To get you in the mood for the north London derby this weekend, read all about every Premier League club’s biggest win over their local rivals this century.
ARSENAL 5-2 Tottenham – 2011-12
Third-placed Spurs were on course for their first back-to-back league wins at Arsenal for 86 years after goals from Louis Saha and Emmanuel Adebayor put them 2-0 ahead by 34 minutes. But Bacary Sagna and Robin van Persie levelled matters prior to half-time before Harry Redknapp’s side collapsed in the second half. Tomas Rosicky put the Gunners ahead before Theo Walcott’s brace silenced the boo-boys among his own support. To prove it was no fluke, Arsenal won the next derby at the Emirates by the same scoreline.
ASTON VILLA 5-1 Birmingham – 2007-08
A brace apiece for Ashley Young and John Carew in addition to a Gabby Agbonlahor strike gave Villa their biggest league win over Brum since 1960. “We were on the end of a bruising from a really good Villa side,” said Blues boss Alex McLeish. “Villa’s front men were on fire and we were unable to string any passes together until the second half. You have to say that Villa’s agenda is totally different to ours – the bottom line is that they are a better team.” If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.
Southampton 1-3 BOURNEMOUTH – 2019-20
Saints fans might tell you the south coast derby isn’t even a derby. It seems to be a forced rivalry but the Southampton are Bournemouth’s closest adversaries even if the clubs are in different counties. And they’ve seen just about enough of each other – Cherries and Saints have met only 16 times in the league since 1960. Bournemouth have won only three times, twice by two goals, with the 3-1 win at St Mary’s in September 2019, achieved thanks to goals from Nathan Ake and Wilsons Harry and Callum, sending Eddie Howe’s side third in the table.
Fulham 1-4 BRENTFORD – 2014/15
So inoffensive are Brentford, no-one really considers them their major rivals. The other west London clubs are all too preoccupied with each other, but a survey in 2012 saw Brentford fans name Fulham as their main irritant, even if the Cottagers reserve more of their spite for Chelsea and QPR. Still, losing 4-1 to the Bees in the Championship would have stung, with Stuart Dallas’s brace supplemented by late, late goals from Alan Judge and Jota.
BRIGHTON 3-0 Crystal Palace – 2012-13
Brighton have to look north to south London for their biggest rivalry and the grudge between the Seagulls and Eagles goes back over 40 years. The M23 derby has brought the Seagulls slightly more joy than Palace (41 wins to the Eagles’ 38) over the years but Leonardo Ulloa’s double and a David Lopez free-kick in March 2013 offered Brighton their only home league win over Palace since Boxing Day 1988.
BURNLEY 3-0 Blackburn – 2022/23
Eleven miles separates Burnley and Blackburn, with the Clarets having won each of the last six El Lanclasicos in all competitions. Their biggest triumph came at home last season in the Championship in mid-November while their most important (and most recent) was the 1-0 win at Ewood Park that secured promotion for Vincent Kompany’s men.
Fulham 1-4 CHELSEA – 2004-05
Measured in victories, the west London derby scoreline since 2000 reads Chelsea 19 Fulham 2. The Blues have won by three-goal margins on two occasions – both at Craven Cottage. The most comfortable victory came in November 2004 when Frank Lampard, Arjen Robben, William Gallas and Tiago all netted in a stroll by the Thames for Jose Mourinho on his way to his first Premier League title.
CRYSTAL PALACE 5-0 Brighton – 2002-03
Palace’s most local rivals are Charlton and Millwall but the Eagles haven’t faced either in the league in the last decade. So currently they reserve most resentment for Brighton, who they took great pleasure in thrashing in Division One in 2002. Steve Coppell, who’d managed Palace on four separate occasions by that point, received a warm welcome at Selhurst Park even as Seagulls boss but his bottom-placed side then had their arses kicked all the way back down the M23, with Andy Johnson grabbing a hat-trick.
EVERTON 3-0 Liverpool – 2006-2007
The Toffees have won only four league Merseyside derbies this century so their biggest triumph over the Reds in 42 years was one to savour. Tim Cahill gave the Toffees and early lead before Johnson capitalised on a mistake from Jamie Carragher to put the hosts 2-0 up at the break. Everton held firm during a second-half fightback before Pepe Reina fumbled one onto Johnson’s head to cap the win in added time.
FULHAM 1-0 Chelsea – 2005-06
The Cottagers have won only two of 32 meetings since 2000 so it’s hardly surprising that their narrow triumph over Mourinho’s runaway Premier League leaders was greeted by a pitch invasion. Luis Boa Morte netted the only goal for Chris Coleman’s side in the first half which Mourinho greeted by making a double substitution after 26 minutes, with Joe Cole and Shaun Wright-Phillips getting the hook for Didier Drogba and Damien Duff. It didn’t work. Their second win, by the same single-goal margin, was similarly sweet amid Chelsea’s recent splurge.
