Premier League 2015/16 review: January - May
The second half of the 2015/16 Premier League season continued much like the first, with Leicester continuing to amaze fans and annoy bookies as they racked up the points that would ultimately see them be crowned champions on 2nd May. Newcastle, Norwich and Aston Villa were relegated, Manchester United qualified for the Europa League and Leciester, Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester City qualified for the Champions League.
January
In the first round of games of 2016, Liverpool lost 2-0 to West Ham at Upton Park, Aguero scored the winner for City in their 2-1 win against Watford, Jermaine Defoe scored a brace against Aston Villa and Manchester United secured an important win over Swansea, which ultimately eased the pressure on manager Louis Van Gaal. On 12th January, Newcastle fought back against Manchester United and drew 3-3, West Ham ruined Bournemouth 3-1 (which involved two amazing free-kicks from Payet and Enner Valencia) and Aston Villa won their first Premier League game under Remi Grande with a 1-0 win over recent strugglers Crystal Palace. The following day, Joe Allen rescued Liverpool a point in another 3-3 game against Arsenal at Anfield, Jermaine Defoe scored a hat-trick against Swansea in a 4-2 away win and Leicester City continued their amazing run in the Premier League with a 1-0 away win over Tottenham.
On the weekend games, there was a massively controversial equalling goal by John Terry against Everton in the 98th minute, which was offside, and therefore lead to a huge social media outcry for action replays (lets see how far that gets). Tottenham rolled over Sunderland 4-1 and Manchester United won 1-0 at Anfield, with Wayne Rooney scoring his second-ever goal at Anfield (and waited 4,020 days). Liverpool then won a crazy nine goal thriller away to Norwich (4-5), Tottenham rolled over Palace at Selhurst Park which was outlined by a wonder goal from Alli, Sergio Aguero gained City a point away to West Ham. January ended with Arsenal losing to Chelsea and Everton shockingly losing to newly managed Swansea 2-1 at Goodison.
On the weekend games, there was a massively controversial equalling goal by John Terry against Everton in the 98th minute, which was offside, and therefore lead to a huge social media outcry for action replays (lets see how far that gets). Tottenham rolled over Sunderland 4-1 and Manchester United won 1-0 at Anfield, with Wayne Rooney scoring his second-ever goal at Anfield (and waited 4,020 days). Liverpool then won a crazy nine goal thriller away to Norwich (4-5), Tottenham rolled over Palace at Selhurst Park which was outlined by a wonder goal from Alli, Sergio Aguero gained City a point away to West Ham. January ended with Arsenal losing to Chelsea and Everton shockingly losing to newly managed Swansea 2-1 at Goodison.
February
February started with Jamie Vardy silencing the haters with a wonder goal against Liverpool in Leicester's 2-0 victory. Manchester United actually looked like a decent side when they beat Stoke 3-0 and Everton actually won at home against Newcastle (what a wonder dropping Howard and Stones does). They followed this up with a very comfortable 3-0 win at the Britannia Stadium. Villa picked up their third league win of the season against Norwich and Arsenal stayed in the title race after beating Bournemouth. However, the biggest result of early February was Leicester winning 3-1 at the Etihad and making them the official bookies favourites for the title for the first time this season.
Chelsea pumped Newcastle 5-1, Everton and Palace continued to struggle in the league as they lose to West Brom and Watford respectively and Stoke bounced back against a below-par Bournemouth side. Then, a fantastic Super Sunday came around that saw the top four (Leicester, Tottenham, Arsenal and Manchester City) face off. Danny Welbeck returned after nine months out to score a 95th minute winner against Leicester and generated 18,000 tweets a minute after Arsenal's 2-1 win. Tottenham won 2-1 at the Etihad to make them serious title contenders, with Christian Eriksen keeping a cool head whenever he is called upon. As a filler game on the Sky Super Sunday package, Aston Villa were humiliated 6-0 at home to Liverpool and furthering the feeling among Football fans that they are all but doomed to the Championship.
Chelsea pumped Newcastle 5-1, Everton and Palace continued to struggle in the league as they lose to West Brom and Watford respectively and Stoke bounced back against a below-par Bournemouth side. Then, a fantastic Super Sunday came around that saw the top four (Leicester, Tottenham, Arsenal and Manchester City) face off. Danny Welbeck returned after nine months out to score a 95th minute winner against Leicester and generated 18,000 tweets a minute after Arsenal's 2-1 win. Tottenham won 2-1 at the Etihad to make them serious title contenders, with Christian Eriksen keeping a cool head whenever he is called upon. As a filler game on the Sky Super Sunday package, Aston Villa were humiliated 6-0 at home to Liverpool and furthering the feeling among Football fans that they are all but doomed to the Championship.
March
Everton actually won a game, okay it was against Aston Villa, but three points is three points. West Brom fought back to gain a 2-2 draw with Leicester. Liverpool pulled off a 3-0 win against Manchester City, who are falling down the Champions League spots. In one of the biggest North London derbies in recent years, Arsenal saved themselves from local humiliation through Alexis Sanchez's equaliser to make it 2-2. Everton continued their awful home form in the Premier League as they lost 3-2 to West Ham after being 2-0 up.
