Time of truth: Easter matches that have shaped the Premier League title race | first division

Manchester United 1-1 Liverpool, April 10, 1998

“I always wanted to kick Peter Schmeichel for some reason,” said Michael Owen, recalling how he became the first player sent off in a Premier League match between manchester united and Liverpool. He was first booked for kicking the goalkeeper and, minutes after scoring to cancel out Ronny Johnsen's first goal, Owen earned his second yellow card for a lunge on the Norwegian in the 40th minute. Johnsen had to be stretchered off. Earlier in the season, United had comfortably beaten Liverpool 3-1 at Anfield, and the Merseyside club were keen to spoil the party and ensure their rivals did not receive a boost in their title race against Arsenal.

It looked like Owen had ruined that ambition, but United failed to take advantage of the advantage handed to them on a plate. The tie leaves United seven points ahead of second place Arsenal but Arsene Wenger's team had four games less. “I don't think they are as good a football team as us,” Sir Alex Ferguson said of Arsenal. “They will find out that the points will be lost at the end of the season, there is no doubt about that.” Arsenal won the league with two games remaining.

Chelsea 2-1 Arsenal, March 23, 2008

This defeat for Arsenal definitively ended their title hopes in 2008. At the beginning of March of that year, Arsenal were on top, but a run of draws against Birmingham, Aston Villa, Wigan and Middlesbrough allowed Manchester United to overtake them. to second place, putting enormous bets at stake. about the match at Stamford Bridge. A revival appeared to be on the cards after Bacary Sagna put Arsenal ahead, but Drogba inevitably turned the game around with two goals. The result pushed Chelsea to second and moved Arsenal to third, where they remained until the end of the season.

In three-way title races, neutrals get the best of both worlds by watching one team collapse while two other teams remain competitive. Wenger's side followed up the disappointment against Chelsea with another draw and a defeat in their next three games to leave them firmly out of the competition, while Chelsea attempted to add some suspense over the outcome of the title fight. A few weeks later they beat Manchester United by the same score at the Bridge with Michael Ballack scoring twice, but United won their final two games of the season to secure the league by two points. Chelsea's two wins became inconsequential after they drew at home to Bolton on the final day, while United won 2-0 at Wigan.

Manchester United 1-2 Chelsea, April 3, 2010

It may seem like refereeing controversies mar every round of matches right now, but it was no different 14 years ago. The season's title race, amid a new era for Chelsea following the appointment of Carlo Ancelotti the previous summer, may be defined by Manchester United's 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford. But the star of the show was not Joe Cole, whose 20th-minute backheel gave the visitors the lead. Neither did Drogba, who came off the bench and scored the second. They were Mike Dean and his team of officials. Both teams were denied clear penalties in the first half and Drogba's goal stood despite the striker being a good few meters offside.

“That's two times we've been beaten by refereeing decisions, it happened at Stamford Bridge too,” Ferguson said. “The linesman is right in front of Drogba and he makes a mistake. It was a very poor performance by the referees in a match of this magnitude. The quality of the officials has cost us.” However, United could not complain. Paul Scholes was lucky to still be on the pitch at full time and the final consolation goal, scored by Federico Macheda, was guided into the net with his right arm. The three points were a huge boost for Ancelotti's side, who have won four of their last five games, including an 8-0 rout of Wigan on the final day to lift United to the title by a point.

Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal, April 9, 2023

One point won against two lost. What is the difference? Arsenal found out later their exciting 2-2 draw at Anfield last season. Despite trailing 2-0, Liverpool secured a point with Roberto Firmino scoring his 11th goal against Arsenal in the 87th minute. The Arsenal players were dejected when the Brazilian headed a cross to the far post, but their downfall came in the lose the control they had exhibited for much of the first half.

Arsenal's point was largely down to Aaron Ramsdale, who emerged as a heroic figure, repeatedly thwarting a relentless Liverpool attack. His highlights included denying Mohamed Salah's deflected attempt and preventing Ibrahima Konaté from scoring a last-second winner virtually on the goal line. Reflecting on the match, the goalkeeper said it was like winning one point and wasting two. Although they still lead the table by six points, the cracks in Arsenal's armor were evident for Manchester City after the Anfield thriller. A few weeks later, Kevin De Bruyne helped pull the strings as the defending champions comfortably defeated Mikel Arteta's team 4-1, a score that somehow still flattered their rivals. City later won his third consecutive title with three games to spare.