Ben Hunt

Opinion Piece: Are these the Top 5 most shocking scores in Premier League history?

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Premier League: Top 5 Shocking Scores!

Now some time has passed following Manchester United’s 7-0 drubbing to bitter rivals Liverpool, you’d think the grieving period would get slightly easier. But the truth is I have only grown increasingly despondent as the days have passed. The ceaseless berating from my Liverpool supporting friends and the incessant furore from mainstream and social media has taken its toll.

So, as a form of therapy I’ve decided to delve into the history books to uncover some of the most outrageous results in Premier League history. Score lines that make you look twice at your phone screens and wonder what on earth has happened. Anyway, here’s my top five most shocking Premier League score lines.

Manchester United 8-2 Arsenal - 28/08/2011

To breathe some joy back into my life I’m going to start by reminiscing on the good old days, when United were still good and Arsenal still mediocre.

Cast your mind back to the beginning of the 2011/12 season. The age-old rivalry between Ferguson and Wenger had produced countless tightly contested encounters, but, as it would turn out, this would not be one of them.

Despite United being 3-1 up at half time, the tie was far from over. However, following a red card to Carl Jenkinson, who looked like he’d won a competition to play, and a glut of goals in the second half, the home side ran out 8-2 winners subjecting the Gunners to their worst defeat since 1986.

Inevitably, social media ran with this, producing the infamous, albeit cruel, “I’d 8-2 be an Arsenal fan” slur. But, in my eyes the greatest insult came 11 years later when Wayne Rooney admitted the score line made him ‘uncomfortable’ and that it looked like they were ‘taking the mickey’.

When one of your greatest rivals pities you, it must be bad.

Manchester United 1-6 Manchester City – 23/10/2011

Happiness is a fleeting emotion, so after recalling United’s glorious victory I now must move onto a dark day.

After astronomical squad investment, United’s noisy neighbours City were on the rise, with the two Manchester clubs separated by just two points heading into this crucial early-season clash.

Notorious troublemaker Mario Balotelli opened the scoring midway through the half and celebrated with the infamous “Why always me?” undershirt, having just the day before set fireworks off in his own bathroom.

And then, after Jonny Evans’ second-half red card, the Citizens ran rampant, scoring 5 more goals to end the game 6-1.

City went onto win the title on goal difference after Aguero’s iconic last gasp winner against QPR. But incredibly the two Manchester clubs were separated by only eight goals, which means, had this game finished 2-1 to the Citizens instead, the two teams would have finished level on points, goal difference, goals scored and goals against.

That hurts…

Aston Villa 7-2 Liverpool – 4/10/2020

Liverpool, having seen bitter rivals Manchester United ship six to Tottenham Hotspur earlier in the day, quite likely arrived at Villa Park with a spring in their step and an expectation to win.

However, perhaps a touch of complacency crept into the minds of the Liverpool players, because Villa would go on to demolish them.

After a first half hat-trick from the electric Ollie Watkins, a brace from Jack Grealish and goals from John McGinn and Evertonian Ross Barkley, Villa ran out 7-2 winners, with Liverpool conceding seven goals for the first time since 1963.

Jamie Carragher was quoted as saying it was "one of the worst defensive performances I've ever seen!". However, a selection of “level-headed” Liverpool fans claimed their team only collapsed because of Adrian’s inclusion in goal. Villa’s eighteen shots from 30% possession might tell a different story.

Either way, I enjoyed this one.

Southampton 0-9 Leicester – 25/10/2020

Regularly on the wrong side of Premier League thumping’s, I could have made this list using just Southampton results under Ralph Hasenhüttl, which include 6-0 and 9-0 losses to Chelsea and Manchester United respectively. However, the worst of the bunch came at the hands of Leicester City back in 2019.

After Saints left-back Ryan Bertrand was sent off in the 12th minute Southampton collapsed. Hat-tricks for both Ayoze Perez and Jamie Vardy, which no doubt left the pair tussling for the match ball after the game, plus goals from James Maddison, Ben Chilwell and Youri Tielemans, subjected the Saints to a 9-0 drubbing, equalling the heaviest defeat in Premier League history.

Incredibly, Ralph Hasenhüttl managed to keep his job after this dismantling to the Foxes, only for history to repeat itself the following season against Manchester United.

The Austrian coach would eventually get the sack, however, in 2022, after a hapless four years in charge.

Portsmouth 7-4 Reading - 29/09/2007

With all due respect to both teams, I can’t imagine any rational football fan envisaging this game ever being a classic.

However, it just goes to show, never judge a book by its cover, as these two teams would join forces to produce eleven goals to become the highest scoring game in Premier League history.

With the score at just 2-1 in Pompey’s favour at the break, the second forty-five minutes descended into sheer madness.

The ball hit the back of the net eight more times with two own goals, a goal each from Reading’s Holy Trinity, Shane Long, Stephen Hunt and Dave Kitson, along with Benjani (Yes Benjani!) completing a hat-trick for Portsmouth.

Portsmouth would go onto have a momentous season, culminating in FA Cup victory, while Reading would acquire a taste for the spectacular, subsequently losing 6-4 to Tottenham just a few months later and deservedly falling victim to relegation at the end of the campaign.

Want to join in on the discussion? Ben Hunt is a new Contributor at The Hype Train in 2023, and you can have your take on our latest opinion piece by finding the Train on Twitter at @HypeTrainHQ, and Ben at @BenHunt1238

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