The Premier League 2008/09 was one of if not the best seasons in my lifetime. With tight rivalries, close matches, and individual great performances the Campaign provided a fast-paced drama that left fans as well as expert sitters right before their screens. In collaboration with the dedicated sports blog JustSports24, we look back at this season’s highlights and key moments as well as analyze what turned out to be a very long title race.
2008/09 Season Review
The Premier League 2008/09 is famous for its unpredictability, but there are not many seasons that lived up to that reputation as much as Premier League 2008/09. Current holders Manchester United, who were looking to win their third successive title under Sir Alex Ferguson. However, Chelsea, Liverpool, and Arsenal were all resurgent in their quest to establish themselves as legitimate challengers for the title. The Abu Dhabi United Group was taken over by Manchester City leading to a floodgate of cash and also they were turning into major players as well.
With that, the season of 20 teams hitting out at each other for a good and proper 38 games ahead was poised to get underway on August 16, 2008. In the end, it was Manchester United who came out on top to grab their 18th league crown, but along way there were turns,, so many debates and flashes of genius.
Key Matches and Moments
Liverpool 2-1 Manchester United
This is what Liverpool fans will remember earlier this season their win against Manchester United. At Anfield they recovered from a Carlos Tevez opener to win 2-1 through Wes Brown’s own goal and a Ryan Babel strike. That victory in many ways was seen as a turning point for Liverpool, who spent much of the early season snapping at United’s heels and realistically were their main rivals.
Manchester United 3-0 Chelsea
United 4 Chelsea 0 (Old Trafford)This was not just a game, but also Ferguson’s men shouted an intention. Chelsea’s title hopes went up in smoke courtesy of strikes from Nemanja Vidić, Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov. It was a huge game for United, as they eventually ran away with the league in the second half of the season.
Arsenal 4-4 Tottenham Hotspur
We say it every time the North London Derby comes around but this one did in fact deliver a bit more than usual. Arsenal led 4-2 with minutes to go. But Tottenham staged a dramatic late comeback as Jermaine Jenas and Aaron Lennon goals made it 4-3 in injury-time. It remains one of the greatest Premier League derbies and has gone down in history for its sheer drama.
Liverpool 1-4 Manchester United
With the title race bubbling away, Liverpool travelled to Old Trafford and with only one thing on their minds – taking three points of United. One of the biggest upsets this season was when Liverpool hammered in 4 past United inspired by Fernando Torres and a Gerrard brace. Liverpool’s title hopes ultimately ended in disappointment but this match, perhaps more than any other that season, sent reverberations throughout the league of their attacking capability.
Hull City’s Fairytale Start
Newly promoted Hull City took the Premier League by storm with their blistering beginning of the campaign. Hull were in the top six by November under Phil Brown after beating Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur. They would of course go on to complete their annual rotation and return with firm intention at the first time, but Hull’s early performances provide a nice change of pace that saw them ultimately maintain top flight status.
Manchester United vs Liverpool -The Title Race
The 2008-09 title race was a two-horse battle between Manchester United and Liverpool. Insulting United, who had the know-how and back-up plan in place; not least they raced clear early on only because Liverpool did produce some of their sharpest work under Rafael Benítez. Liverpool had been ignited by Steven Gerrard and Fernando Torres, style icons who always turned up. But inconsistency versus inferior sides would eventually cost them out in the marathon race.
By contrast, Manchester United were getting the job done with their rock-solid defence in its prime Nemanja Vidić/Rio Ferdinand years and a masterclass campaign by Cristiano Ronaldo – his last season as a Red. It was United’s knack of winning by the odd goal, particularly during their unbeaten 14-match run from December to March that snatched them home.
It turned after Liverpool drew 4-4 with Arsenal in April giving United the opening they required. That made all the difference as Ferguson’s side took control in its final few games to win a third-straight English title with 87 points — four ahead of Liverpool.
Conclusion
As the title challengers played for honours, so too did those in danger of relegation. So it was that West Bromwich Albion, Middlesbrough and Newcastle United followed them all into the Championship.
