When Hope Refused to Die: The Biggest Premier League Turnarounds
The Magic of the Comeback
The Premier League has never been short of drama. Goals, glory, heartbreak and hope have collided countless times on English turf. Yet, few things stir the soul like a comeback. Whether it’s a title contender salvaging pride or an underdog tearing up the script, these matches are burned into football folklore.
Below are some of the most extraordinary turnarounds the league has ever seen.
Newcastle United 4-4 Arsenal (2011)
At half-time, Newcastle trailed 4-0. The visitors had sliced through them with ease, with Walcott, Djourou and Van Persie all finding the net. But in one of the league’s most astonishing reversals, Newcastle clawed back. Two penalties from Joey Barton, a goal from Leon Best and a thunderbolt from Cheick Tioté completed the unthinkable. The roar that followed Tioté’s volley still echoes around St James’ Park today.
Comeback Margin: Four goals.
Hero: Cheick Tioté.
Legacy: Proof that no deficit is safe in front of the Gallowgate End.
Manchester United 5-2 Tottenham Hotspur (2009)
Tottenham raced to a 2-0 lead at Old Trafford. The home crowd fell silent, but United under Sir Alex Ferguson were built for chaos. A contentious penalty for Ronaldo opened the floodgates. From there, United poured forward relentlessly, scoring five without reply. Rooney and Ronaldo tore Spurs apart, while Ferguson’s half-time words reportedly “shook the walls”.
Comeback Margin: Three goals.
Hero: Cristiano Ronaldo.
Legacy: Another entry in United’s long list of second-half revivals.
West Bromwich Albion 5-5 Manchester United (2013)
Sir Alex Ferguson’s final match. A 5-5 scoreline that looked impossible at 3-0 up. West Brom’s Romelu Lukaku, then on loan from Chelsea, produced a hat-trick that stunned United. It was a chaotic farewell, perfectly fitting for Ferguson’s reign, where no game ever felt safe until the final whistle.
Comeback Margin: Three goals.
Hero: Romelu Lukaku.
Legacy: The Premier League’s only 5-5 draw, ending an era in wild fashion.
Arsenal 2-2 Tottenham Hotspur (2004)
Down 2-0 inside five minutes at Highbury, Arsenal were reeling. But that 2003-04 “Invincibles” side had a different kind of steel. Henry, Pires and Vieira pulled the game back, turning panic into poise. The result kept their unbeaten run intact and demonstrated why that Arsenal team remains one of the most resilient in Premier League history.
Comeback Margin: Two goals.
Hero: Thierry Henry.
Legacy: A comeback that preserved invincibility.
Manchester City 3-2 Queens Park Rangers (2012)
No list would be complete without this. On the final day of the season, City needed a win to clinch their first Premier League title. Trailing 2-1 deep into stoppage time, Edin Džeko equalised before Sergio Agüero’s immortal goal sealed the title. The comeback wasn’t just monumental, it was cinematic.
Comeback Margin: One goal.
Hero: Sergio Agüero.
Legacy: The defining Premier League moment, still replayed in goosebump-inducing slow motion.
Liverpool 4-3 Tottenham Hotspur (2013)
Liverpool went behind after leading early, and for a while it looked like Spurs had taken control. Yet Brendan Rodgers’ side refused to fold. A late Steven Gerrard penalty completed a comeback that hinted at Liverpool’s growing self-belief in the years leading up to Klopp’s arrival.
Comeback Margin: Two goals.
Hero: Steven Gerrard.
Legacy: A gritty, emotional win that captured the Anfield spirit.
Reading 7-5 Arsenal (2012 League Cup, Honourable Mention)
Not a Premier League fixture, but too iconic to ignore. Arsenal trailed 4-0 before storming back to win 7-5 in extra time. It was pure madness, football with all the rules thrown out the window. Even Arsène Wenger was seen smiling in disbelief.
Why We Remember Them
A comeback is not just about goals. It is belief made visible. It’s the moment when tactics give way to emotion, and when stadiums turn from anxious silence to deafening hope. The Premier League thrives on that tension. It is what keeps fans glued to screens and strangers hugging in the stands.
