The impressive start that Liverpool have made to this season’s Premier League has surprised many people. There is no doubt they deserve to be top of the table at this point, having played some superb football so far. It has their fans dreaming of finally ending that long wait to be crowned champions of England for the first time since 1990. There is something they need to consider, however.
Throughout history, several teams have led the Premier League table a quarter of the way through the season. It’s fair to say that, in some instances, these teams looked absolute certainties to win the league. They have become known as the Autumn Champions, simply for the fact that they could only watch as someone else strolled to the title.
1992-93: Autumn Champions—Norwich City
The inaugural Premier League season was quite a surprising one. Recent champions such as Arsenal, Leeds United and Liverpool were not even in the title race. The early pace setters in 1992-93 were Norwich City, led at that time by Mike Walker. To their credit they kept their challenge going until April, but a 3-1 home defeat to eventual winners Manchester United all but ruled them out of the title race. United went on to win their first title in 26 years, and their eighth in total.
1995-96: Autumn Champions—Newcastle United
Kevin Keegan’s “great entertainers” came storming out of the traps in 1995. With Peter Beardsley, David Ginola and Les Ferdinand supplying the bullets, they shot down everyone in their way. By the middle of November they led the table by eight points. Eric Cantona had returned from an eight month suspension, and looked slightly muted, struggling for form at first.
As 1996 dawned, the French maverick discovered his mojo, and his goals almost single-handedly carried United to the Premier League title. The most defining image of that season, however, was Keegan’s breakdown live on Sky Sports.
1997-98: Autumn Champions—Manchester United
Alex Ferguson’s side had won four out of five Premier League titles, and everyone wondered how they would cope with the retirement of Eric Cantona. Ferguson signed Teddy Sheringham to replace him, and United seemed to tick along just as before. Although only a point clear at the top of the table in November, it was clear they weren’t missing the Frenchman. Even when United lost to Arsenal at Highbury, nobody read too much into it.
The real miss for the Red Devils was Roy Keane, who injured his cruciate ligament in September, ruling him out for the season. Nevertheless, United were twelve points clear in February and seemingly heading towards another title. But as injuries mounted up, Arsenal hit a superb vein of form and their machine began to click into gear. From the start of 1998 they went unbeaten for the rest of the season, winning 15 out of their 18 remaining league games. Following their 1-0 victory at Old Trafford, they won ten in a row to take the title. They also won the F.A. Cup to complete a double.
2001-02: Autumn Champions—Leeds United
David O’Leary’s “Dream Team” were a joy to watch around the turn of the century. This was amplified by their march to the Champions League semi-finals in 2001, narrowly missing the final. Unfortunately for them, only the top three teams qualified for Europe’s most prestigious competition back then. Leeds United’s fourth place finish meant that there was no room for them to repeat the heroics of the previous season. They had a great start to the 2001-02 Premier League season, and led the table in November.
At that time, champions Manchester United were having a crisis of their own. Having spent £28 million on Juan Sebastián Verón, Sir Alex Ferguson could not figure out how to fit him in his team. As a result their league campaign suffered, in what was supposed to be Ferguson’s final season. Leeds saw their title challenge peter out, and eventually finished fifth. As a result, with so much money gambled on future Champions League participation, the club went into financial meltdown. Within two years they were relegated from the Premier League, and all of their stars had departed for pastures new.
While all this was going on, Arsenal had steadily gone about the business of regaining the Premier League title. To rub United fans’ noses in it, they sealed it with a victory at Old Trafford in May 2002. Just like in 1998, they made it a double by winning the F.A. Cup.
2002-03: Autumn Champions—Liverpool
Liverpool had had an impressive couple of years under Gérard Houllier. In 2001 they had won a unique treble of League Cup, F.A. Cup and UEFA Cup, and followed this up with a second place finish in the Premier League a year later. Their impressive start to the season saw them lead the table in November, closely trailed by champions Arsenal. The Gunners soon overtook them and then led the table into the New Year.
Manchester United had been very inconsistent in the first half of the season, with some even predicting relegation for the Red Devils. One thing that did not change, however, was the form of Dutch striker Ruud van Nistelrooy. He scored 44 goals in all competitions, and when Arsenal began to stumble, United stepped up the pace. Ironically it was one of United’s rivals, Leeds, who sealed for them. With the Elland Road club battling relegation, they pulled off a 3-2 victory at Highbury to save themselves. The victory confirmed United as champions.
2008-09: Autumn Champions—Liverpool/Chelsea
Chelsea settled on Brazilian World Cup winning coach Luiz Felipe Scolari as the permanent successor to José Mourinho, who had left the previous year. Initially it seemed to work, as champions Manchester United had a stuttering start to the season. Liverpool also had a good start to the campaign, and were level on points with Chelsea going into November.
United travelled to Japan in December to compete in the FIFA Club World Cup, and when they returned they settled down to business. Scolari’s time at Stamford Bridge was short lived, and he was sacked in February 2009, following a poor run of results. Rafael Benítez kept up the pressure on United, and even launched his famous “facts” tirade about Ferguson. Despite winning 4-1 at Old Trafford in March, and drawing level on points, United held off Liverpool. Even worse for the Anfield faithful was that United’s triumph equalled their record of 18 league titles.
2010-11: Autumn Champions—Chelsea
In his first season as Chelsea manager, Carlo Ancelotti had won the Premier League and F.A. Cup double. They began the new season in very impressive style, with two successive 6-0 victories against West Bromwich Albion and Wigan Athletic, respectively. They led the table in November, but this is where it all began to unravel. A 3-0 defeat at home to Sunderland started a run of ten matches, of which they won just one.
While the Stamford Bridge crisis was in full flow, Manchester United had been dealing with their own issues. Wayne Rooney publicly handed in a transfer request, before changing his mind and signing a new contract. Despite a mixed start to the season, it wasn’t until February that United finally suffered a league defeat. Chelsea did recover some form and pushed United for the title, but the Red Devils held out for a record 19th title. Despite their triumph, it was probably the poorest United side ever to lift the Premier League.
2013-14: Autumn Champions—Arsenal
Several changes took place over the summer of 2013, as both Manchester clubs changed their manager. David Moyes replaced Sir Alex Ferguson, and United’s decline saw them ruled out of the title race by October. Manuel Pellegrini replaced Roberto Mancini at City, but they also started slowly. Arsenal took the initiative early on in the title race and led the table in November, but by March they were playing catch up.
It was a strange season in many ways. Chelsea and Liverpool topped the table for much of 2013-14, with Manchester City in third or fourth place for much of it. But when Liverpool, who looked nailed on to win the title after beating City at Anfield, began to falter, Pellegrini’s men were on hand to take full advantage. When Liverpool let a three goal lead slip at Crystal Palace, City had the impetus. They sealed the title on the final day of the season, with a victory over West Ham.
Final Thought
History shows that the team who effectively Autumn Champions don’t always finish the table in that position. With that in mind, it’s fair to say that there are still a handful of teams that could realistically win the Premier League. A team can be flying one minute, but grounded the next. It’s very likely there will be several more twists and turns before this season reaches its conclusion.
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