5 of the biggest meltdowns in Premier League title race

#2. Manchester United (2011-12)

Kompany’s goal against Man Utd put Man City on the top of the table with two games to go

It was a season during which the Manchester clubs were a cut above the rest of the teams in the league. The two teams were the only title contenders for most part of the season, but the title wasn’t decided till the very last game of the season.

The Citizens got off to a terrific start by winning 12 of their opening 14 games and drawing the other two. During this unbeaten run, they had an emphatic 6-1 win over Man Utd at Old Trafford. However, City’s league season started to crumble in March and early April when they picked up only 5 points from as many games.

United capitalised on City’s poor form and established an eight-point lead over their neighbours. With six games remaining, the top of the table was this way and United were clear favourites to lift the league title once again.

Position	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Points
1	Manchester United	32	25	4	3	78	27	51	79
2	Manchester City	32	22	5	5	75	26	49	71

Both teams were due to play each other on match day 36 and Man City went on to win their three games prior to that by scoring 12 goals and conceding just 1 in the process. Man Utd on the other hand, had a terrible run. They lost to relegation-threatened Wigan Athletic before winning against Aston Villa. However their title challenge and confidence took a massive hit when they threw away a 3-1 lead against Everton and ended up drawing 4-4 through a late equaliser from Pienaar.

The result left the league table in this manner.

Position	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Points
1	Manchester United	35	26	5	4	86	32	54	83
2	Manchester City	35	25	5	5	87	27	60	80

Manchester City were hosting their neighbours for the title-deciding derby and the home team won thanks to a goal from their captain, Vincent Kompany. This result took Manchester City to the top of the table due to their superior goal difference.

Position	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Points
1	Manchester City	36	26	5	5	88	27	61	83
2	Manchester United	36	26	5	5	86	33	53	83

Man Utd won their next game against Swansea and Man City won theirs against Newcastle. Table-toppers City were hosting relegation-threatened QPR while United were visiting Sunderland for the final game of the season.

Both teams took a first half lead in their respective games, but only Man Utd were able took keep the score in the same manner till the end of the game. In City’s game, QPR dealt a huge blow by scoring two second half goals and taking the lead. The game went to the added time of the second half and City equalised through Dzeko and soon scored again through Aguero to snatch the title from Manchester United’s clutches in the very last minute.

Not only did United blow an eight-point lead, they also went through a heartbreak after being denied the title in the very last minute of the season.