End-of-season reports: Part one

Arsenal.

Premier League: 4th. Champions League: Last 16. FA Cup: Quarter-Final. Carling Cup: Final.

Lowdown: Arsenal have made a habit in recent seasons of throwing trophies away, but even by their standards this campaign took the biscuit. They lost at home to newly-promoted Newcastle and West Brom, threw away a two-goal lead at home to rivals Tottenham to lose 3-2, lost a two-goal lead away at Tottenham to draw 3-3, became the first side in Premier League history to blow a four-goal lead away at Newcastle and conceded the latest goal in Premier League history to lose a 1-0 lead against Liverpool.

Arsenal struggled to recover after losing the Carling Cup final

Well-placed in all four competitions, they capitulated after losing the Carling Cup final to Birmingham. They were knocked out of the Champions League and FA Cup not long after and their six-year trophy drought appears no nearer to ending. They also won just two of their eleven league games following the League Cup final, falling from one point behind Manchester United at the end of February to twelve behind at the end of the season, slipping to fourth place in the process. Their mental instability cost them dear throughout the season and unless a leader is added to this team, they won't win anything anytime soon. There were some positives this season, such as the emergence of Jack Wilshere and Wojciech Szczesny and great form of Robin van Persie and Samir Nasri, but this campaign will go down as another one where the team has promised much but delivered very little.

Best player: Robin van Persie. He scored 18 goals in 25 league games, a terrific tally, with Arsenal fans surely pondering what might have been had he been fit for the entire season. Injuries have been his nemesis throughout his career but if he could have one season injury-free, Arsenal would be a very difficult team to stop. Samir Nasri and Jack Wilshere also had fine seasons, but van Persie's superb goalscoring form wins him this award.

Without Robin van Persie's goals, Arsenal may have struggled to qualify for the Champions League

Worst player: Sebastien Squillaci. The French defender was signed last summer and was supposed to add some much-needed experience to Arsenal's back-line, but has proved to be well past his best. He doesn't seem to be up to the demands of the Premier League and it would be a surprise to see him feature heavily next season. Andrei Arshavin ran him close for this 'award', as he possesses so much talent but has been lacklustre and lazy this season.

Highlight: Arsenal 3-1 Chelsea, Premier League, 27 December 2010. Their Champions League first-leg victory over Barcelona ran this close, but the game against Chelsea was the one to show Arsenal really meant business in the title race. This later proved to be a false dawn but the Gunners were sensational in this game, tearing Chelsea apart in a magnificent spell just before and after half-time. They terrorised Chelsea with their wonderfully attractive football and if they had played like this on a consistent basis, they would have won the league at a canter.

Lowlight: Arsenal 1-2 Birmingham, Carling Cup final, 27 February 2011. Plenty of games ran this close, for instance their two disastrous derbies with Tottenham and four-goal capitulation against Newcastle, but this was the most agonising one for Arsenal fans. Many players and indeed supporters seemed to believe the trophy was already won before they played Birmingham, but the Blues stood tall to deny the Gunners a first trophy in six years. Arsenal dominated the game for long periods but were left devastated by Obafemi Martins' 89th-minute winner. All their problems in other competitions seemed to stem from this game, which destabilised their season.

Manager: Arsene Wenger insists his side are young and still learning but the excuses need to stop now. He remains a legend at Arsenal for his past achievements but he needs to win a trophy fast to save his reputation. He is more agitated on the touchline now than he ever has been as he knows fans are starting to lose belief in him and his team. Wenger needs to swallow his pride and dip his toes into the transfer market this summer if Arsenal are to progress.

Some Arsenal fans are growing impatient with manager Arsene Wenger

Five games that shaped their season:
Manchester City 1-3 Arsenal, Premier League, 24 October 2010.
Arsenal 2-3 Tottenham, Premier League, 20 November 2010.
Arsenal 3-1 Chelsea, Premier League, 27 December 2010.
Newcastle 4-4 Arsenal, Premier League, 5 February 2011.
Arsenal 1-2 Birmingham, Carling Cup, 27 February 2011.

Transfer activity: Need a goalkeeper, centre-half, defensive midfielder and a striker. Scott Parker would be a good signing as he would also provide the leadership qualities Arsenal severely lack. Other useful acquisitions could be Ben Foster, Gary Cahill and Karim Benzema. It remains to be seen though whether Wenger is ready to splash the cash.

Going out, this may be the summer Arsenal lose captain Cesc Fabregas. The likes of Gael Clichy and Samir Nasri have also been linked with moves but Arsenal must keep players like this if they are to move forward. It would not be a surprise to see the likes of Arshavin, Nicklas Bendtner and Manuel Almunia leave, though.

Aim for next season: Must get closer to winning the title. They always seem to be in the title race before falling away at the end, so they must improve mentally and provide a sustained challenge. Wenger must end the trophy drought next season, too, so should concentrate a lot of his efforts on the cup competitions.

Season rating out of 10: 5. Most teams would give anything to be in Arsenal's position but the truth is a club of Arsenal's stature should be doing much better. This has been another season where they have promised much but delivered very little.

Aston Villa. 

Premier League: 9th. Europa League: Play-off round. FA Cup: 5th round. Carling Cup: Quarter-Final.

Lowdown: A quick glance at the final league table, with Aston Villa sitting in ninth, and you may feel Villa have had a satisfactory season. The table very rarely lies, but in this case it masks what has been a crisis-hit and disappointing season. The resignation of manager Martin O'Neill, who had led Villa to three sixth-place finishes in a row, just five days before the start of the season unsettled the squad and the sale of James Milner late in the summer transfer window did not help their cause. Under caretaker manager Kevin MacDonald, they lost 6-0 at Newcastle and fell at the first hurdle in the Europa League, leaving new manager Gerard Houllier with a restless squad.

The Carling Cup loss to Birmingham was the worst moment of the season for many Villa fans

Under Houllier, results momentarily improved before the rot set in and Villa became embroiled in a relegation battle. They also lost to bitter rivals Birmingham in the Carling Cup, the lowlight of many Villa fans' season. They threw away a 2-0 lead against Manchester United to draw 2-2, with Houllier unable to instil any belief in his team. Fans turned against Houllier and his team, with the 4-0 defeat at Manchester City in late-December the tipping point for many. The January signing of Darren Bent from Sunderland provided Villa with the goals they needed to retain their Premier League status, and due to the tight nature of the league they finished in the top half. Ashley Young, Stewart Downing and Marc Albrighton all had good seasons, and Villa will need to keep hold of them if they are to return to the heights they reached under O'Neill. They still had troubles, though, with the home defeat to neighbours Wolves leading to many calling for Houllier to be sacked, so in the end they were glad just to stay up. They ended the season under Gary McAllister after Houllier suffered health problems - they finished with successive victories over Arsenal and Liverpool - and it remains to be seen whether Houllier will be fit to resume his role for next season.