LIVERPOOL 4-0 Everton – 2013-14
The Reds have lost only four league derbies this century, with a couple of 4-0 victories included in that period. The first of those occasions saw Liverpool score three in the opening 35 minutes, with Daniel Sturridge’s brace adding to Steven Gerrard’s opener. Luis Suarez grabbed a fourth just after the break before Sturridge passed up a hat-trick by blazing a late penalty over the bar. It was still Liverpool’s biggest derby triumph since November 1982.
LUTON 2-0 Watford – 2022-23
Luton’s most enjoyable Beds-Herts derby (it’s a thing) this century came as recently as April, when the Hatters turned over the Hornets thanks to Gabriel Osho and Allan Campbell, earning Rob Edwards victory over his former employers.
Man Utd 1-6 MAN CITY – 2011-12
City inflicted upon United their worst home defeat since February 1955 in a match that is largely remembered for Mario Balotelli’s baselayer, but should be most memorable for THAT volleyed pass from David Silva. City only led 1-0 at half-time, even though they were dominant prior to Jonny Evans’ red card. When the 90th minute ticked over, it was still only 3-1. But three goals in added time saw City equal the biggest winning margin in a Manchester derby.
David Silva on his majestic assist to Edin Dzeko who made it 6-1:
“It was an uncommon assist, that’s why it’s remembered, it was a great assist, then Edin did very well to score. As I said before, that game will go down in history and that assist too.” pic.twitter.com/Godj1lEo0M
— Superbia Proelia (@SuperbiaProeIia) November 8, 2018
MAN UTD 4-2 Man City – 2014-15
City have recorded a few derby thumpings over United since 2000 but the Reds haven’t beaten the Blues by more than two goals since 1995. United have scored four on two occasions this century and though the 4-3 in 2009 was most thrilling, Louis van Gaal’s triumph over Manuel Pellegrini in April 2015 was more comfortable, despite City leading early on. Ashley Young and Marouane Fellaini put United ahead at the break before Juan Mata and Chris Smalling put them out of sight after the break.
NEWCASTLE 5-1 Sunderland – 2010-11
Newcastle haven’t beaten Sunderland since 2011 so the memory of their last home victory on Halloween 2010 still lingers. Kevin Nolan grabbed a hat-trick and Shola Ameobi bagged a brace while ex-Toon defender Titus Bramble was given his marching orders before Darren Bent grabbed an added-time consolation that was anything but for Steve Bruce’s side.
NOTTINGHAM FOREST 5-2 Derby – 2010-11
Forest and Derby have fought for the Brian Clough Trophy whenever they have met since 2007. The hosts cruised through El Cloughico at Christmas in 2010, when Marcus Tudgay and Robert Earnshaw both bagged a brace after Luke Chambers had given them an early lead in a Championship clash that extended Forest’s unbeaten run at home to 30 matches.
Sheffield Wednesday 2-4 SHEFFIELD UNITED – 2017-18
The Blades’ last win over Wednesday was their biggest of six this century, with the three subsequent meetings all finishing as goalless stalemates. At Hillsborough in September 2017, the Blades flew out of the blocks going 2-0 up inside 15 minutes only to surrender their advantage with 25 minutes to go. But United were back in front within two minutes through Mark Duffy, then Leon Clarke secured his brace to earn the visitors a first derby win since 2009.
TOTTENHAM 3-0 Arsenal – 2021-22
Spurs didn’t beat Arsenal in the Premier League for the first decade of the 21st century and the last of the 10 victories since was the biggest and arguably the sweetest. The Gunners could have secured a top-four place with a win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium but, instead, they were battered 3-0 thanks to Harry Kane’s double and Son Heung-min. Arsenal were still a point clear with two games to go, but they f***ed it, allowing Spurs to beat them to a Champions League berth.
Read more: Tottenham unleash four months of ‘fury’, ‘anger’ and ‘surprise’ on stunned Arsenal in CL race
WEST HAM 2-1 Millwall – 2011-12
The Hammers have met Millwall only seven times in all competitions since 2000 which, let’s be honest, is probably for the best. And West Ham don’t have a good record against their London rivals anyway. Their only league victory came in the Championship under Sam Allardyce, with Carlton Cole and Winston Reid netting, despite Kevin Nolan’s early red card for a two-footed lunge.
WOLVES 3-1 West Brom – 2010-11
Wolves have won only three of their 15 Black Country derbies in all competitions this century but their last victory helped Mick McCarthy’s side stay in the Premier League by a single point. Steven Fletcher scored twice either side of Adlene Guedioura’s strike at Molineux to see the hosts leapfrog Blackpool and Wigan out of the drop zone with two games to go.
