Largest defeats suffered from League Champions

Liverpool’s 4-0 defeat away at Manchester City last night is the biggest defeat a title winning side has faced in over 20 years. Here we look at some of those heaviest loss in a championship winning campaign.

Chelsea 5-0 Manchester United – 1999/2000

Just five months after United’s treble winning, Chelsea put on a masterclass of a display at Stamford Bridge.

The Blues took the lead in the 2nd minute. Dan Petrescu long ball, reached the head of Gus Poyet who glanced it passed Massimmo Taibi.

Chelsea doubled their lead just 13 minutes later. It was almost a carbon copy of the first goal, this time Albert Ferrer was provider, and Chris Sutton was the finisher. The former Blackburn striker looped his header over Taibi, into the back of the net.

Nicky Butt then got himself sent off after reacting to a challenge committed by Chelsea skipper Dennis Wise.

The West Londoners used their extra man to their advantage and were 3-0 up just 10 minutes after the break. Taibi pushed out Frank Lebouef’s effort into the path of Poyet, who slotted home from close range.

It was four. Gianfranco Zola drove into the area and attempted to play it to an unmarked Sutton. However Henning Berg would be the man with the fianl touch as he turned it into his own net.

Jody Morris wrapped up the scoring nine minutes from time, when his shot went through the legs of the Italian Taibi to make it five.

Many were expecting Chelsea to push on from this result. However, Gianluca Vialli’s men would only win one of their next eight matches and had to settle for a 5th place finish, 26 points behind Manchester United.

 

Newcastle United 5-0 Manchester United (1996/97)

Of all the next five we are about to go through, this fixture at St. James’ Park back in October ’96 was most memorable.

Newcastle, despite 12 points clear, were pipped to the Premier League title by Manchester United in the final months of the previous season. Alex Ferguson’s mind games had appeared to have got to the Magpies boss Kevin Keegan, who like his side lost his composure and was unable to recover.

On top of that United had also embarrassed the Geordies in the Charity Shield 4-0. So revenge was in the air when these two faced off.

The home side to a good start after 12 minutes, when a Darren Peacock header just glanced over the line.

They then went 2-0 up on the half hour mark. David Ginola held off Gary Neville and bent his shot on the edge of the area into the top corner. A gem of a goal from a gem of a player.

The Geordies would increase their lead after the break, when Alan Shearer’s cross from the byline, reached strike partner Les Ferdinand. His towering header, hit the underside of the bar, and went in.

Defeat would turn into humiliation for United, with 15 minutes to go. Peter Schmeichel was able to keep out Peter Beardsley’s long range effort as well as Les Ferdinand’s close range effort, but Shearer was their to slot it home.

Newcastle defender Philippe Albert would get the pick of the goals however. The Belgian’s outrageous chip from 25 yards, looped over the United defence as well as Schmeichel, into the back of the net.

“Newcastle looking for Number five, with Philippe Albert, oh…. Absolutely glorious!” – Martin Tyler

Albert’s audacious effort capped off a glorious 5-0 win for Newcastle over Manchester United. One of the greatest matches in former Chairman Sir John Hall quoted after the match, “They had just seen the league champions perform.”

In a way Sir John was right, but it wasn’t Newcastle United. Fergie’s men would reclaim their title at the end of that season.

For the Toon Army the 5-0 drumming was arguably their highest point of the season. The club would only win three of their next 11 matches, and Keegan would resign 11 days into 1997. Kenny Dalglish took over and guided them a 2nd placed finish.

 

Liverpool 4-0 Arsenal – 1997/98

Just three days after lifting the Premier League title, Arsenal travelled to Anfield to face Liverpool.

With the FA Cup final just ten days away, Arsene Wenger put out a second string side which included Matthew Upson, Luis Boa Morte and Stephen Hughes. Patrick Vieira was the only real ‘big gun’ on the bench.

Liverpool took advantage of this weakened Arsenal side, and took the lead in the 28th minute. Paul Ince’s effort from the edge of the area sliced placed Gunners’ keeper Alex Manninger.

Ince would then double his tally two minutes, after being on the end of Steve McMannaman’s ball across the face of goal.

The Liverpool would turn provided for Liverpool’s third just before the break. He knocked it to Michael Owen, who found the net following an attempted scissor kick finish.

Owen could have had a brace himself, after the Reds’ won a penalty after McMannaman was brought down by Matt Upson in the area, but Manninger kept his spotkick out.

Liverpool made it four in the 87th minute, a header away from Giles Grimandi fell to Oyvind Leonhardsen, who rifled it passed Manninger to seal the deal.

 

Manchester City 4-0 Leeds United – 1991/92

Though it maybe argued City’s victory over Liverpool paled into insignificance, this win over Leeds United in April 1992 did.

Leeds were in the thick of a tussle for the title with Manchester United, and went into this game at Maine Road one point behind United, having played a game more.

However City did their Manchester rivals a favour that Saturday. An Andy Hill header as well as a Micheal Sheron chip over keeper John Lukic meant the hosts went in at half-time 2-0 infront.

Niall Quinn also got his name onto the scoresheet after the striker chipped his former Arsenal teammate from an acute angle.

The scoring was complete after Mark Brennan was on the end of some nice team play from Manchester City.

Many thought that City had derailed Leeds’ title hopes after that crushing defeat. However, Fergie’s men unexpectedly collapsed in the final weeks of the campaign. Howard Wilkinson’s side took advantage of this slip up and brought the last old Division One title to Elland Road.

 

Aston Villa 5-1 Liverpool – 1976/77

Liverpool won almost everything in the 70s and the 80s. However even they suffered some heavy defeats.

Bob Paisley’s men were fighting out the First Division with the likes of Manchester City and Ipswich Town, however their title hopes would take a real setback at Villa Park in December 1976.

Andy Gray gave Villa the lead in the ninth minute after he headed John Deehan’s cross passed Liverpool keeper, Ray Clemence.

Just two minutes later, and it 2-0, Dennis Mortimer played in John Deehan who would beat Clemence in a one-on-one.

Deehan then took advantage of a sloppy back-pass by Ian Callaghan to make it three in the 21st minute.

Nine minutes later it was four. John Gidman’s ball into the box was met my Brian Little, who headed it home.

Liverpool did get one back, through Ray Kennedy. But before the break Ron Saunders’ men completed the scoring, as Gray beat Phil Thompson to a header, which also beat Clememce.

5-1 the final score, and according to former Reds’ skipper Emelyn Hughes, Bob Paisley was not pleased. Apparently quite a calm man he was raging in the dressing room at the full-time whistle.

Hughes noted it was “the kick up the backside they needed”, and he was right. Liverpool would lose only three more games that season and go on to retain their League title. They also won their First European Cup that season, and came close to the treble, after losing 2-1 to Manchester United in the FA Cup final.