Best player: Stewart Downing. Downing was an ever-present in the league for Villa, scoring seven times and playing a key role in the team. Ashley Young may grab more headlines, but it was Downing who stepped up to the plate this year, impressing throughout. He has been linked with a move away from Villa Park this summer, with Liverpool said to be interested, but Villa must keep him if they have any ambitions of moving forward. If he does stay next season and Villa can keep hold of Young and Albrighton too, Darren Bent will be licking his lips as there will be no better set of wingers in the Premier League.

Stewart Downing and Marc Albrighton were key players for Villa this season

Worst player: Richard Dunne. Dunne used to be a colossus at the back for Manchester City, but was a shadow of his former self this season. He had a good first season at Villa Park in the last campaign, but a number of costly mistakes this season has led many to say he is past his best. He also got involved in a feud with Houllier's coaching staff, so it remains to be seen whether he will still be at Villa next season.

Highlight: West Ham 1-2 Aston Villa, Premier League, 16 April 2011. The overriding feeling after this game was one of relief, with Villa all but sealing their survival with a hard-fought win at Upton Park. After falling behind just two minutes in, it looked like it might be a long afternoon for the Villains but Darren Bent's equaliser and Gabriel Agbonlahor's stoppage-time winner sparked scenes of jubilation among Villa's players, staff and fans.

Lowlight: Newcastle 6-0 Aston Villa, Premier League, 22 August 2010. This game was about as nightmarish as it could get for Villa fans. They were dominated by a Newcastle side playing their first home game since winning promotion back to the Premier League, with a Villa side who had finished sixth the season before looking well off the pace. The threat of relegation hadn't even been thought about before this game, but after it Villa fans must have wondered what sort of season they were in for. Losses to Birmingham in the Carling Cup and to Liverpool, Manchester City and Wolves in the Premier League ran this close.

Manager: Gerard Houllier was under intense pressure throughout the season after taking over from caretaker boss MacDonald, with many fans hoping he does not return for next season. His health problems mean he may not be well enough to return to the dug-out but players appear keen for him to stay. If he does remain as manager, his side will need to have a strong start to next season to get fans back on side, while Houllier will need to be busy in the transfer market as his squad is too thin.

It is not yet known whether Houllier will return as Aston Villa manager for next season

Five games that shaped their season:
Newcastle 6-0 Aston Villa, Premier League, 22 August 2010.
Aston Villa 2-2 Manchester United, Premier League, 13 November 2010.
Birmingham 2-1 Aston Villa, Carling Cup, 1 December 2010.
Manchester City 4-0 Aston Villa, Premier League, 28 December 2010.
West Ham 1-2 Aston Villa, Premier League, 16 April 2011.

Transfer activity: Need a goalkeeper (if Brad Friedel leaves), new centre-half, new left-back, new central midfielder and a new striker to complement Bent, at the very least. Good acquisitions would be Shay Given, Sebastien Bassong, Emilio Izaguirre, Joey Barton and Hugo Rodallega. This squad needs a major revamp as it has been caught short this season.

Perhaps the best signings Villa could make this summer are tying Ashley Young and Stewart Downing to new contracts. Young seems likely to leave while Downing has raised the possibility of leaving in recent days, but Villa need to keep them if they are to progress. Nigel Reo-Coker has already been released and that is something of a surprise as he has a lot to offer. There are a number of players fans would like to see leave though, like Stephen Ireland, Habib Beye, Robert Pires, John Carew and Emile Heskey, so these five could leave to make space for quality new arrivals.

Aim for next season: A club of Villa's stature should be aiming for Europe. They got nowhere near that last season but just a year or two ago they challenged for a Champions League place under Martin O'Neill, so a few new signings in the summer could push them back into that sort of contention. One thing is for sure, there needs to be a major improvement from this season.

Season rating out of 10: 4. Should have been challenging for Europe but were involved in a relegation scrap for much of the season. Only late results saved this from being a 2 or a 3.

Birmingham.

Premier League: 18th. FA Cup: Quarter-Final. Carling Cup: Winners.

Lowdown: To describe this as a season of mixed emotions for Birmingham City would be an understatement. They went from the exhilarating high of winning the Carling Cup at Wembley in February to the depressing low of relegation in May, where all the joy of their cup triumph turned to despair. After their promising first season back in the Premier League last year, this should have been the year for them to kick on and really establish themselves as a Premier League club, but they have went the opposite way and must start again from square one now. Their big problem this year was the lack of goals. By scoring just 37 times in the league, they were the only Premier League club to average less than a goal a game and this is where they lost their Premier League status.

Birmingham's Carling Cup win was their first major trophy since 1963

Quality centre-back Scott Dann was ruled out for the rest of the season in January and this was a crippling blow for them. His partnership with Roger Johnson was one of the best in the Premier League and Johnson was clearly lost without his partner. Birmingham were not too bad this season, but they entered a rut towards the end, losing five of their last six games, which was the worst possible time for them to enter the worst form of their season. They did have high points during the campaign, such as their Carling Cup triumph and home victory over Chelsea, but Alex McLeish and his aging squad were simply not good enough when push came to shove. Their Carling Cup win should have given them a platform to build on, but that has been ruined by the relegation. They qualified for Europe through their cup win but even that does not seem so glamorous now.

Birmingham's players were left devastated after defeat at Tottenham saw them relegated

Best player: Craig Gardner's 10 goals from midfield this season gave Birmingham real hope, but the fact he was top scorer tells you where Birmingham's problems lay. Gardner's passion, energy and commitment dragged his side through games at times and his performances deserved so much more. He will be crucial for them next season as they try to bounce straight back, as he is clearly a Premier League player who should shine in the Championship. If he was playing for any other club in this situation, he would probably leave, but the fact he is a Birmingham fan means he is likely to stay, which will be a huge relief to Birmingham fans. Ben Foster also had an excellent season and it would not be a surprise to see him join a Premier League club this summer.

