Manchester United may have won the Premier League title by a comfortable margin but the games they contested were by no means straight forward. They had to come from behind in matches countless times which in Sir Alex Ferguson’s final season seems very fitting. I have compiled a list of their top five Premier League come-backs of 2012-13. All of them coming in the first half of the season as United started the season in one of the most unique ways anyone ever has.
Man Utd 3-1 QPR – 24th November 2012
When bottom of the table QPR’s new manager Harry Redknapp saw his new side take the lead at Old Trafford through Jamie Mackie he must have known that it was too good to be true. It turned out to be the kick up the backside the Red Devils needed as three goals in eight minutes from Jonny Evans, Darren Fletcher and Javier Hernandez saw United run out comfortable winners in the end.
Liverpool 1-2 Man Utd – 23rd September 2012
On an afternoon where the victims of Hillsborough were remembered, Liverpool dominated their fierce rivals even after Jonjo Shelvey was sent off for a lunge on Evans. Steven Gerrard had fired the Merseysiders into the lead just after half time but a Rafael wonder strike and a Robin van Persie penalty turned the match on its head and meant Liverpool’s dominance was all to no avail.
Man Utd 4-3 Newcastle – 26th December 2012
Some say this day was pivotal in the title race as United’s neighbours Manchester City lost away at Sunderland on the same day. United had been 1-0, 2-1 and 3-2 down in this game but a Javier Hernandez winner in the 90th minute saw the Red Devils open up a seven point lead at the top of the table and they would never look back.
Aston Villa 2-3 Man Utd – 10th November 2012
Fergie weaved his magic on a cold Saturday night at Villa Park as United found themselves 2-0 down to an Andreas Weimann brace; he brought on his super-sub Hernandez. United won 3-2 with Chicharito scoring a hat-trick with the winner coming in the 87th minute.
Southampton 2-3 Man Utd – 2nd September 2012
United were dead and buried at St Marys and in danger of losing two out of their first three league games which would have been a disaster. But 2-1 down with three minutes to go and up stepped Robin van Persie who completed his hat-trick with two goals in that time to win the match 3-2 for United. Their title charge had exploded into life.