The Premier League has long been a stage for thrilling contests, sensational comebacks, and high-scoring games. Some games, however, stand out for their pure dominance and exceptional attacking display, racking up goals for fun. These games have etched themselves in Premier League history as classics.
1. Manchester United 9-0 Ipswich Town, 4 March 1995
Manchester United were without their talisman, Eric Cantona, as they faced second-from-bottom Ipswich Town. Cantona, the club’s top scorer, had been banned after infamously kicking a fan in the chest.
Andy Cole, however, stepped up in his place and scored a whopping five goals that night. Andy Cole became the first player in Premier League history that night to score five goals in a single match. Ipswich went on to get relegated, and Manchester United missed out on the Premier League title by just one point.
Goals: Keane (15), Cole (19, 37, 53, 65, 87), Mark Hughes (55, 59), Ince (72).
2. Southampton 0-9 Leicester City, 25 October 2019
Leicester City’s demolition of Southampton ranks as the biggest-ever victory by an away side in English top-flight league history. The game also ranks as one of only three to record two different hat-trick scorers for the same team. Jamie Vardy and Ayoze Perez were the main men who feasted that evening as Ryan Bertrand was sent off.
The teams only finished 10 points apart that season. Southampton finished in 11th place, while Leicester finished in 5th, but the embarrassment was mammoth for Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhüttl.
Goals: Ben Chilwell (10), Youri Tielemans (17), Perez (19, 39, 57), Vardy (45, 58, 90+4 pen), James Maddison (85).
3. Manchester United 9-0 Southampton, 2 February 2021
Ralph Hasenhüttl endured another abysmal defeat as Southampton boss just 15 months after his thrashing at the hands of Leicester City. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side ran riot, and this victory took them to the top of the table, level on points with Manchester City, at the time. Alexandre Jankewitz suffered a nightmare first Premier League start, earning a red card just one minute and 22 seconds into the match. He has never featured in a Premier League game since then.
Seven different United players scored on the night, which at the time put them level with Chelsea for the most different scorers for a team in a Premier League game. The other player to join United’s score sheet was Southampton’s Jan Bednarek. A night to forget for Bednarek, as he conceded a penalty as well as received a red card for the Saints.
Goals: Aaron Wan-Bissaka (18), Marcus Rashford (25), Bednarek (OG, 34), Edinson Cavani (39), Anthony Martial (69, 90), Scott McTominay (71), Bruno Fernandes (87 pen), Daniel James (90+3).
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4. Liverpool 9-0 Bournemouth, 27 August 2022
Jürgen Klopp’s side began the evening below Bournemouth on the Premier League table. Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino ran riot that evening, scoring two goals and assisting another three. The game was for Liverpool to feast on; Harvey Elliott and Fabio Carvalho scored their first goals for the club.
The Reds were leading 5-0 at half-time, and the signs were clear, Liverpool weren’t about to show mercy any time soon. However, despite 9 goals scored at Anfield, surprisingly, Mohamed Salah’s name is absent from the scoresheet. Bournemouth manager Scott Parker was sacked three days after this defeat.
Goals: Luis Diaz (3, 85), Elliott (6), Trent Alexander-Arnold (28), Roberto Firmino (31, 62), Virgil van Dijk (45), Chris Mepham (OG, 46), Carvalho (80).
Summary
These matches remain unforgettable chapters in the league’s history. The record-breaking scorelines serve as reminders of just how unpredictable and ruthless the Premier League can be. These matches will forever stand as the gold standard for goal-scoring brilliance, and on the other side, will be one to forget for the side that endured the defeat.
Written by: Thillai Ritvik