Craig Gardner was an inspiration for Birmingham this season

Worst player: Martin Jiranek. It is hard to single a player out of this team for being the 'worst player', as no-one was particularly awful. Jiranek only played 10 league games so it may be a little harsh to single him out, but he was expected to make a bigger impact than he did. It took a long time for him to break into the team and when he did, he suffered injuries. When he played, he didn't appear to be up to the demands of English football so it was no surprise to see him released after the season. Alexander Hleb and Obafemi Martins also proved to be a waste of resources.

Highlight: Arsenal 1-2 Birmingham, Carling Cup final, 27 February 2011. What else but their day of glory at Wembley? For one day, their relegation battle was forgotten about as the Blues defied the bookies and the critics to overcome a strong Arsenal side. Their first major trophy since 1963, this is a day which will live long in the memory of Birmingham fans despite the pain of relegation which followed. Obafemi Martins' 89th-minute winner sparked great scenes and ensured this season was not all doom and gloom.

Lowlight: Tottenham 2-1 Birmingham, Premier League, 22 May 2011. From the joy of Wembley to the despair of White Hart Lane. On a day of unbearable drama, Craig Gardner's 79th-minute equaliser looked set to keep Birmingham up until news came through of Stephen Hunt's late strike for Wolves. With Birmingham needing a winner to stay up, they pushed their defenders forward and Roman Pavlyuchenko utilised the space to seal the Blues' fate. Birmingham's emotions had fluctuated throughout 'Survival Sunday' but at the end of play they were left devastated as they were forced to come to terms with relegation.

Manager: Alex McLeish is still popular among Birmingham fans for winning the Carling Cup as well as the two successful seasons prior to this one, but must deliver promotion next season to save his job. Birmingham's board have warned they expect the Scot to win promotion at the first time of asking, so a slow start to next season and McLeish will find himself out of a job. He suffered bad luck this season with injuries and suspensions at crucial times, while he has the experience of winning promotion with Birmingham, so he is certainly still the right man for the job. For now.

Alex McLeish looks set to stay on as Birmingham manager for next season

Five games that shaped their season:
Birmingham 1-0 Chelsea, Premier League, 20 November 2010.
Arsenal 1-2 Birmingham, Carling Cup, 27 February 2011.
Birmingham 1-3 West Brom, Premier League, 5 March 2011.
Wigan 2-1 Birmingham, Premier League, 19 March 2011.
Tottenham 2-1 Birmingham, Premier League, 22 May 2011.

Transfer activity: A set of new strikers should be a priority, while a new right-winger is needed to replace the out-of-contract Sebastian Larsson and any other key players who leave will also need to be replaced. Quality players with good Championship experience are needed, so Birmingham could do worse than sign the likes of Jay Bothroyd, Danny Graham, Danny Guthrie and Michael Kightly.

On the going out front, Kevin Phillips, Sebastian Larsson and Lee Bowyer have already been released and all three of them could have done a good job for Birmingham next season. Phillips and Bowyer are still good enough for the Championship, so it was a surprise to see them released, although it would have been difficult to hold onto Larsson who clearly has ambitions to play in the Premier League next season. Birmingham will need to fight hard to keep hold of Ben Foster and Craig Gardner, with both set to be key players should they stay. Roger Johnson and Scott Dann will also be courted by Premier League clubs but if the Blues can keep hold of the likes of them, they will be odds-on to come straight back up. Loan players will also return back to their clubs which will allow Birmingham to start afresh in certain areas and build a team capable of winning promotion.

Aim for next season: To win promotion, it's as simple as that. Alex McLeish's blueprint from the owners is to bring Birmingham straight back to the Premier League and if the core of this side is kept together, they will be very hard to stop. They must bounce back at the first attempt though, as any key players who are persuaded to stay now are unlikely to stick around for a second season of Championship football.

Season rating out of 10: 4. Only their Carling Cup triumph stops this from being lower but this has been a season of major disappointment for Birmingham fans overall as this team should not have been relegated.

Blackburn. 

Premier League: 15th. FA Cup: 4th round. Carling Cup: 3rd round.

Lowdown: This season must go down as one of massive disappointment for Blackburn. They only escaped relegation on the final day and their strong end to the season does not mask what has been a confusing campaign. New owners Venky's appeared to offer great hope when they took over the club in November, but destabilised the club and plunged them into a relegation battle by sacking Sam Allardyce. Allardyce was the right man to take the club forward and firing him made no sense, particularly when they replaced him with the untested Steve Kean. The Indian owners clearly know nothing about football as Allardyce's team would have been nowhere near the bottom three, so they are at fault for Blackburn being in a relegation battle.

Blackburn's new Indian owners sacked manager Sam Allardyce within weeks of buying the club

There were some positives this season, such as the performances of Christopher Samba and Martin Olsson and emergence of Junior Hoilett, and they had some creditable results, such as the 3-1 home victory over Liverpool. However, their disastrous run of no wins in eleven between January and April proved Kean was not the right man for the job. The owners are thought to have plenty of resources but must not just throw money around in the summer: they should trust their manager, Kean or otherwise, to draw up a list of suitable targets based on the money available. January links with Ronaldinho and David Beckham were fanciful to say the least and they need to be sensible if Blackburn are to have a sustainable future.

Best player: Christopher Samba. This beast of a centre-half saves Blackburn so many points a season with his immense displays, so without him Rovers could easily have gone down. He is incredibly brave, capable of making last-ditch tackles, magnificent in the air and a great blocker, as well as being dangerous from set-pieces. It is a surprise he hasn't been more strongly linked with moves in the past as the Congolese international is one of the best defenders in the Premier League. Paul Robinson and Junior Hoilett also had great campaigns and were unlucky to miss out on this award.

Defender Christopher Samba has been linked with a summer move to Arsenal

Worst player: Roque Santa Cruz. It is perhaps a bit harsh to call him Blackburn's worst player this season as he only joined on loan in January and only made seven league appearances, but his signing should have proved the catalyst for a strong end to the season for Blackburn. When he did play, he looked a shadow of his former self as he failed to score and made no real impact on games. He struggled with injuries during his loan spell, something he has been blighted by in the last few years. He hopes for a permanent switch back to Ewood Park but if he is signed it will be due to his achievements in the past rather than his current form and ability.

Highlight: Blackburn 3-1 Liverpool, Premier League, 5 January 2011. This season has certainly not been a vintage one at Blackburn so there are not many to choose from here. Their mid-season victory over Liverpool was a rare high point though, as they tore the Merseysiders apart with goals from Martin Olsson and Benjani (2). Steve Kean's side were excellent although Roy Hodgson's Liverpool had their chances, with this game proving to be Hodgson's last in charge. Their last-day win over Wolves may have meant more, but for the quality of the performance the Liverpool game was Blackburn's best of the season.