Steve McClaren was then sacked as Newcastle manager after losing 3-1 away to Bournemouth (Rafa Benitez replaced McClaren for their game away to Leicester, which they lost 1-0). Two days before that Monday night game, Bournemouth pulled away from the regelation battle by beating Swansea 3-2. Everton then lost to Arsenal 2-0 in what, for me at least, was the worst Everton game I have ever seen due to the sheer lack of ambition. Anyway, my team's lack of care aside, Chelsea fought back against West Ham for a 2-2 draw. Manchester United further crushed Manchester City's title hopes thanks to Marcus Rashford's cool 18th minute strike. March finished. March ended with Leicester five points clear at the top of the table, three teams fighting for fourth spot (Manchester City, West Ham and Manchester United) and three teams continue their fight for Premier League status (Norwich, Sunderland and Newcastle).
Steve McClaren was then sacked as Newcastle manager after losing 3-1 away to Bournemouth (Rafa Benitez replaced McClaren for their game away to Leicester, which they lost 1-0). Two days before that Monday night game, Bournemouth pulled away from the regelation battle by beating Swansea 3-2. Everton then lost to Arsenal 2-0 in what, for me at least, was the worst Everton game I have ever seen due to the sheer lack of ambition. Anyway, my team's lack of care aside, Chelsea fought back against West Ham for a 2-2 draw. Manchester United further crushed Manchester City's title hopes thanks to Marcus Rashford's cool 18th minute strike. March finished. March ended with Leicester five points clear at the top of the table, three teams fighting for fourth spot (Manchester City, West Ham and Manchester United) and three teams continue their fight for Premier League status (Norwich, Sunderland and Newcastle).
April
Newcastle didn't help their hopes of staying up when they lost to Norwich 3-2 at Carrow Road. West Ham had an amazing 3-3 draw with Arsenal, in a match that West Ham should have won five or six to Arsenal's three goals. Newcastle did then give some hope to their fans, as much as YouTubers like The-True-Geordie probably don't want it, by beating Swansea 3-0 at St James' Park. This was helped by Sunderland beating Norwich 3-0. Tottenham beat Stoke 4-0 to keep their title hopes alive and to keep the pressure on Leicester after they only just got a 2-2 draw with West Ham after Jamie Vardy was controversially sent off.
Everton were then destroyed 4-0 at Anfield (what's new?). Leicester put themselves three points within winning the Premier League title as Ulloa perfectly stepped in for Vardy with two goals. Spurs gave their titles hopes a huge dent as they drew 1-1 with West Brom, with Craig Dawson scoring at both ends. Newcastle added another twist to the relegation battle by beating Crystal Palace 1-0, thanks to Andros Townsends stunning free-kick goal, and the Geordies got another morale boost as Sunderland only just managed a draw away to Stoke from a last-minute penalty from Jermaine Defoe.
Everton were then destroyed 4-0 at Anfield (what's new?). Leicester put themselves three points within winning the Premier League title as Ulloa perfectly stepped in for Vardy with two goals. Spurs gave their titles hopes a huge dent as they drew 1-1 with West Brom, with Craig Dawson scoring at both ends. Newcastle added another twist to the relegation battle by beating Crystal Palace 1-0, thanks to Andros Townsends stunning free-kick goal, and the Geordies got another morale boost as Sunderland only just managed a draw away to Stoke from a last-minute penalty from Jermaine Defoe.
May
To the disappointment of neutral fans, Leicester didn't wrap up the title race as they drew 1-1 with Manchester United. However, the title race was then ended by Chelsea drawing with Tottenham at Stamford Bridge, which handed Leicester their first-ever top flight title and completing the most amazing story in English Football History. Sunderland then beat Chelsea 3-2 to significantly boost their survival chances, especially with Newcastle drawing 0-0 with Aston Villa and Manchester United beating Norwich 1-0.
The final day of the 2015/16 Premier League season wasn't actually the final day, as a suspicious package was discovered at Old Trafford before kick-off and therefore lead to the game being abandoned, rescheduled for Tuesday night and one company being absolutely financially destroyed by Ed Woodward and co. On the 'last day', Arsenal finished above Tottenham after the Gunners beat Villa 4-0 and Spurs bottled it against relegated Newcastle, 5-1 (therefore leading to Spurs fans being destroyed on Twitter as it was 'St Totteringhams Days'). West Ham missed out on Europa League Football next season in the Olympic Stadium as they lost to Stoke City 2-1 and in the final game of the season, Manchester United beat Bournemouth 3-1 but didn't reach the Champions League place as they didn't score 19 goals, subsequently allowing for Manchester City to retain fourth spot for Pep next season.
PFA Team of the Year: David De Gea (Manchester United), Hector Bellerin (Arsenal), Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham Hotspur), Wes Morgan (Leicester City), Danny Rose (Tottenham Hotspur), Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City), N'Golo Kanté (Leicester City), Dele Alli (Tottenham Hotspur), Dimitri Payet (West Ham), Jamie Vardy (Leicester City), Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur).
Claudio Ranieri won his first-ever top-flight title.
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