocked for taking his half-time team-talk out on the pitch, after Hull had put on a horrible display of football in the first half against Manchester City and were down 4-0.

Phil Brown gives team talk on the pitch

Pizza-gate

Manchester United ended Arsenals unbeaten run in 2005, which will always be remembered for Cesc Fabregas hitting Sir Alex Ferguson with a slice of pizza.

Arsenal headlines

Ronaldo redefines the free-kick

In 2008, back when Cristiano Ronaldo was playing for Manchester United. The Portugal star’s famous 30=yard free-kick found the top- right of the net led them to a 2-0 victory.

Sir Alex Ferguson even said, “It was without doubt the best free-kick I’ve seen in the Premier League”.

West Bromwich Albion survives

In the 2004-05 season, Norwich, Crystal Palace, West Brom and Southampton went into the final day of the season battling against relegation but only one team could survive.

West Brom had been bottom of the table at Christmas but fought hard in the final of the season to be in a chance to win the game. The team managed to defeat Portsmouth 2-0 and were saved from relegation.

Paolo Di Canio pushes the ref to the floor

In September 1998, when Paolo Di Canio was playing for Sheffield, Di Canio and Arsenal player Martin Keown became involved in a heated dispute. Di Canio was sent off which then prompted the Italian to protest widely before shoving the ref to the floor.

Di Canio was punished with a £10,000 fine and an 11-match ban.

Pogba is signed

Manchester United paid £95 million to bring Paul Pogba back to Old Trafford, four years after the Frenchman signed for Juventus on a free contract.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Jfn-U6EGzU

Paolo Di Canio’s goal

West Ham legend Paulo Di Canio scored the goal of the season back in 2000, where he showed of his impressive technique with his volley.

Liverpool’s 4-3 against Newcastle

This game is definitely one that has gone down in history. In 1996 at Anfield, Liverpool and Newcastle went head to head where Liverpool became victorious. It saw Anfield stadium go into a meltdown, and Kevin Keegan went and infamously slumped against an advertising board.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9miGP5BC7bE

Sol Campbell moves to the rival team

In 2001, Sol Campbell sparked controversy when he decided to move from Spurs to fierce rivals Arsenal. Fans of Spurs turned against Campbell with some calling him Judas.

sol campbell

Manchester United 9-0 Ipswich Town

Manchester United set a record margin of victory in 1995 that still stands today. United hammered relegation placed Ipswich 9-0 at Old Trafford.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZHaIOCjr3E

Fergie Time!

“Fergie Time” was given to the phenomenon of Manchester United receiving injury time in games at Old Trafford when they were not winning. The time they used to their advantage, and would sometimes result in them gaining plenty of last minute goals over the years.

Fergie Time

Kammy misses the sending off

Gillette Soccer Saturday provides viewers with comprehensive analysis of the matches and well, it looks like Kemmy might have missed one important detail in this match…

By Amy Lehal

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