Lowlight: Manchester United 7-1 Blackburn, Premier League, 27 November 2010. Blackburn had many woeful performances under Steve Kean, but their worst of the season was under Sam Allardyce at Old Trafford. Dimitar Berbatov scored five times and at one point it looked like United could reach double figures, so Rovers' problems were there before Kean took charge. Around two weeks after this game, Allardyce was sacked, and it is hard to think this mauling did not play a part in his dismissal.

Manager: Steve Kean surprisingly took charge after Allardyce's sacking in December and he hasn't proved to be up to the job so far. He guided them through the relegation battle quite well, but Blackburn didn't seem to be in the dogfight before he took over so he must take some of the blame for their late-season worries. The owners seem to really rate him, on account of him being a "good talker", and they have insisted he will be their manager for next season. Despite their public backing however, do not be surprised to see him replaced by a bigger name in the summer.

Steve Kean's side won 3-2 at Wolves on the final day to secure survival

Five games that shaped their season:
Manchester United 7-1 Blackburn, Premier League, 27 November 2010.
Blackburn 3-1 Liverpool, Premier League, 5 January 2011.
Wigan 4-3 Blackburn, Premier League, 5 February 2011.
Blackburn 1-0 Bolton, Premier League, 30 April 2011.
Wolves 2-3 Blackburn, Premier League, 22 May 2011.

Transfer activity: How much money Blackburn have to spend is anyone's guess but one thing is for sure: they need to strengthen their strike-force. They also need a central midfielder and their squad needs greater depth. Good summer signings could be Ruud van Nistelrooy, Demba Ba, Sebastian Larsson and Nigel Reo-Coker, although if the owners have plenty of resources they may be targeting even more well-known names.

Blackburn's most important business this summer could be keeping hold of Christopher Samba and Phil Jones. Both have been strongly linked with Arsenal and it is not difficult to see why: both are quality defenders who have their best years ahead of them. Samba's importance has already been discussed, but keeping Jones could be even more important to Rovers' future. At just 19, he looks like he could become one of the best central defenders of his generation and it is no surprise to see him linked with massive clubs. While Blackburn must hold onto Samba and Jones, Rovers fans may not be too sorry to see the back of Keith Andrews, El-Hadji Diouf and Benjani this summer.

Aim for next season: Again, this all depends on how much money they have to spend. Venky's want Blackburn to be a top-five club, the sooner the better, but unless they spend a massive amount of money, a top-half finish is probably the best they can hope for. If they have another season with a relegation battle, Steve Kean will not last much longer as manager.

Season rating out of 10: 4. Failed to build on last season's top-half finish and went nowhere in the cups. This team should have been nowhere near the bottom three and the players, manager and particularly board need to shoulder the blame for this season's failings.

Blackpool.

Premier League: 19th. FA Cup: 3rd round. Carling Cup: 2nd round.

Lowdown: Blackpool fans are probably fed up of hearing their team described as a 'breath of fresh air' but they should take it as a compliment as they added so much to the Premier League this season. Their exciting, attacking football was a joy to watch and it is a real shame they couldn't stay up. With the squad they have, it is something of a miracle they managed to win 39 points so that is testament to the great job Ian Holloway has done at Bloomfield Road. He stuck to his attacking principles while other newly-promoted clubs may try to stay up by defending, and was rewarded with some stunning displays, not least the opening day 4-0 win at Wigan and the home and away wins against Liverpool. They provided so much entertainment and as Sir Alex Ferguson said, they will be a loss to the Premier League. The Seasiders started the season excellently and looked set to stay up comfortably until a run of two wins in nineteen after the turn of the year, but were only consigned to relegation after a roller-coaster of events on 'Survival Sunday'.

Blackpool's players should not be disheartened by how they played this season

Blackpool won as many games away from home as champions Manchester United so it is at Bloomfield Road where they lost their Premier League status. They won five times at home, the joint-lowest in the Premier League, and it was their defending which cost them. They scored 55 goals - a record for a relegated side - but conceded 78, meaning they were perhaps a little naive at times. This was at its most evident in the home game with Manchester United, when they threw away a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2. Holloway believes his side did not get their fair share of decisions this season, with a number of penalty appeals turned down, and most people would not have begrudged them a second season in the Premier League. They were up against it from the start, with chairman Karl Oyston not backing Holloway in the transfer market, so it is amazing they got so close to staying up. The likes of Charlie Adam, DJ Campbell, Matt Gilks and David Vaughan all made names for themselves in the top flight but they needed more Premier League experience to just steer them over the line to safety.

Best player: Charlie Adam was simply superb in his first season in the Premier League. Everything Blackpool did went through him: his passing was key, he was the captain, he took all free-kicks, corners and penalties, and he chipped in with 12 league goals to give Blackpool a fighting chance of survival. It will be impossible for the Seasiders to keep hold of Adam as he was so impressive and influential the likes of Liverpool and Tottenham are highly interested in him. The likes of Gilks, Campbell and Vaughan also had terrific seasons, while the unsung heroes Gary Taylor-Fletcher and Stephen Crainey did themselves no harm.

Charlie Adam was Blackpool's talisman this season

Worst player: James Beattie looked nothing like the player he once was after joining on loan in January. He made no impact whatsoever at Bloomfield Road and it is a certainty Ian Holloway will not be following up his loan deal with a bid to sign him permanently. Overall, no Blackpool player disgraced themselves in the Premier League though as they exceeded expectations and almost achieved the impossible of survival.

Highlight: Liverpool 1-2 Blackpool, Premier League, 3 October 2010. Blackpool fans have some great memories to take away from this season, such as their opening day thrashing of Wigan and home wins over Liverpool and Tottenham, but the highlight must be their first win at Anfield since 1967. Against all the odds, the Seasiders were 2-0 up at half-time and went on to close out the game 2-1, surely one of the best results in the club's recent history. Blackpool fans must have been in dreamland after this game as at this time their side could seemingly do no wrong.

Charlie Adam's penalty helped Blackpool to a historic 2-1 win at Liverpool

Lowlight: Blackpool 1-3 Wigan, Premier League, 16 April 2011. The Seasiders went into this game knowing a win was crucial in their quest for survival, but they were second-best from start to finish and could have lost by more. The loss plunged them into the bottom three for the first time this season and there just appeared no way back for them after this game. They had lost all belief and although they almost saved themselves in the games following this, it was here they truly lost their Premier League lives.

