The Story of a Premiership Season

January 2001

Manchester United extend their lead to 11 points, with victory over West Ham, after Arsenal lose to Charlton. Robbie Keane makes a scoring debut for Leeds, with a penalty against Middlesbrough, who remain 18th. Sunderland move up to third, swapping places with vanquished Ipswich, with a season’s best home win.

Bradford claim a first away win in shocking Leicester, who drop two places to sixth as a consequence, but The Bantams remain bottom. Manchester City stay 19th after a draw with Coventry.
Liverpool pull-off the free transfer of the season with the signing of Jari Litmanen, from Barcelona.

New England coach Sven Goran Eriksson makes West Ham versus Sunderland his first game and sees Scottish international Don Hutchison hit the winner that takes The Black Cats into second place. Luke Chadwick scores his first goal for Manchester United but the leaders have to wait until the last 18 minutes for their goals against bottom club Bradford City. Arsenal drop a place to third when they are held by Chelsea.

Middlesbrough leap out of the relegation zone, to 15th, with their best win of the season against Derby, who drop to one place above the basement trio. Manchester City are 19th after being crushed by Leeds, and the goals-against column now shows 42 conceded in 23 games by Joe Royle’s team. Coventry complete the relegation zone after losing to Newcastle.

Marcus Stewart hits his 14th Premiership goal, in his fourth successive scoring game, to impress the watching Sven Goran Eriksson, and go top of the scoring chart as Ipswich beat Leicester to stay fourth.

Sir Alex Ferguson announces his intention to retire, next summer, prompting widespread speculation as to his successor at Old Trafford.

Arsenal’s poor run continues as they are held at Leicester, who give Roberto Mancini his debut, and remain third. Manchester United are top, for the third month running when they win again, and Gary Neville is a rare name on the scoresheet, against Villa. Sunderland stay second despite being held by Bradford, who are still bottom.

Coventry drop to 19th after they lose to Everton and Manchester City climb a place after drawing with Derby, but are still in the drop zone, just behind The Rams.

A stormy game at The Stadium of Light between first and second sees goalscorer Andy Cole and Sunderland pair Alex Rae and Michael Gray red carded as Manchester United win to extend their lead at the top. Arsenal stay in contention with victory over Bradford, who remain 20th. Manchester City and Coventry are still in trouble after a draw with Liverpool and defeat by Leeds, respectively.