The top 10 teams that did not win the Premier League

Although there is no unworthy champion of the Premier League, many teams are on the verge of tasting the glory of high flying to fall to the last test.

Showcasing end-of-season slippage (both figurative and literal), leadership crashes and a few sudden lunches – these are the best teams not to win the Premier League …

Arsenal 1998/99

Arsene Wenger nearly made double consecutive in 1999, but Manchester United denied on both fronts. With Marc Overmars and Nicolas Anelka, Wenger strengthened his ranks with the addition of Freddie Ljungberg, Nelson Vivas and, in January, Nwankwo Kanu.

And although Ryan Giggs' solo attack in the FA Cup semi-final match ended their double hopes, Arsenal had the title of champion in his hands with just two games to play, two points behind. before on United.

But then came a disastrous 1-0 defeat to Leeds that paralyzed their campaign, made even more frustrating by the loss of points United against Blackburn a day later. The Gunners then prayed for Tottenham to take something from Old Trafford on the last day, but the Ferdinand's first goal was rendered useless by the rebound strikes from David Beckham and Andy Cole.

Newcastle, 1995/96

Kevin Keegan's teammates had a nine-point lead in January 1996. With Keith Gillespie, Les Ferdinand and David Ginola propelling the Magpies to 20 wins in 27 games, the title seemed imminent.

But the old adage that the attack is the best form of defense turned out to be the defeat of Newcastle – mainly because defenders like Philippe Albert have spent too much time attacking and not enough, well, to defend themselves .

A 1-0 defeat of Manchester United early March had reduced the gap to four points. It was after a 1-1 draw against Nottingham Forest in their next game when Keegan let slip his famous "love it" campaign.

At that time, it was a question of when, not if, they would be overwhelmed. The defeats against Arsenal, Liverpool and Blackburn – in four games – have allowed them to score four points behind a resurging Red Devils, led by the return of Eric Cantona after his suspension of eight months for his practice of karate. .

Liverpool, 2008/09

If the dynamic duo of Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard scored Liverpool team Rafa Benitez in 2008/09, the truth is that the Reds had clbad all over the field. Pepe Reina was an excellent goaltender, Jamie Carragher staged the defense, Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano patrolled the central midfielder, while players like Yossi Benayoun and Dirk Kuyt also made significant offensive contributions. At Christmas, they were in the lead, having lost only once.

They would also suffer another defeat in the league, but a series of bleak results in January and February left them 10 points behind the summit. Rafa Benitez had led his infamous and infamous debut on the psychic "facts" Ferguson earlier this year, and despite a 4-1 win over United at Old Trafford late in the season, his rivals retained the advantage and won the league with a game to spare.

Norwich, 1992/93

The Norfolk team had won just 11 games in the 1991/92 season, finishing three points ahead of the jump zone, but inexplicably advanced from the front in the opening season of the Premier League.

Experienced professionals such as Mark Robins and emerging talents such as Ruel Fox and Chris Sutton combined have earned Norwich famous wins against Arsenal and Chelsea at the start of the campaign.

The Canaries were heading for Christmas, having established an eight-point lead at the top in early December. Despite an uneven form, Norwich managed to move up early in the beginning of February. They were still second in six games, but a 3-1 defeat at home against rivals Manchester United gave them wings and a series of dismal results left Mike Walker's team 10 points behind. of the end.

Despite the disappointment, Norwich has secured a credible third place to secure UEFA Cup football. And then came Jeremy Goss to Munich …

Manchester United, 2011/12

Although United's fans will have fond memories of the collapse of Newcastle that allowed their team to win the title in 1996, the truth is that the biggest capitulation of the Premier League came from Old Trafford.

Threatened by Wayne Rooney's goals, United had set an eight-point lead in second place in Manchester City with only six games left in 2012. But a loss to Wigan, threatened with relegation, combined with a 4- 4 with Everton, in which United made a 3-1 lead, means that City could win the Manchester derby.

A Vincent Kompany header duly delivered the necessary 1-0 win and Roberto Mancini's team was back on the track. Yaya Touré 's double sank Newcastle in the penultimate game, giving rise to a final clash against QPR which turned out to be far more entertaining than it should have been. ;be.