Manager: Ian Holloway did an unbelievable job to get Blackpool into the Premier League and an even more astonishing job to win them 39 points and almost keep them in the top flight. He got the maximum he possibly could out of this squad and proved himself as a Premier League manager. He is disheartened at the lack of backing he received in the transfer market and it is understood he wants funds in the summer to stay, and Blackpool need him to stay or they will have little chance of bouncing back anytime soon.

It remains to be seen whether Ian Holloway will stay on as Blackpool manager this summer

Five games that shaped their season:
Wigan 0-4 Blackpool, Premier League, 14 August 2010.
Liverpool 1-2 Blackpool, Premier League, 3 October 2010.
Blackpool 2-3 Manchester United, Premier League, 25 January 2011.
Wolves 4-0 Blackpool, Premier League, 26 February 2011.
Blackpool 1-3 Wigan, Premier League, 16 April 2011.

Transfer activity: Depending on who leaves the club in the summer, Blackpool's squad could be set for a major overhaul. The likes of Charlie Adam, David Vaughan, DJ Campbell and Matt Gilks will all need to be replaced should they leave, but it will be difficult to get players of sufficient quality to replace them. The likes of Lee Bowyer and Kevin Phillips could be decent free transfer signings to give them a chance of winning promotion next season, but the chairman will need to spend money if they are to have any realistic chance of bouncing back immediately.

It seems certain Blackpool's key players - Adam, Vaughan and Campbell - will leave, while the likes of Gilks are heavily linked with moves. There are a number of players the club would be glad to see leave though, with James Beattie, Sergei Kornilenko and Andy Reid seemingly surplus to requirements at Bloomfield Road. This will be a big summer as poor transfer activity could lead to Blackpool spiralling to the wrong end of the Championship next season.

Aim for next season: If it was hard for Ian Holloway to win promotion last time, it will be even harder now without the key players from that play-off triumph. The aim, of course, will be to bounce straight back up but that will be a huge ask. Ian Holloway has worked miracles before but it would be remarkable if Blackpool were to win promotion at the first attempt next season.

Season rating out of 10: 7. Most relegated teams would get a much lower rating than this but Blackpool have won everyone over with their play this season. They deserved to stay up for their positive play so it is a real shame they will be playing Championship football next season.

Why Di Matteo is the only man for Cardiff job

Roberto Di Matteo led West Brom to promotion to the Premier League in his only full season in charge

Looking at the list of potential candidates to take over from Dave Jones as manager of Cardiff City, one man springs out as the perfect choice.

Roberto Di Matteo did very little wrong at West Brom before being harshly sacked earlier this year and seems to tick all the boxes Cardiff should be looking at.

Dave Jones did a terrific job with the Bluebirds but it was clear he had reached the end of the road.

Two play-off defeats in two years left the club needing new blood as the agony of those losses would have been hard to recover from.

With a new man at the helm with new ideas, that should reinvigorate the whole club and set them on the road to another promotion push.

After six years under Jones, Cardiff need a younger, more progressive manager to install new energy. Ideally, this man should also have a promotion to the Premier League on his managerial CV and play attractive football to re-attract fans disillusioned at recent near-misses.

That is why Di Matteo should be the only man Cardiff need to look at.

He led West Brom to promotion to the Premier League at the first attempt with free-flowing, attacking football and they then had a successful start to life in the top tier.

Things did get more difficult as his first Premier League campaign as a manager progressed but he left them in 16th place and in with a great chance of staying up.

The side he built subsequently survived comfortably under Roy Hodgson so Di Matteo has nothing to reproach himself about with regards to the job he did at the Hawthorns.

Cardiff would be the perfect route back into football for him and his assistant Eddie Newton as they have a similar potential to West Brom and seem like a Premier League club in waiting.

Eddie Newton was Di Matteo's assistant at MK Dons and West Brom

Newton even had a short spell at Cardiff as a player so already has some idea as to the expectations surrounding the club.

Di Matteo would jump at the chance to take over the Bluebirds so the board should act quickly to secure one of the brightest young managers around.

One thing is for sure, he won't be unemployed for long.

If Cardiff don't take him, one of their Championship rivals will as his ability as a manager is clear for all to see.

His calm style is just what the Bluebirds need right now to help them recover from their play-off agony and push on again, as employing a manager similar to Jones would only set the club back.

Jones did a fine job there but the mental scars from promotion near-misses will not heal unless a completely different man with new ideas comes in.

Di Matteo and Newton also led Milton Keynes Dons to the League One play-offs in their only season there so their job at West Brom cannot be described as a one-off.

They are ambitious, young and just the breath of fresh air that is needed at Cardiff after their play-off loss and rivals Swansea's promotion.

Other candidates include Chris Hughton, Billy Davies, Martin O'Neill and Craig Bellamy, but Di Matteo still appears the outstanding choice.

Chris Hughton was harshly sacked by Newcastle in December

Hughton did well to get Newcastle promoted under difficult circumstances and could be a decent choice to manage Cardiff, but his appointment is not likely to get pulses racing in the same way Di Matteo's would.

Davies has one promotion to the Premier League on his CV but Cardiff would have to shell out major compensation for him and he appears to have unfinished business at Nottingham Forest.

O'Neill would be a popular choice among fans but he is probably waiting for a Premier League job and is likely to demand a large transfer budget if he was to take over a Championship club.

As for Bellamy, he has no coaching qualifications so to even link him with this job is ludicrous.

Di Matteo is the most realistic choice and his installment as manager would give Cardiff the best possible chance of promotion.

Cardiff's board should appoint him now before someone else does.

How do you stop this Barcelona team?

This Barcelona side is surely the best team of their generation

Barcelona 3-1 Manchester United

Mesmerizing, spellbinding, magic. There really aren't enough words to describe how good this Barcelona side are at the moment.

They ripped a very good Manchester United side to shreds at Wembley in the Champions League final with a style of play no other side in the world can play. Well, they can try, but they won't be able to do it.

Their side is filled with so much talent, so much joy and so much stardust. There really is nothing anybody can do to stop them right now.

In Lionel Messi, they have one of the greatest players to have played the game.

He isn't even 24 yet, but he destroyed Man Utd with his brilliant play, constantly haranguing opponents with his beautiful elegance, finishing it off with a glorious goal.

Messi celebrates with Javier Mascherano after his stunning display

The little magician's exceptional performances do not make Barca a one-man team though. Far from it.

In Xavi and Andres Iniesta, they have a midfield double-act so good it would be an insult to try and compare them to any other midfielders. They, like their team, are a class apart.

