On the hunt for a fourth league title in a row, United travelled to White Hart Lane to keep up the pressure on Arsenal and Leeds United at the top.

Tottenham had a stereotypically dull start with very little to show and little hope to make progress across the season.

Yet it was Spurs who came out all guns blazing in the first half.

Dean Richards scored with a wonderful near-post header to beat Fabien Barthez.

This was followed by Les Ferdinand shooting across the French World Cup winner minutes later.

And to finish off such a magnificent first half display, Christian Ziege finished a lovely header completely unmarked at the back post.

Tottenham were in dreamland, but it didn’t last long. Straight from kick-off Andy Cole finished a low header.

Laurent Blanc was left unmarked himself and his header from a David Beckham cross pulled United back to within one.

With the deficit cut so quickly the Red Devils smelt blood. Ruud Van Nistelrooy levelled the game in the 72nd minute.

Not long after Juan Sebastien Veron made it 4-3 and the comeback was complete.

In the dying minutes, Beckham’s shot across the goal compounded Spurs’ misery.

United would fail in their quest to become the first team to win four titles in a row losing out against Arsenal finishing third.

A game that always brings extra spice and excitement, West Ham United and Chelsea’s bitter rivalry is not as infamous as other big London derbies.

A season that has been cut up by Covid and the Londoners needed respite from the virus needed some uplift from the two bitter rivals and they did not disappoint.

With very little on the line the Hammers and the Blues went at it.

Willian scored the opener from the spot kick minutes before the break only to have Thomas Soucek equalise before halftime.

Michail Antonio put West Ham up 2-1 after he thought he was fouled in the box, he carried on and managed to break free to tap in at the back post.

Willian proved his worth at dead ball situations, yet another Brazilian free-kick specialist, he whacked one in off the post from 30 yards out.

However, West Ham would win it all on the break with Andrii Yarmolenko in the final minute, a simple counterattack, the Ukrainian made Chelsea pay.

In the end, it was all immaterial, bragging rights meant nothing, a good game of football to perk the people up is what mattered most.

The United States of America had built a squad so strong they would dominate Women’s football for a whole decade.

Yet before they could get started, the Japanese stood in the way of their glory.

A tense first half meant that it was do or die in the second.

Abby Wambach came close on a couple of occasions, and some might say the USA was unlucky to not be 1-0 up.

in the second half, the young and electrifying Alex Morgan got in behind the defence of Japan and scored the opening goal with 20 minutes to go.

However, a calamitous defensive display meant that Japan forced extra time, the goal tapped in by Aya Miyama.

In extra time Abby Wambach finally got her deserved goal.

With a smart header in the middle of the box, the Japanese had left her completely unmarked, failing to learn from their previous mistakes.

At the other end, Japan was relentless and with minutes to go they levelled the score, Homare Sawa with a header that crossed the box and fooled everyone.

Thus, the game went to penalties and this time Japan prevailed winning 3-1.

Shannon Boxx, Carli Lloyd and Tobin Heath all missed, and the USA would have to wait four more years for their period of dominance to begin.

A Christmas cracker of little significance, the holiday spirit of English football was still alive.

Arsenal was never going to challenge for the title in 2018 but Crystal Palace needed the three points to stay clear of relegation.

Shkodran Mustafi scored a rare goal after the keeper had parried the original attempt.

The Gunners went 1-0 up at halftime but Palace did not roll over.

Andros Townsend equalised very early in the second half as Palace forced Arsenal back in the early moments of the period.

Alexis Sanchez burst into life and rescued Arsenal.

His first goal was a wicked shot that blasted through a layer of players into the back of the net.

His second was a long ball over the top which he caught nicely before tucking away neatly into the bottom corner.

Crystal Palace still didn’t lay down for Arsenal, a James Tomkins header in the final minute at a freezing Selhurst Park heated up the tie momentarily.

Both teams would finish their seasons in a mediocre way, but entertaining London derbies are the flavour of the weekend no matter the season.

It will surprise many to know that Newcastle have not won a game at Manchester City’s grounds in the league since 2000.

In other words, 23 years ago.

Back then the landscape was very different City had just been promoted whilst Newcastle was one of the top teams chasing titles.

City had started the season relatively well for a promoted team but would see their season collapse as their squad was not good enough.

Newcastle on the other hand just capitulated after this match.

Yet it is worth remembering that this would be the last time they win away to City.

Back then it was Maine Road, the goal scorer was… but who else… Alan Shearer.

A low diving header at the back post evaded the defender and the keeper.

At the time the result put the Magpies firmly in the title race behind Arsenal and Manchester United… and shock leaders Leicester City.

They eventually finished 11th far behind arch-rivals Sunderland let alone the eventual champions: United.

Manchester City would be relegated, the last time they have been relegated from the top division.

They bounced straight back up and after a few years of mid-table mediocrity, they were bought by the Sheikh of Abu Dhabi.

20 years later and both clubs are owned by Arab states with a lot of oil money.