Between 2005 and 2011, Chelsea and Manchester United swept up seven Premier League titles. Arsenal and Liverpool were in and out but Chelsea and Man United were two permanent fixtures in the title race in that period. In particular, the 2007/08 and the 2009/10 season delivered two thrilling title races between the two. The title was decided on the final day in both seasons and the teams were separated by not more than two points.
The two teams lock horns once again this weekend. Since last decade, the emergence of Liverpool and Man City coupled with Man United’s decline has resulted in this fixture losing its significance somewhat. But in the decade before that, this match-up had title deciding importance, as you’ll see.
2007/08: Ronaldo, Tevez and Rooney propel Manchester United to Premier League and Champions League double
Having broken the José Mourinho-Chelsea dominance the season before, Man United were keen to reestablish their own dominance. Chelsea parted companies with Mourinho after an underwhelming start and appointed relatively unknown Avram Grant as his replacement. But despite the early troubles at the Bridge, it was the Old Trafford club that made a slow start. Man United failed to win any of the opening three matches.
Arsenal capitalised on the pair’s early woes to surge to the top. Their form caught the eye and come February, they looked good value to win their first title in four years. Ahead of a trip to Birmingham in matchweek 27, they were five points above Man United and eight above Chelsea. But a calamitous 2-2 draw derailed their title challenge.
| # | Team | Pl | W | D | L | +/- | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Arsenal | 26 | 19 | 6 | 1 | 54-18 | +36 | 63 |
| 2 | Manchester United | 26 | 18 | 4 | 4 | 50-14 | +36 | 58 |
| 3 | Chelsea | 26 | 16 | 7 | 3 | 38-17 | +21 | 55 |
| 4 | Everton | 26 | 14 | 5 | 7 | 41-23 | +18 | 47 |
It started a run of four succesive draws and a defeat at the hands of Chelsea. By the time they next won, Man United and Chelsea were six points and one point ahead of them respectively. At the end of April, Chelsea beat Man United in an absolute must-win game to move level on points and throw the title race wide open with two games to go.
| # | Team | Pl | W | D | L | +/- | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Manchester United | 36 | 25 | 6 | 5 | 74-21 | +53 | 81 |
| 2 | Chelsea | 36 | 24 | 9 | 3 | 62-25 | +37 | 81 |
Owing to a vastly superior goal difference, Man United knew maximum points from two games will secure the title regardless of other results. They obliged, and Chelsea only managed a 1-1 draw at home to Bolton on the final day in an academic result. That allowed Man United to finish two points above the Blues.
| # | Team | Pl | W | D | L | +/- | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Manchester United | 38 | 27 | 6 | 5 | 80-22 | +58 | 87 |
| 2 | Chelsea | 38 | 25 | 10 | 3 | 65-26 | +39 | 85 |
| 3 | Arsenal | 38 | 24 | 11 | 3 | 74-31 | +43 | 83 |
| 4 | Liverpool | 38 | 21 | 13 | 4 | 67-28 | +39 | 76 |
In a few days time, Sir Alex Ferguson’s team edged out Chelsea in an equally tense Champions League final on penalties to secure a memorable double.
2009/10: Carlo Ancelotti’s record-breaking Blues pip Manchester United to the title
This season saw perhaps one of the most closely faught title race in the Premier League history. It was close from start to finish. Man United were gunning for their fourth successive title but had sold Cristiano Ronaldo for a record breaking fees to Real Madrid. Keen to end Man United’s supremacy, Chelsea appointed Carlo Ancelotti.
| # | Team | Pl | W | D | L | +/- | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Manchester United | 32 | 23 | 3 | 6 | 76-25 | +51 | 72 |
| 2 | Chelsea | 32 | 22 | 5 | 5 | 82-29 | +53 | 71 |
The opening few weeks saw the two clubs alternately topping the table. Chelsea were five points clear early on but by April, Man United were in pole position. Ahead of a meeting with Chelsea, United had a one point buffer over them. But Chelsea emerged victorious in a consequential encounter.
| # | Team | Pl | W | D | L | +/- | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Chelsea | 33 | 23 | 5 | 5 | 84-30 | +54 | 74 |
| 2 | Manchester United | 33 | 23 | 3 | 7 | 77-27 | +50 | 72 |
That loss, coupled with a goalless draw against Blackburn meant Chelsea won the title despite suffering a defeat to Spurs. The Blues won their final three games by a combined score of 17-0, including a 2-0 win at Anfield.
On the final day, Man United still had a chance, trailing Ancelotti’s men by a point. But Chelsea ran riot against Wigan, scoring eight goals, becoming the first team in Premier League era to score a century of goals. That rendered United’s 4-0 win over Sunderland meaningless. A thrilling title race, in which every week it looked like either of them will win. Ultimately the Blues edged it, sealing their third Premier League title and ending United’s three-year streak.
| # | Team | Pl | W | D | L | +/- | GD | Pts |
| 1 | Chelsea | 38 | 27 | 5 | 6 | 103-32 | +71 | 86 |
| 2 | Manchester United | 38 | 27 | 4 | 7 | 86-28 | +58 | 85 |
| 3 | Arsenal | 38 | 23 | 6 | 9 | 83-41 | +42 | 75 |
| 4 | Tottenham Hotspur | 38 | 21 | 7 | 10 | 67-41 | +26 | 70 |
There were other seasons too, when the pair were fighting for the title. But in my opinion, these two were the best they produced. Both titles went down to the wire and were decided on the final day. This season, it doesn’t look like both will be involved in a title race. But let’s hope in the future, they can reproduce the drama like the 2000’s.