As United manager Sir Alex Ferguson said after Barcelona passed his side to death in the 2009 final, playing against Xavi and Iniesta is like stepping on a carousel, making opponents so dizzy they can't wait for the final whistle to put them out of their misery.

Andres Iniesta and Xavi are ranked as the second and third best players in the world, behind only team-mate Messi

Their unerring passing accuracy makes it almost impossible to get hold of the ball, impossible to get any grip on the game.

Here against United, they held two-thirds of the possession. This should be a surprise. No team should dominate like this in a European Cup final. But this is Barcelona. This is mesmeric Barcelona. This is one of the greatest teams ever.

There is just no way to get the ball for sustained periods against them. Pass, move. Pass, move. Pass, move. They display everything that is good about the beautiful game and more.

This Barcelona team cannot be compared to any other football team on the planet. The only sporting comparison you could make is to the Harlem Globetrotters.

In the semi-final against Real Madrid, they proved they weren't perfect with a number of pathetic incidents.

But at Wembley against United, they put right the wrongs of that dark night at the Bernabeu to reaffirm their status as the best team in the world. In truth, they are streets ahead of every other team.

Manchester United and Real Madrid are probably the second and third best teams on the planet, but they almost look like pub teams when standing against this Barcelona side.

We are privileged this dream team is here in our generation. They are as close to perfect as a football team can get.

In the early exchanges at Wembley, it looked positive for United.

They pressurised Barcelona's defence, with Javier Mascherano looking shaky at centre-half early on, but once Barcelona got into their stride that was that.

Pedro opened the scoring on 27 minutes after a period of real domination, with some masterful play from Xavi, concluded with a perfect pass, splitting the United defence and leaving the 23-year-old Spaniard through on goal.

van der Sar was left flat-footed by Pedro's strike

He coolly slotted the ball past Edwin van der Sar with ease, although the retiring Dutchman will have been disappointed as he was flat-footed and couldn't even try to stop the effort.

Patrice Evra will also have been disappointed with his role in the goal after being sucked towards the run of Messi, leaving Pedro free.

Surprisingly, United were given a foothold in the game just seven minutes later with a goal Barcelona would have been proud of.

Wayne Rooney's equaliser appeared to give United a chance in the game

Wayne Rooney exchanged passes with Ryan Giggs - who may have been offside - before unleashing a stunning shot past Victor Valdes. The goal hadn't been coming but appeared to give United fresh hope. In truth, though, this only delayed the inevitable.

Just nine minutes after half-time, the Messi show took over.

After a couple of close misses just before and after half-time, Messi decided enough was enough.

25 yards out, he smashed a stunning low shot past van der Sar to again give United a mountain to climb.

He should have been closed down better by United's defence and the shot shouldn't have beaten van der Sar as it was central, but take nothing away from the quality of the strike.

Messi's goal was his 53rd in 55 games this season

Messi took advantage of the space given to him with maximum effect, with his firecracker beating van der Sar in the blink of an eye.

With United visibly tiring and Barcelona having more and more chances to win the game, David Villa finished it off with the goal of the night.

With the ball at his feet on the edge of the box, he picked his spot in the top corner of the goal to leave van der Sar with no chance. Villa didn't have his most effective game but he worked hard and this goal was his reward.

Villa's stunning finish put the seal on a superb Barcelona display

Although United will be disappointed with how they conceded Barca's first two goals, there was nothing more they could have realistically done to stop the Catalans.

They are a class apart and when these United players look back in 20 years or so at their careers, they should feel privileged to have shared a pitch with this team.

They are a magic team and neutrals should enjoy watching them while they get the chance.

Barcelona have won the Champions League for two of the last three seasons now - it could have been three in a row if it wasn't for Jose Mourinho's miracle with Inter Milan last season - and they could dominate for years if this side is kept together.

The only pity is that there isn't a side that can get near them. Imagine how good football would be if there were two teams playing at that level.

This Barcelona will be talked about in decades to come, of that there is no doubt.

Even Mascherano, playing in an unfamiliar role as a central defender, was excellent after a nervy start.

In truth, Barcelona could have played anyone in defence as they dominate so much they rarely come under pressure. But credit where credit is due as Mascherano was written off in the lead-up to this game and he proved the doubters wrong.

There was a lot to dislike about Barcelona in the semi-final against Real Madrid but nothing to dislike about them in the final.

The histrionics of that game did not rear their ugly heads at Wembley, Pep Guardiola and his side seemingly determined to demonstrate only the beautiful side of their game.

Letting Eric Abidal lift the trophy, just two months after undergoing surgery for cancer, summed them up.

Eric Abidal had an operation for liver cancer just two months ago

Carlos Puyol, as captain, must have dreamt about lifting the trophy at Wembley but he passed over the responsibility to Abidal as reward for his wonderful bravery. It was a great touch befitting of this team.

Barcelona are a juggernaut at the moment and so much of that is down to manager Pep Guardiola.

He allows his players to express themselves and rarely makes a tactical error. He has built something very special, something which could dominate for years, which makes recent rumours he may be set to leave seem ludicrous.

Pep Guardiola also won the Champions League at Wembley as a player

If he was to leave now, he would only go down. He will never be in charge of a team better than this and he should manage them for as long as he possibly can.

Yes, there might be incredible pressure on him but he seems to thrive on it. Everyone must love him in Barcelona for his achievements as there really isn't anything more he could have done in his three-year spell in charge. Three league championships and two Champions Leagues in three years is an unbelievable record and Guardiola has the chance to build a real dynasty at the Nou Camp.

Ferguson has certainly built a dynasty at Manchester United but even his side can't compete against this Barcelona. His side were second-best throughout and Ferguson took defeat well as he knew his side had come up against a dream team.

Ferguson has now seen his side beaten twice in three years by Barcelona in the Champions League final

Only Wayne Rooney made any real impact on the game, but Rooney's excellent performance offers real hope for the future for Ferguson and United.

Rooney has now proved he can perform on the very biggest stages against the best in the world, meaning United can feel confident they will keep putting themselves in positions to win major trophies like this.

At the moment, if you compare United and Barcelona, Rooney is the only United player who would get into the Barca team.

He worked tirelessly and took his goal brilliantly, surely confirming his status as one of the best players in the world.

Rooney consoles Javier Hernandez after the final whistle

Rooney can be safe in the knowledge there is nothing more he could have done and largely his team-mates can feel the same.

