Five memorable and unlikely Premier League comebacks - featuring Man United, Arsenal, Man City and Spurs

Here are five of the most memorable comeback blitzes in Premier League history.

Arsenal 5-2 Spurs: Gunners secure thumping win after going 2-0 down

The North London derby always promises excitement, but this one was off the charts. Spurs had looked superior to their rivals for most of the 2011/12 campaign and put themselves in the driving seat rapidly, with Louis Saha opening the scoring less than five minutes in. When Emmanuel Adebayor slotted home a penalty ten minutes before halftime, they looked set for all three points.

However, two quickfire doubles ultimately undid Harry Redknapp’s side. Bacary Sagna and Robin van Persie netted within three minutes of each other just before the interval, rapidly wiping out all of Tottenham’s progress. The second half was a different game - Tomas Rosicky gave the Gunners the lead in the 51st minute, and Theo Walcott put a flourish on the victory with a quickfire double, scoring in the 65th and 68th minutes to made it 5-2.

Sagna and van Persie’s first half strikes delivered a one-two punch within less than 200 seconds that seemingly knocked the stuffing out of Spurs.

Bournemouth 4-3 Luton Town: Solanke sparks three goal comeback in modern classic

This game, one of the best of the 2023/24 season, was one you had to see to believe - so it was unfortunate for fans that only those actually there on the day saw it as it was not televised. The match originally kicked off on 16th December but was abandoned after Luton captain Tom Lockyer suffered a cardiac arrest during the game.

The Premier League decided to replay the fixture in full on March 13, but as it wasn’t selected for broadcast originally, nobody could show it in March.

That was a massive shame for fans at home. Luton originally looked set for a fairytale win in tribute to their skipper, with Tahith Chong, Chiedozie Ogbene and Ross Barkley scoring in the first half. However, Dominic Solanke’s incredible strike just five minutes after play resumed spelled the start of one of the greatest ever Premier League comebacks. Illia Zabarnyi added a second for the Cherries seven minutes later, rocking Luton’s confidence, before Antoine Semenyo added his first of the night just two minutes after that.

It looked as though the points would be shared, which was astonishing enough - but Semenyo wasn’t finished, and completed a brace in the 83rd minute to give Bournemouth all three points. Three goals in 14 minutes helped Andoni Iraola’s side become the competition’s first team in 21 years to come from 3-0 down to win.

Manchester City 2-3 Manchester United: Reds’ quickfire comeback delays City’s title party

Losing a Manchester derby is never fun, but losing a Manchester derby that hands your rivals the title is as bad as it gets, and that was the prospect Jose Mourinho’s United were faced with in April 2018.

It looked as though that would be their fate when Vincent Kompany fired City ahead in the 25th minute and İlkay Gündoğan doubled their lead five minutes later - the United dressing room at half time knew they were 45 minutes away from seeing their rivals celebrate Premier League victory.

It was Paul Pogba who proved the hero, delivering a rapid-fire double soon after play resumed. His first goal came in the 53rd minute courtesy of an Ander Herrera assist, and only two minutes later he scored the equaliser with a 55th minute header. City were stunned and never recovered the tight grip they had on the game in the first half - they were punished for their collapse by surrendering all three points when Chris Smalling capitalised on poor marking in the box to complete a classic comeback.

The memory is spoiled slightly for United fans by the fact they capitulated to West Brom a week later, handing City the title, but Pogba’s quickfire double to wipe out their rivals’ lead in front of the red away end is a memory to be cherished.

Manchester City 3-2 QPR: Mancini’s side snatch title in stoppage time

It feels strange to think that Manchester City’s first ever Premier League title was as recent as 12 years ago, considering that they have won it all but five times since. But the start of their title-winning era came in dramatic fashion in May 2012, when it took a comeback against Queens Park Rangers - who barely avoided relegation - to seal the deal.

City opened the scoring through Pablo Zabaleta just before halftime as they sought to pip neighbours United to the title by matching their result. However, it looked as though everything had fallen apart in the second half - Djibril Cissé and Jamie Mackie netted for Palace, lifting them out of the relegation zone, to leave United with one hand on the trophy. City needed two goals in the five minutes of added time to take the title.

What followed was almost unbelievable. Edin Džeko equalised with a header in the 92nd minute, and it still wasn’t enough - United were ahead in their game and so nothing but a win would do. The only man for the job was Sergio Aguero: his rocket past the keeper at the near post sealed their first Premier League title. The turnaround took less than three minutes and was possibly one of the most consequential in Premier League history.

Crystal Palace 3-3 Liverpool: Reds throw away title hopes in ten minutes of madness

This is also the story of a side chasing their first Premier League trophy, but this time it ends in tears. In 2014, Brendan Rodgers looked like he could be the manager to finally restore Liverpool to the peak of their powers; they kept pace with Manchester City all the way until May and travelled to Crystal Palace looking to keep the pressure on.

The first hour went according to plan; Joe Allen opened the scoring in the first half before a Damien Delaney own goal and Luis Suárez strike in quick succession gave Liverpool a three-goal cushion with a little over half an hour remaining.

Somehow, it wasn’t enough. The first crack appeared when Delany redeemed himself with a 79th minute goal that struck panic into Rodgers’ side. Dwight Gayle capitalised only two minutes later to narrow the deficit and would go on to score the equaliser with only two minutes remaining. Suárez was left in tears and Liverpool’s title hopes in tatters - all from just 10 minutes of play. They would end up losing the title by two points.