Can anyone catch Man City?
City are 12 points clear at the top of the table and it’s not even January yet.
It doesn’t look like any of the chasing pack will be able to reign back the champions-elect.
Manchester United are the closest but they are hardly in hot pursuit.
Scraping past West Brom to reduce City’s lead from 14 points to 11 does not feel like the wolf knocking at the door.
But, when have teams been firmly in front and blown massive leads?
Here’s five title processions that went horribly wrong…
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Newcastle United 1995-96
Newcastle had built up a 12-point lead in January and had just signed cold-faced killer Faustino Asprilla.
Job done, right?
However, no one could account for Kevin Keegan’s ‘I would love it rant’ to the Sky cameras which ultimately gave Alex Ferguson’s United the inspiration they needed to hunt them down.
Unfortunately for the Geordies, the pressure seemed to get too much and a team that had everything in its favour in the first half of the season collapsed spectacularly.
The Toon took just 17 points from their last 10 games and Les Ferdinand managed only four goals in his final 13 games, having notched 21 in the 24 previous.
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Manchester United 1997-98
This entry is for anyone who had to suffer watching United dominate the Premier League in the 2000s.
With just nine games left to play in the season, United had an 11-point lead over Arsenal*.
*Arsenal had three games in, but you still have to win them.
Arsene Wenger got the better of Fergie at Old Trafford in March and by the time the Gunners thrashed Wimbledon in April, they never looked back.
United are the best chasers in Premier League history, but this year the hunter became the hunted.
Arsenal 2002-03
Time for Fergie’s revenge.
Arsenal butchered an eight-point advantage in March in 2003.
These days that is easily imaginable.
But, back then Arsenal had a formidable side with leaders across the park.
United won 15 of their last 18 games and finished five points ahead of the Gunners.
A 13-point swing.
Arsenal fans’ disappointment didn’t last long as the ‘Invincibles’ turned up next season.
Arsenal 2007-08
This season could be the root of Arsenal’s permanent mental fragility.
Arsenal had sold Thierry Henry to Barcelona in the summer, but got Eduardo Silva in as a handy replacement.
I’m afraid Arsenal fans, as you will remember, it did not end well for the club or Eduardo.
The Gunners didn’t lose in the league until November and were five points clear by Valentines Day.
Then things fell apart.
A broken leg for Eduardo against Birmingham nearly ended his career and Arsenal only came away from that game with a point.
One win in eight games between February and April let both Chelsea and United overtake them as the Gunners finished third.
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Liverpool 2013-14
This wasn’t one of the biggest leads, but it was the worst choke and with the least time available.
Brendan Rodgers’ side were just a couple of games away from winning their first title for 24 years.
With three games remaining, Liverpool had a three-point lead on Man City.
Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge had been on fire as the team scored 101 goals in the season.
Steven Gerrard finished the season with 13 assists, but no one will remember that.
They will remember one thing and one thing only.
He slipped over against Chelsea, allowing Demba Ba to score and they lost the game.
Throwing away a 3-0 lead against Crystal Palace in the penultimate game meant City finished two points above them on the final day.