2011 : The English Premier League

So how will 2011 be remembered ? The year that saw Manchester Utd winning the title for an unprecedented 19^th time ? Or Manchester City opening their major titles account after a huge gap ? Or Arsenal losing the Carling cup finals against a team that later went on to get relegated ? Its been on amazing ride for a football fan . Every team has had its highs and lows . Some teams went from being high to an all time low. And some teams did the opposite . So lets see the highlights of the top teams now.

Arsenal

Highlights

•The 2-1 victory over Barcelona at the Emirates in February.
•The extraordinary goalscoring form of Robin van Persie.
•Going to Stamford Bridge and winning 5-3 with a newly constructed team.

• Celebrated 125 years for exixtence and opened a statue for Theirry Henry in front of the Emirates.

Lowlights 

•Losing to Birmingham City in the final of the Carling Cup.
•An 8-2 humiliation by Manchester United at Old Trafford.
•The departures of both Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri during the summer.

Hero : Robin van Persie (Amazing goal scoring form)

Villain : Samir Nasri (Putting money before loyalty and joined Manchester City)

Chelsea

Highlights  

• It says much for Chelsea’s frustrating year that the bright spot may have come very recently with the 2-1 victory over Manchester City

• Beating Valencia against all odds and qualifying for the last 16 of the Champions leauge.

Lowlights 

• The Champions League exit to Manchester United who comprehensively dismissed Carlo Ancelotti’s side.
• The race row that has surrounded John Terry has been a potentially hugely damaging distraction.

Hero : Daniel Sturridge

Villain : Fernando Torres

Liverpool

Highlights

• Dalglish, back in his oversized Adidas bubble coat, walking along the touchline at Old Trafford for his first game in charge in January put the spark in the starry-eyes of every Liverpool supporter.
• Luis Suarez first goal for the club against Stoke in January also signalled the start of another love affair between The Kop and a star striker.
• Dirk Kuyt’s hat-trick against Manchester United in a comfortable 3-1 Anfield victory in March was the performance of 2011 by anyone in a red shirt.

Lowlights

• A limp European exit to a mediocre Braga side was unexpected given the rapid improvement under Dalglish.
• Having gone above Spurs in the race for qualification this season, a home defeat to Harry Redknapp’s side on the penultimate Premier League weekend was equally anti-climactic.
• This season, the cruciate injury to much improved midfielder Lucas, and continued toils of Andy Carroll, have caused most concern.

Hero : Suarez ( also a villain right now for his 8 match ban )

Villain : Fernando Torres (Yes! He is the Villain again )

Manchester City

Highlights

• Winning the FA cup .

• Qualifying for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in their history

• Thrashing Manchester Utd in their own den 6-1

Lowlights

• Crashing out of the Champions league despite winning the match against Bayern Munich

Hero : Joe Hart

Villain : Carlos Tevez

Manchester Utd

Highlights

• Winning the premier league title for the 19^th time .

• Beating Arsenal 8-2 at home to record the biggest win of the year

Lowlights

• Crashing out of the Champions league after an embarassing defeat at the hands of FC Basel

• Crashing out of the Carling cup , again , after an embarassing defeat at the hands of Crystal Palace

Hero : Chicharito

Villain : None .

Stats :

Manchester United are the current holders of the Barclays Premier League . They wrapped up the title in May. It happens to be their 12^th Premier League title and the 19^th League title over all. They are now the sole leaders in terms of number of titles. Liverpool come 2^nd with 18 and Arsenal 3^rd with 13.

Highest scorer in the Premier league in 2011 is Robin van Persie who has now scored 34 goals equaling Thierry Henry's record. He is now two short of Alan Shearers record of 36 goals in a calender year. 

The highest scoring game in 2011 was the 8-2 victory of Manchester Utd over Arsenal at Old Trafford.

Biggest home win in 2011 belongs to Manchester Utd with a goal difference of 6  when they beat Arsenal 8-2 in september.

Biggest away win belongs to Manchester City when they beat Manchester Utd 1-6 at Old Trafford .

Longest winning streak in 2011 belongs to Manchester City who won 7 games on the trot until they faced defeat at the hands of Chelsea earlier this month.

Longest losing streak belongs to Wigan Athletic who lost 8 continuous games in 2011. 

Highest Attendance in a single game belong to Manchester Utd . 75,627 people attended the match between the Red Devils and Wolves .

Most goals scored in a match by a losing team: 3 goals . Arsenal were involved in both the games.

•   Blackburn Rovers 4–3 Arsenal

•   Chelsea 3–5 Arsenal

Fastest goal of 2011: 26 seconds – Robin van Persie

The 20,000^th goal in the Premier League was scored by Albrighton of Aston Villa in the game against Arsenal at Villa Park . The match ended in a 2-1 victory to Arsenal.

Biggest transfer in 2011 was the purchase of Fernando Torres in January by Chelsea for $50m, who has also turned out to be the biggeest flop in 2011.

- Larsen Lamington