Liverpool Fans Take Heart: 7 Shocks Which Prove Anything Can Happen on Final Day

Manchester City's 4-0 win over Aston Villa on Wednesday left the club on the cusp of a second Premier League triumph, after Liverpool inexplicably surrendered a 3-0 lead at Selhurst Park days earlier.

With a two-point and 13-goal advantage over the Reds, Manuel Pellegrini's side need just a point to win the title against West Ham United while Liverpool will be praying for a miracle as they host Newcastle United.

But as history has shown us, the final day of the season likes to deviate from the script and produce the unexpected - so Liverpool fans shouldn't lose heart just yet.

Here are five examples from the Premier League vaults.

1989 – Thomas seals it for Arsenal

The set up was wonderfully simplistic as the two teams challenging for the title met on the final day of the season. Liverpool sat three points ahead of George Graham's Arsenal side as they arrived at Anfield needing to win by two clear goals to take the trophy away from Merseyside for the first time in eight years.

The Gunners took a 1-0 lead through Alan Smith shortly after the second half kicked off but struggled to break the Reds down as the minutes ticked by.

However the north Londoners clinched the title in stunning fashion in injury time, as Michael Thomas powered his way into the Liverpool box before scooping a shot over the despairing Bruce Grobbelaar to give Arsenal their ninth league triumph.

2006 – Tottenham lose their appetite

Tottenham and Arsenal's duels for fourth place have become a familiar backdrop to the final months of the season over the past few years, with the Gunners usually taking the bragging rights. But it could have been a very different story had it not been for a dodgy lasagne eight years ago.

Weeks before, Tottenham left Highbury with a point to leave them in control as they closed in on a first-ever top four finish in the Premier League era and went into the final day of the season needing to match Arsenal's result to book a spot among Europe's elite. A trip to West Ham awaited Spurs but on the eve of the club's biggest game of the season, several key players were struck down by a virus.

A lasagne dish served at a Canary Wharf branch of the Marriot took the blame as Spurs staggered to a 2-1 loss at Upton Park, allowing their neighbours to finish above them.

1986 – Merseyside is Red

In an era dominated by the Merseyside clubs, Liverpool denied their arch rivals Everton the opportunity to win back-to-back titles in 1986 - but it was a close-run thing.

Everton entered the final day two points adrift of the Reds but after thrashing Southampton 6-1, the pressure was on Liverpool to take the point they needed at Stamford Bridge.

Not content with one, the Reds took all three in west London as player-manager Kenny Dalglish volleyed home a winner to secure Liverpool's 16<sup>th league triumph.

2000 – Jewell Drives Bradford over the line

Arguably the most miraculous escape at the foot of the Premier League was masterminded by Paul Jewell, back at the start of the Millennium.

The permutations on the final day where simple; if fellow strugglers Wimbledon matched Bradford's result at home to Liverpool then the Dons would be spared. A trip to the Dell appeared to present the south London club with the fairer proposal of the two but spectacular second half goals from Southampton pair Wayne Bridge and Marian Pahars saw them buckle under the pressure.

Back at Valley Parade, Bradford sprung a surprise on Liverpool as David Wetherall slammed home a header to keep the Bantams in the top flight and deny Gerard Houllier's side a Champions League spot.

2007 - West Ham's Great Escape

FA Cup runners up the season before; the harsh realities of life back in the top flight rang true for the Hammers in 06/07 as Alan Curbishley was left praying for a miracle to keep his side up. Sheffield United needed a draw to stay up on this fateful day, while their opponents Wigan needed a win. West Ham's task was a trip to Old Trafford against the recently crowned champions.

A slightly weakened United side still featured Edwin van der Sar, Patrice Evra, Michael Carrick and Wayne Rooney, but it was Hammers hero Carlos Tevez who grabbed the decisive goal, waltzing through the opposition defence to score the winner against the club he would sign for just a few weeks later.

Up in Sheffield, Neil Warnock's side stumbled as a penalty from their former player David Unsworth kept Wigan up at their expense.

1995 – Liverpool nearly gift-wrap United's title

Backed by Jack Walker, Blackburn Rovers duelled with Manchester United for much of the 94/95 campaign, and it was the Ewood Park club who entered the final day two points clear at thesummit of the league.

Rovers' task was a trip to Anfield - if they clinched the title, manager Kenny Dalglish was sure to get a rousing ovation from the Liverpool faithful, owing to his rich history at the club and the fact that he had knocked United off their perch. But Liverpool's players weren't to be as obliging as their fans. Goals from John Barnes and Jamie Redknapp put Rovers behind in the second half, to distinctly muted celebrations.

Thankfully for both home and away sections of Anfield, United were held to a 1-1 draw at West Ham, and Dalglish was the toast of Liverpool once again.

2012 - Aguero Denies Fergie at the Death

It's a scenario Manchester City players have recalled with apprehension this week as they approach their final game of the season.

Going into the final game of the 2011-12 season, City and United were level on points, but City had a superior goal difference. And they were at home to lowly QPR, which appeared to pose little problem. But Rangers, who were battling for their Premier League lives, went 2-1 up in the second half. With United winning 1-0 at Sunderland it seemed the Red half of Manchester would be crowing for the umpteenth time.

And then City produced a miracle equalled only by United's last-gasp victory against Sheffield Wednesday in 1993, which kick-started their dominance of the Premier League.

Two minutes into injury time Edin Dzeko pulled City back to 2-2. Then, three minutes later, Sergio Aguero prompted delirium at the Etihad as he slammed home a winner to break United hearts. It wasn't quite 'RIP Fergie', the words on a poster brandished by Carlos Tevez on City's victory parade, but it signalled a definite turning of the tide on Manchester.