The Closest Premier League Title Races in History: When One Point Changed Everything

A stats and narrative deep-dive into the most dramatic title races in PL history, 1989, 2012, 2022.

The closest Premier League title races are never decided cleanly. They come down to stoppage-time goals, final-day collapses, and goal difference being settled by a few minutes of football. 

Here’s a narrative deep-dive into the three most dramatic title races in English top-flight history: 1989, 2012 and 2022. Three races across three different decades that fans will never, ever forget. 

The 1989 First Division finale: the original thriller

The 1988/89 First Division season was decided in the final seconds of the final match. 

On 26 May 1989, Liverpool faced Arsenal, with the championship at stake. Liverpool went into the match three points clear at the top with a superior goal difference, which meant Arsenal needed to win by two clear goals to overtake them. Anything else, even a 1-0 win, would hand Liverpool the title. 

Alan Smith glanced in a header in the 52nd minute to give Arsenal hope. As the game ticked into the 91st minute, Michael Thomas surged through midfield, took a deflection in his stride, and lifted the ball over Bruce Grobbelaar to score the most dramatic goal in the history of English top-flight football and give Arsenal the win. 

A peak British TV audience of over 12 million watched live. Brian Moore's commentary, "It's up for grabs now... Thomas, right at the end!", remains one of the most replayed lines in football history.

2012: Man City and the Aguero moment

The 2011/12 Premier League title race remains the only championship in PL history decided on goal difference. Manchester City and Manchester United finished the season level on 89 points, with City ahead by eight goals on goal difference (+64 to +56) heading into the final day.

Jamie Mackie put QPR 2-1 up in the 66th minute, and the visitors held the lead deep into stoppage time. Manchester United had already beaten Sunderland 1-0, and Sir Alex Ferguson's players were celebrating on the pitch at the Stadium of Light, believing the title was theirs for a 20th time.

Then, everything changed. Edin Džeko equalised in the 92nd minute. With 93 minutes and 20 seconds on the clock, Mario Balotelli kept a loose ball alive, fed Sergio Agüero, and the Argentine drove an unstoppable right-foot finish past Paddy Kenny.

Martin Tyler's commentary line, "Aguerooooo!", became the most replayed call in Premier League history. City won 3-2 and took the title on goal difference. It was their first championship in 44 years. United had to wait another year for theirs.

2022: Liverpool's quadruple attempt

The 2021/22 Premier League title race was won by Manchester City by a single point, with Liverpool finishing on 92 points to City's 93. Jürgen Klopp's side were chasing an unprecedented domestic and European quadruple of the Premier League, FA Cup, EFL Cup and Champions League.

Liverpool went into the final day of the season needing to beat Wolves and hope City dropped points at home to Aston Villa. City fell 2-0 down inside an hour. Liverpool fans started to believe. Then, in five minutes, City won the title. İlkay Gündoğan scored twice and Rodri once between the 76th and 81st minutes, turning a 2-0 deficit into a 3-2 lead. The match finished 3-2 to City. Liverpool beat Wolves 3-1, but it was not enough.

Liverpool went on to win the EFL Cup and the FA Cup that season, and reached the Champions League final, where they lost 1-0 to Real Madrid. It remains the closest a club has ever come to the elusive English quadruple, and the most narrowly decided title races the Premier League has produced in the modern era.

Follow all the title race action with Match Bingo

From Michael Thomas to Sergio Agüero to Liverpool's near-miss, the closest Premier League title races have all been won in the final ten minutes. With Match Bingo running live on every Premier League fixture, every late goal, corner and chaos moment brings you closer to a win. 

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