Biggest Premier League points gaps as Man City's task to overhaul Liverpool detailed
Defending champions Manchester City are staring at an 11-point deficit to Premier League leaders Liverpool, but City, Manchester United and Arsenal have completed such comebacks
by Felix Keith · The MirrorManchester City are going to have to pull off something pretty spectacular to reel in Liverpool, but there is precedent in the Premier League.
City are now 11 points adrift of Liverpool following their 2-0 defeat at Anfield on Sunday. They have lost six and drawn one of their last seven games in all competitions, with an aggregate scoreline of 7-19.
Things are looking pretty bleak for the defending champions, who are not used to such misery since Pep Guardiola took charge in 2016. Speaking last week, Guardiola and Ilkay Gundogan suggested their title hopes would be extinguished by a defeat at Liverpool.
Well, Pep, we’ve got news for you: it is not hopeless. It can be done. Momentum can shift, and with 25 matches still to play in the Premier League this season, there is time for a turnaround. The team that has won six of the past seven titles could still make it seven of eight. Simply repeat these simple steps.
Man City 2018/19
10-point deficit
Guardiola has first-hand experience of coming from behind to pip Liverpool to the Premier League title, having done so just six years ago. Like Arne Slot’s side are now, Jurgen Klopp’s team looked unbeatable in the first half of that campaign, having won 18 and drawn two of their opening 20 league games.
City, by contrast, had lost three games in December and by the New Year were 10 points adrift. They did have the benefit of a game in-hand, and that ended up proving crucial as they went on a frankly ridiculous run of form.
Guardiola’s side won 18 of 19 matches from Boxing Day onwards, beating Liverpool 2-1 in January on the way to winning the title by a single point. Liverpool lost just once all season – against City – and ended up finishing second on 97 points.
Man Utd 2008/09
10-point deficit
This comeback comes with a major caveat. United had a near two-week break from Premier League action over Christmas that year due to Club World Cup commitments, so had fallen 10 points behind through no fault of their own. They had three games in hand on Liverpool and made them count, showing that points on the board isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s side actually got better as the campaign wore on. The most famous moment came when teenage striker Federico Macheda scored a dramatic winner against Aston Villa in injury time to secure a 3-2 comeback win. United beat Rafa Benitez’s Liverpool to the title by four points in the end.
Man Utd 2002/03
10-point deficit
Another title win for Ferguson – and this one was impressive. United started very slowly and were 10 points behind by mid-November. Arsenal were the early pace-setters and they didn’t fade away, either, holding an eight-point lead in late March.
United were imperious after Christmas, going unbeaten over 18 matches after Boxing Day. They secured a 2-2 draw against Arsenal at Highbury and ultimately finished five points clear at the end of the season, despite scoring 11 goals fewer than their rivals.
Man Utd 1995/96
10-point deficit
A classic Premier League season as United and Newcastle duked it out at the top of the table. It was made famous by Kevin Keegan’s rant in response to some textbook Fergie mind games.
Ferguson questioned whether Nottingham Forest and Leeds would try as hard against Newcastle as they had against United. A furious Keegan told Sky Sports: "We have not resorted to that, but I'll tell you, you can tell him now if you're watching it, we're still fighting for this title, and he's got to go to Middlesbrough and get something, and... and... I'll tell you, honestly, I will love it if we beat them, love it!"
They did not beat them. United went to Boro and won 3-0 while Newcastle drew both their final games 1-1 to surrender the trophy.
Man Utd 1996/97
10-point deficit
Yes, they did it in successive seasons. Midway through the campaign, United found themselves in sixth place, 10 points behind Liverpool. Once again, there was a caveat of two games in hand, but their comeback was impressive nonetheless.
Fergie’s side ended up securing the title by seven points from Newcastle, Arsenal and Liverpool. Their tally of 75 points is the fewest ever recorded by the title winners in the Premier League era.
Man Utd 1992/93
12-point deficit
Yes, they did it again. The first Premier League season saw United show just how good they are when given a team to chase. Ferguson’s team were seventh and 12 points behind surprise leaders Norwich on December 5.
The signing of Eric Cantona made a huge difference and United reeled Norwich in pretty easily over December. They ended up winning the Premier League by 10 points to secure what was their first title in 26 years. We all know what came next.
Arsenal 1997/98
13-point deficit
United have done it the most times, but they don’t hold the record in the Premier League era. In fact, they were on the other side of the comeback as Arsenal overhauled them in 1997/98.
Arsene Wenger’s side hit their stride after Christmas and went on a 10-game winning streak, in which they conceded just three times, to break the back of the chase. They were even able to lose their final two matches of the season, having zoomed so far ahead of United. Wenger lifted his maiden title thanks to just a single point in the end.
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