Very few saw Liverpool’s 7-0 thrashing of rivals Manchester United coming yesterday – a second-half blitz condemning Erik Ten Haag’s side to an embarrassing result at Anfield.
So let’s look back at the Premier League’s most ridiculous results since it was formed in 1992.
Liverpool 7-0 Manchester United – 5 March, 2023
There is only one place to start and that is the most surprising result of the season.
With in-form and only a week ago they had won the Carabao Cup against Newcastle; Manchester United went into the game on fantastic form and were favourites.
But after what can only be described as a collapse in the second half which saw them concede two inside the first five minutes of the second half was the start of the humiliation. But not even the most optimistic of fans could have prediction that.
A very even first half saw Dutchman Cody Gakpo put Liverpool in front just minutes before the break.
But after Darwin Nunez put away the second and Gakpo scored his second and Liverpool’s third, the game was practically over. It could have been easy for the Merseyside club to take their foot off the gas and see the game out, however, that never did happen with the goals flowing for Liverpool’s attackers.
With Gakpo, Nunez and Mohammed Salah all getting two and Roberto Firmino breaking the record for the biggest win the fixture, surpassing Liverpool’s 7-1 victory in the 1895-96 second division.
But it wasn’t the only record to be broken, with Salah’s double meant that he became the Reds all-time Premier League goal scorer. Scoring 129 goals in 205 appearances for the club.
Manchester United 8-2 Arsenal – 28 August, 2011
Going back the 2011-12 season saw Manchester United humiliate Arsenal at Old Trafford. With Man United legend Sir Alex Ferguson saw his side inflicted a defeat on Arsenal, that it was their worst defeat since 1896 which saw them lose 0-8 against Loughborough.
Wayne Rooney was United’s star man which saw him score his sixth hat-trick of his Old Trafford career, along with a double from Ashley Young, and goals from Danny Welbeck, Nani and Park Ji-sung.
For Arsenal it was a day to forget with their goals can only be described as consolations, with Theo Walcott scoring to make it 3-1 before the break and then Robin Van Persie scoring to make 6-2 in the 74th minute. But three minutes later their day got worse as they saw right back Carl Jenkinson get a second yellow card and walk down the tunnel.
Middlesbrough 8-1 Manchester City – 11 May, 2008
May 11 saw Middlesbrough run riot against Manchester City with a humiliating 8-1 victory at the Riverside Stadium. With a hat-trick from Afonso Alves, a double from Stuart Downing, and the remaining goals from Adam Johnson, Fabio Rochemback and Jérémie Aliadière to make it 8-0 before Manchester City’s Elano scored in the 87th minute to make it 8-1.
Manchester City couldn’t have a had a worst start with 15 minutes into the game where they gave away a penalty and Irishman Richard Dunne get sent off; with Downing converting the penalty.
But as half time arrived Man City were still in the game as they were only 2-0 down. But the collapse in the second half would have caught many by surprise as they saw Middlesbrough score six.
Before the game, it was widely speculated that it would be Sven-Goran Erikkson’s final game in charge of City and if owner Thaksin Shinawatra was unsure of about the future of the Swedish manager, this defeat could have well made up his mind for him.
Manchester United 9-0 Ipswich – 4 March, 1995
Ipswich travelled to Old Trafford and when they left it can only be describe as humiliating. With goals coming from Roy Keane, Paul Ince, a double from Mark Hughes then five goals from Andy Cole, a Premier League record.
From the start of the game Ipswich looked panicked, as after the first few minutes the ball had been in their penalty box five times.
This was Manchester United’s biggest league win in 103 years, matching the nine-goal margin they recorded in 1892 when they beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 10-1 at home.
The Red Devils went on to finish second, just one point behind Blackburn. The result was the biggest league win in the Premier League until Leicester City beat Southampton and the following season United then equalled their biggest victory by also beating Southampton 9-0.
Tottenham Hotspur 9-1 Wigan Athletic – 22 November 2009
In May, Tottenham Hotspur hosted Wigan Athletic at White Hart Lane and Wigan arrived looking to end a miserable run in London; having not won a Premier League game in the capital since March 2006. It was a day where many records were equalled or broken but this record lasted a while longer.
It took just nine minutes for Peter Crouch to open the scoring and close game going into half time with only a 1-0 lead but it’s the second half where Spurs run away with the game and pile on the misery for Wigan.
Five goals from Jermaine Defoe, and the remaining goals from Aaron Lennon, David Bentley, and Niko Kranjcar.
It was Tottenham Hotspur biggest ever top flight win and their biggest victory of any kind since a 9-0 thumping of Bristol Rovers in a Second Division game in 1977, while it was Wigan’s biggest-ever defeat and their performance was so embarrassing, the players decided to refund their supporters who’d made the trip to London.