Sir Alex Ferguson's warm embrace with counterpart Pep Guardiola both before and after the final whistle showed what great respect he has for this super-team. After the game, he described them as the best team he had ever faced.

Pep Guardiola and Sir Alex Ferguson have tremendous respect for each other

They have now taken their place in history, with many believing them to be the best team of all-time.

They are up there with the great Real Madrid team of the 1950s, Brazil of 1970 and Liverpool of the 1980s. It is hard to compare them with teams from other generations but one thing is for sure: they are the greatest team of their generation.

The match stats from this final tell their own story.

Barcelona had 68% possession, United had just three shots (one on target) in the whole game and United did not have a single corner. Barcelona are simply a machine and even the very best sides can not touch them.

This has still been a great season for United, with a Premier League title and a place in the Champions League final not to be sniffed at.

They should not be too down-heartened by the way their season ended as they can be safe in the knowledge Barcelona would have done that to any team.

The Catalans are just a class apart and, without being disrespectful to United, their win is a victory for football.

The beautiful game has been dragged through the mud in recent months with all the recent scandals surrounding FIFA, but Barcelona are a reminder of why we fell in love with football in the first place.

Barcelona are the kings of the modern game and should be the side others aspire to.

They are a pleasure to watch and a team which will never be forgotten.

All hail Barcelona.

What a season

Nemanja Vidic captained Manchester United to a 19th league title

Now the dust has began to settle on an enthralling Premier League season, it is time to look back and offer a review of the campaign.

This was one of the most thrilling campaigns ever, not because of the quality but because of the sheer excitement, closeness of the competition and number of goals.

There is a lot of hype around the Premier League, but it surely is the best league in the world.

Only Germany's Bundesliga can match it in terms of fan numbers and passion, and this will always be the case.

Spanish football has the two best teams in the world - Barcelona and Real Madrid - but not a whole lot else.

Italy has lost its glamour in recent years too, with the integrity of the league stained after the match-fixing scandal of 2006. Fan numbers are down and interest is beginning to drop.

La Liga may be the league with the best 'quality' at the top end of the competition but certainly not the most excitement.

Most atmospheres are stale and many games are played in front of half-empty stadia, with Almeria playing two games this season in front of just 5000 fans.

Barcelona and Real Madrid are so far ahead of the rest that the league has become far too predictable.

Real Madrid have registered wins of 8-1 and 7-0, while Barcelona won an away game 8-0, while in England any heavy victories for the top sides took place at the beginning of the season.

The gap between the top and the bottom has closed in England, with champions Manchester United losing at Wolves, second-placed Chelsea also losing at Molineux and relegated Birmingham, while third-placed Manchester City were another side to lose at Wolves.

Wolves beat Manchester United 2-1 at Molineux

Teams at the bottom no longer go into games against the top sides with any real trepidation, with every team feeling they can win any game, and this has helped provide a thrilling season.

This season will mostly be remembered for Manchester United winning a record 19th English league title.

They won 18 of their 19 home games and that is where the league was won.

They are formidable at home and looked unbeatable at Old Trafford this season. This was crucial as they won just five away games, another indicator of the tightness of the competition.

This is by no means a vintage United side, but manager Sir Alex Ferguson will cherish this triumph as much as any other.

His team have been written off throughout the season, but by winning the league and reaching the Champions League final they have proved that Manchester United should never be written off.

The quality of the sides at the top of the Premier League has undoubtedly dropped in recent years but this has been good for the game, evening out the competition.

This United side sums that up.

Their triumph was based on a real team effort, with no real superstars standing out.

Goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar will retire after the Champions League final at Wembley

The likes of Edwin van der Sar, Nemanja Vidic, Dimitar Berbatov, Wayne Rooney, Javier Hernandez, Nani and Ryan Giggs have all played a similarly important part, and the lack of a standout superstar is why this team has been criticised in the past.

Their competition for the title has left a lot to be desired though.

Chelsea started in blistering form but crumbled in November and December after the sacking of assistant manager Ray Wilkins.

They were well off the pace and never returned to form, despite the January £50million signing of Fernando Torres, but somehow got to within three points of Manchester United and almost nicked the title.

It would have been bad for the game if they had won the league as they have been woeful for much of the season and would have been truly undeserving winners.

Manchester City finished third but never really threatened to win the title, while Arsenal threw away a league which should have been theirs and eventually finished fourth.

The title was there for the taking for Arsene Wenger's side this season, but they imploded too many times and showed their mental frailties throughout.

Most of the drama was saved for the bottom of the league and the relegation battle, with 'Survival Sunday' certainly not disappointing.

West Ham, Blackpool and Birmingham went down but all could so easily have stayed up.

Ian Holloway's attacking Blackpool side were a breath of fresh air for the Premier League this season

They are all decent sides and, particularly in the case of Blackpool and Birmingham, they have a great chance of bouncing straight back up.

Before the season, most observers predicted Blackpool would be relegated by some margin but they confounded the critics throughout the campaign and only just failed to survive.

Most neutrals wanted them to survive as they lit up the Premier League this season with their attacking instincts and exciting style of football. As Sir Alex Ferguson said, they will be a loss to the Premier League.

Birmingham experienced the joy of winning the Carling Cup but were unlucky to be relegated.

Their form did plummet as the season drew to a close and their lack of a goalscorer cost them, but injuries and suspensions at crucial times handicapped them.

Until quite near the end of the season, there were around 14 clubs involved in the relegation battle and that provided great excitement.

Hopefully, this trend will continue in the future as it is great to see such tight battles and every team having something to play for.

This has been a fantastic season in the Premier League which produced one of the most exciting relegation battles ever, and in the coming days and weeks I will be offering individual reviews of each Premier League team's season.

For now though, here are my awards of the season:

Luka Modric was not nominated for the PFA Player of the Year award

Best player: Luka Modric. (Runner-up: Vincent Kompany) Spurs' midfield magician often gets overshadowed by team-mates Gareth Bale and Rafael van der Vaart but the Croatian is the man who makes them tick. The best passer in the Premier League, Modric was key in Spurs' Champions League adventure and creates so many chances. With a deadly striker, Spurs would be an even greater force as Modric would give them so many opportunities to score. Modric has been outstanding all season and it is a real shame he is not given the praise he deserves. Spurs must keep hold of him if they are to progress as without him, they would be nowhere.

