Games between the nearest and bitterest of rivals can often produce some of the most fiercely contested matchups of the season, but when there is something riding on it like a league title the intensity is ramped up to the extreme.
With Manchester City knowing that victory over Manchester United at the weekend will not only give them bragging rights for the season but will also see them crowned Premier League champions, all eyes will understandably be on the Etihad Stadium come Saturday night; but it isn’t the first time a fixture between near-neighbours has had so much riding on it and won’t be the last.
So here are some other derby day deciders from years gone by which have seen sides win the league against their fiercest enemies as well as those who have seen it taken from them in the cruellest and most painful way imaginable.
Tottenham v Arsenal: May, 1971
On Monday, May 3, 1971, Bertie Mee's Arsenal travelled to White Hart Lane for the final match of the First Division season trailing Don Revie’s Leeds United by one point and knowing that a victory would not just hand them the title but would also complete the first leg of a historic double.
In front of a crowd of 51,000, with over 20,000 reportedly locked outside the ground, Spurs were determined to deny Arsenal the chance of emulating what they had achieved 10 years earlier and peppered the visitors’ goal; but on 87 minutes Ray Kennedy climbed to head the ball past Pat Jennings and set up the most thrilling of finishes. Spurs rallied knowing that a goal would deny their near neighbours glory but Bob Wilson would not be beaten and the final whistle sparked scenes of pandemonium on and off the pitch.
Celtic v Rangers: May, 1999
Derby day in Glasgow is a fiercely contested encounter at the best of times but with Rangers able to clinch the title at the home of their bitter rivals for the first time in over 100 years you could say the perfect storm was brewing when the two met on May 2, 1999. What’s more the game was rearranged for an evening kick-off on a Bank Holiday weekend ensuring a feistier atmosphere than usual.
The Gers ran out comfortable 3-0 winners on the day to win the title on enemy soil but the game would be remembered more for the scenes of utter chaos and violence throughout as referee Hugh Dallas was struck with a coin and a number of fans running onto the field. No fewer than 360 police incidents were reported while over a hundred arrests were made during the day; even so, it didn’t deter the Rangers players from imitating Celtics famous huddle at the final whistle as well as running to celebrate with their supporters despite police hopes that the victory would not be celebrated on the Parkhead pitch.
Tottenham v Arsenal: April 2004
Chelsea’s defeat at Newcastle earlier in the day meant that Arsenal needed just a point at the home of their nearest rivals en route to an undefeated league season in a scenario that almost mirrored what had gone before in 1971, and the Gunners couldn’t have got off to a better start as they took a 2-0 half-time lead thanks to goals from Patrick Vieira and Robert Pires.
But unlike the previous time Arsenal had won the league at the home of Spurs the home side were able to put up more of a fight with Jamie Redknapp’s long-range effort and a late Robbie Keane penalty ensuring they avoided defeat on this occasion; but it wasn’t enough to prevent their rivals claiming the title while maintaining their unbeaten run which would last to the end of the season.
Liverpool v Manchester United: April, 1992
For much of the 1991/92 season it looked like Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United would finally lift the league title for the first time since 1967 as they set a blistering pace to sit top of the table at the turn of the year; but a dramatic collapse that spring would mean that going into the final fortnight of the season they would be chasing Leeds United with only two games remaining.
Going into the penultimate match at Anfield against arch rivals Liverpool the equation was simple; defeat would hand the Yorkshire club their first title since 1974 and in a cauldron of an atmosphere, goals from Ian Rush and Mark Walters confirmed United fans’ biggest fears as they could only watch their title hopes go up in smoke as Liverpool supporters on the Kop revelled in their failure.
Chelsea v Tottenham: May, 2016
Leicester City blazed a trail for much of the 2015/16 season sitting on top of the table for the majority of the campaign and flying the flag for underdogs everywhere, so when chasing Tottenham faced Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on May 2 only a victory would prevent the Foxes from being crowned champions for the first time in their history.
In a hotly contested London derby Spurs took an early 2-0 lead which many thought would mean that Leicester’s title celebrations would be put on hold for another few days at least; but goals from Gary Cahill and Eden Hazard not only denied the visitors any slim chance they had of winning their first top-flight title since 1961, it also confirmed one of the greatest stories in football history as the 5,000/1 outsiders were officially crowned champions.
