Now we have some distance from the 2021/22 Premier League season, we can all agree that it was one of the best campaigns in recent memory, right?
There was plenty left to play for on the final day and loads of intriguing storylines to sink your teeth into as the term progressed.
Overall then, it was a good one for the neutrals. But which games were the cream of the crop? 90min has selected the ten best matches below…
The tone for this breathless contest was set seconds after kick-off when Sadio Mane was booked – and probably should’ve been sent off – for thrusting an arm in Cesar Azpilicueta’s face.
The Reds raced into a two-goal lead inside 26 minutes, before Chelsea struck twice just before the break to cap off one of the best halves of football of the Premier League season.
Mateo Kovacic netted the pick of the goals, unleashing a first-time volley from well outside the box which smooched the post on the way in. It’s a shame the second half wasn’t quite as good.
Chelsea 2-2 Liverpool: Player ratings as Blues fight back to earn draw
Brentford were still a relatively unknown quantity in September 2021 and this result against Liverpool started to cement their reputation as one of the more entertaining promoted sides in recent memory.
There were six different goalscorers in this one with the Bees giving as good as they got in west London.
Yoane Wissa’s 82nd-minute leveller was exactly what their performance deserved.
Brentford 3-3 Liverpool: Player ratings as Reds held in six-goal thriller
Leicester had a soft underbelly this season, as evidenced by their love from conceding from every corner they conceded.
Nothing brought their marshmallow-y mentality into sharper focus than this result, though. 2-1 up with four minutes of second-half stoppage time played, Brendan Rodgers’ side somehow contrived to lose the game.
Steven Bergwijn was the unlikely hero for Spurs, netting twice before the final whistle was blown to send the travelling fans absolutely barmy.
Leicester 2-3 Tottenham: Player ratings as Steven Bergwijn stoppage time double saves Spurs
A nine-goal thriller on Boxing Day – what’s not to like?!
After 25 minutes it seemed like the Foxes were heading towards a signature City thrashing with Pep Guardiola’s side romping into a four-goal lead.
However, a half-time change of shape facilitated a Leicester revival and in a blink of an eye it was 4-3. Thankfully for the eventual champions this scare jolted them back to life and they killed the game off with two more. Still, what a game.
Man City 6-3 Leicester: Player ratings as Cityzens survive comeback scare
Manchester United have been on the end of a humiliating amount of drubbings this season and this was one of the worst.
Brighton’s home record was subject to ridicule before United came to town but the Red Devils just made it so easy for a team who’d managed to score just 12 times at the Amex previously.
Moises Caicedo got the ball rolling and then a second-half capitulation condemn the Red Devils to a 4-0 defeat.
Brighton 4-0 Man Utd: Player ratings as Seagulls run riot against Red Devils
90min doesn’t throw the ‘Premier League classic’ label around lightly, but this match is just about worthy of the tagline.
No one gave Spurs a hope of getting anything against runaway Premier League leaders, but Antonio Conte and Harry Kane – unsuccessfully pursued by City the previous summer – had other ideas.
Kane netted twice and had another disallowed as Spurs reignited their top-four bid with a huge win.
Man City 2-3 Tottenham: Player ratings as Spurs edge Premier League classic
The 2021/22 campaign was the nadir of Everton’s modern history.
Among this shower of disappointment there was very few highpoints, but the Toffees’ incredible second-half comeback against Crystal Palace will live long in the memory.
In a game they had to win to secure their survival, Everton were 2-0 down at half-time. Bad.
However, a few tactical tweaks and 45 minutes later, they had run out 3-2 winners. The celebrations following Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s clincher were probably the most manic seen all season.
Everton 3-2 Crystal Palace: Player ratings as Calvert-Lewin header seals Toffees’ safety
There is just something about Manchester City and title races that go to the final day.
It wasn’t quite ‘AGUUUERROOOOOO’ levels of bonkers, but the way they sealed the 2021/22 Premier League title was still rather unbelievable.
With just 14 minutes to go, City were 2-0 down, which opened the door for Liverpool to steal away the trophy. Then, Ilkay Gundogan happened.
The super sub scored a five-minute brace either side of an excellent Rodri strike to make sure City retained the title for the second time in the Pep Guardiola era.
Man City 3-2 Aston Villa: Player ratings as Guardiola’s men retain Premier League crown with remarkable win
Sorry Man Utd fans – prepare yourself to relive another drubbing.
Although it’s pretty clear that Liverpool have been leaps and bounds ahead of their rivals for some time, this still felt like an out-of-body experience at times as Jurgen Klopp’s ruthless Reds ripped United apart with frightening ease.
Great if you’re a neutral, particularly when they cut back to Roy Keane in the studio. Not so great if you were an Ole Gunnar Solskjaer fan.
Man Utd 0-5 Liverpool: Player ratings as Reds pour pressure on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Here it is, the best game of the 2021/22 Premier League season.
The modern-day Liverpool vs Man City rivalry has been criticised for being too friendly. Perhaps this is fair.
However, when it produces football matches of this quality and intensity, it’s hard to moan too much. The reverse fixture was just as good but Mohamed Salah’s stupidly good goal just gives the autumn blockbuster an edge.
Liverpool 2-2 Man City: Player ratings as title favourites play out entertaining draw