Best young player: Jack Wilshere. (Runner-up: Javier Hernandez) At just 19, Wilshere has established himself as a key member of an Arsenal side who challenged for the title for much of the season. He made 35 Premier League appearances this campaign and was excellent against the might of Barcelona in the Champions League. He has already won four England caps and looks set to secure a regular place in the England midfield. There seems no limit to what Wilshere can achieve in the game providing he keeps his feet on the ground and stays injury-free.

Unsung hero: Dirk Kuyt. (Runner-up: David Vaughan) Dirk Kuyt is always praised for his work-rate, but this season he has backed that up with 13 league goals from the right-wing. He was an integral part of a Liverpool team in excellent form under Kenny Dalglish and, at 30, looks set to be a key player for them next season. He still doesn't get the praise he deserves, largely due to his reputation as someone who tries hard but doesn't really produce, but he has improved so much in the last few years that he should get more recognition. He could be a real contender for Liverpool's Player of the Year, and his hat-trick against Manchester United will live long in the memory of Liverpool fans.

One-man team: Charlie Adam, Blackpool. (Runner-up: Scott Parker, West Ham) It may be a bit harsh to call Blackpool a 'one-man team' but Adam has been phenomenal this season despite the Seasiders' relegation. He takes all their free-kicks, corners and penalties and scored twelve times in the league this season. He was at the heart of everything Blackpool did well and they will find it impossible to replace him when he leaves this summer. It will be interesting to see how he adjusts to being a small fish in a big pond rather than a big fish in a small pond next season. Liverpool are said to be interested and his form this season has warranted a move of that calibre.

Tony Pulis is in his second spell as Stoke manager

Best manager: Tony Pulis. (Runners-up: Sir Alex Ferguson and Ian Holloway) Sir Alex Ferguson has done magnificently to lead a 'mechanical' Manchester United side to the title and Champions League final, but Tony Pulis has arguably done an even more impressive job at Stoke. He doesn't get the credit he deserves at times, but he has done remarkably well at the Britannia Stadium. They may have finished two places lower than last season, in 13th, but that was largely due to the closeness of the league. They could so easily have finished eighth. They reached the FA Cup final for the first time in Stoke's history this season. Chairman Peter Coates describes Pulis as the club's greatest ever manager.

Best team: Manchester United. (Runner-up: Manchester City) Who else but the 19-times champions of England? This team may lack the flair great United teams of the past have had but more than make up for that with a real team effort. They won 18 out of their 19 home games, with performances from Edwin van der Sar, Nemanja Vidic and Javier Hernandez particularly standing out. This team never accepts defeat until the game is over, as they proved by coming from two down to beat West Ham and Blackpool and from two down to draw at Aston Villa. They boast the league's joint-top scorer, Dimitar Berbatov, yet he couldn't get into the team by the end of the season which shows the strength in depth they have. If they win the Champions League at Wembley, this will be one of the best seasons in the club's history.

Best game: Newcastle 4-4 Arsenal. (Runners-up: Tottenham 3-3 Arsenal and Wigan 3-2 West Ham) 4-0 down at half-time against title-chasing Arsenal, having just sold star striker Andy Carroll, the future looked bleak for Newcastle. Thoughts of relegation swept around St James' Park and anger at the board for selling Carroll was clear. 45 crazy minutes later however, and the Toon Army's faith in their team was restored. Abou Diaby was sent off before a Joey Barton-inspired Newcastle went on a rampage, pulling the score back to 4-3 before Cheik Tiote's blockbusting equaliser sent St James' Park wild. Kevin Nolan almost won the game for the Magpies in stoppage time. This game was another prime example of Arsenal's mental frailties. The first time in Premier League history a side has come back from four goals down, this is a game which will live long in the memory. A game like this will not be seen again for quite some time.

Best signing: Cheik Tiote. (Runners-up: Javier Hernandez, Peter Odemwingie and Luis Suarez) While Hernandez and Odemwingie rightfully grabbed the headlines for their magnificent first seasons in English football, Newcastle's midfield lynchpin Cheik Tiote deserves this award for his exceptional displays this season. He may have picked up 14 bookings but his contribution has been immense when he hasn't been suspended, helping to break up opposition attacks and start attacks for his team. A low-key signing last summer for around £3.5million, Tiote has quickly established himself as a key member of a Newcastle side who enjoyed a strong start to life back in the Premier League. The Magpies will do well to keep hold of him in the summer, with Arsenal and Chelsea said to be interested.

Bebe has failed to impress since moving to Old Trafford last summer

Worst signing: Bebe. (Runners-up: Fernando Torres, Joe Cole and Stephen Ireland) It says something that Bebe has beaten Fernando Torres to this award. Torres has been awful since joining Chelsea for £50million in January but may offer hope for the future, while Bebe has been a joke since joining Manchester United. It cost United a reported £7.4million to land him last summer and this is money they may as well have thrown down the drain. Two league games and no goals later, this is looking like one of the worst signings of Sir Alex Ferguson's reign at Old Trafford. He may come good in the future but it seems highly unlikely.

Cheik Tiote's stunning goal sparked scenes of jubilation at St James' Park

Best goal: Cheik Tiote, Newcastle vs Arsenal. (Runner-up: Wayne Rooney, Manchester United vs Manchester City) Tiote had never looked like troubling the scorers until his stunning 35-yard left foot volley sealed Newcastle's four-goal comeback against Arsenal. It is easy to forget that Tiote is right-footed when watching this goal, and the strike will live long in the memory of Newcastle fans. With the ball in the air, heading towards Tiote, it was one of those moments when time seemed to stand still. "Surely not?" was probably the thought going through most minds. It was the sweetest of strikes, angling away from goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny to leave the Pole with no chance. This goal will go down in Geordie folklore.

Dirk Kuyt's 102nd-minute penalty was the latest goal in Premier League history

Best moment: Dirk Kuyt's 102nd-minute penalty against Arsenal. (Runners-up: Cheik Tiote's equaliser against Arsenal, Birmingham win Carling Cup, Blackpool win at Anfield and Wayne Rooney's penalty against Blackburn to seal title) Arsenal needed to win this game to stand a realistic chance of the title and Robin van Persie's 98th-minute penalty seemed to earn the Gunners a vital win. However, with stoppage time continuing due to an earlier injury to Jamie Carragher, Liverpool pushed forward and were given a penalty when Emmanuel Eboue clumsily bundled over Lucas in the box. Dirk Kuyt stepped up in the 102nd-minute and earned Liverpool a point which, ultimately, helped great rivals Manchester United overtake them by winning their 19th league title. A touch-line row between Arsene Wenger and Kenny Dalglish ensued, with Wenger realising his side had thrown away any chance of winning the title.