MONDAY night’s London derby was nothing short of absolute chaos.
Chelsea ran out 4-1 winners away at nine-men Tottenham.
But the scoreline does not even tell a fraction of the story of one of the most ridiculous matches ever.
In fact, for one SunSport reporter, it was indeed the maddest 90 – or 113 – minutes of Premier League football he had witnessed.
So we asked our writers about the most bonkers Premier League matches they have had the pleasure of covering…
Tom Barclay: Tottenham 1 Chelsea 4 – November 7, 2023
THERE is no need for me to delve into the memory bank for this one – because no Premier League game is going to top what I witnessed in the madcap stakes.
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Five goals scored, another five disallowed, two red cards (of which both players could have been dismissed before they eventually were), NINE VAR checks, 21 minutes of injury time and the barmiest/most inspiring high line you will ever see a team play.
It was breathless, bonkers stuff at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium that left everyone needing a lie-down and many of us racing for our trains home because of the numerous delays.
Despite Chelsea winning 4-1, the connection between Ange Postecoglou’s side and the home fans only seems to have grown stronger because of their valiant effort with nine men.
And, amazingly, though he bagged a first Premier League hat-trick, the jury still seems very much out on whether Nicolas Jackson is up to it as the Blues’ centre-forward.
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Dave Kidd: Newcastle 4 Arsenal 4 – February 5, 2011
THIS belter was the maddest Premier League game I’ve ever covered – and one of the competition’s greatest comebacks.
Arsenal were 1-0 up in 44 seconds, 3-0 up after 10 minutes and 4-0 up at the break – and many of the Toon Army were so despondent, they headed off for the Bigg Market at half-time.
Those thirsty Geordies would have regretted their decision as, after Abou Diaby was sent off for a ruck with wind-up merchant Joey Barton, Alan Pardew’s team staged a stunning recovery.
Barton netted two penalties either side of a Leon Best strike, before the late Cheick Tiote netted an absolute piledriver to bring the house down at St James’ Park and leave Arsene Wenger hopping mad.
Mark Irwin: Tottenham 3 Man Utd 5 – September 29, 2001
EIGHT goals, eight different scorers and Spurs going all Spursy by throwing away a three-goal lead.
Sir Alex Ferguson was purple in the face when Dean Richards, Les Ferdinand and Christian Ziege set White Hart Lane on fire as the champions were given an absolute run-around.
But Fergie’s half-time team talk clearly went along the lines of “lads, it’s Tottenham” as United staged the mother of all comebacks with goals from Andy Cole, Laurent Blanc, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Juan Sebastian Veron and David Beckham.
Charlie Wyett: Norwich 4 Middlesbrough 4 – January 22, 2005
WHEN Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink made it 4-1 to Boro in the 78th minute, an away win looked a banker.
Even when Dean Ashton pulled one back for Norwich two minutes later, no one expected a recovery from Nigel Worthington’s team.
Yet Leon McKenzie scored to make it 4-3 in the 90th minute and then incredibly, Adam Drury struck in the third minute of added time for a point to stun Boro.
A month later at Carrow Road, Norwich owner Delia Smith marched on to the pitch during a game with Manchester City for her ‘Let’s be ‘avin you’ speech.
Neil Custis: Man Utd 4 Man City 3 – September 20, 2009
THIS was not only the best Manchester derby I have witnessed but the best Premier League game in what was an incredible atmosphere at Old Trafford.
It’s remembered of course for the Michael Owen winner, but two incredible Craig Bellamy goals should not be forgotten either.
Three times United went ahead through Wayne Rooney early on and two Darren Fletcher strikes but three times they were pegged back, the final time by Bellamy in the 90th minute.
Having walloped one into the top corner earlier in the game he then latched on to a Rio Ferdinand error, charged forward, dummied the goalkeeper and slipped the ball in at the near post.
That looked like it was going to be that, but United in those days had a habit of always having the last word, even if there were just seconds left on the board.
In the last ones of injury time, Owen was allowed too much space, Ryan Giggs found him and the former Liverpool star slid the ball home and became a United hero in that moment.
Martin Blackburn: Man Utd 1 Man City 6 – October 23, 2011
AFFECTIONATELY known in the blue half of town as ‘The Six One’ and you could just tell something was brewing that day.
Mario Balotelli had been cautioned for letting off fireworks in his house in the build-up to the game – then rolled up his shirt to reveal his ‘Why Always Me?’ vest after opening the scoring.
When Jonny Evans was red-carded for hauling down Balotelli early in the second half, it all went mad.
The Italian and Sergio Aguero put the visitors firmly in charge before Darren Fletcher pulled one back.
But three goals in a remarkable end from Edin Dzeko (two) and David Silva completed a jaw-dropping rout.
Three sides of Old Trafford were almost deserted by the end and Sir Alex Ferguson described it as his worst day at the club.
Martin Lipton: Tottenham 4 Chelsea 4 – March 20, 2008
EIGHT goals, as many misses, the England left-back outrageously disrespecting the ref and utter bedlam.
Joe Cole’s strike put Chelsea 3-1 up shortly after namesake Ashley turned his back on ref Mike Riley when he only saw yellow for a red-card challenge on Alan Hutton.
Spurs, who had beaten Chelsea to win the League Cup weeks earlier, levelled through Dimitar Berbatov and Tom Huddlestone, before Cole got his second of the night.
But Robbie Keane curled in from 25 yards after the ball bounced off Ricardo Carvalho’s back and they might have nicked a win through Berbatov with virtually the last kick.
Dan King: Norwich 4 Liverpool 5 – January 23, 2016
FROM Jurgen Klopp’s first season as Liverpool boss, a game that set the tone for the thrilling ride the club has been on under the genial German.
The Reds went from 1-0 up, to 3-1 down, only to lead 4-3 as the game went into stoppage time.
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When Sebastien Bassong equalised, it looked like it would be honours even at Carrow Road.
But in the fifth minute added on, up popped Adam Lallana with a slightly freakish, bouncing winner that led to celebrations in which Klopp lost his glasses and the travelling fans lost their minds.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
