In this article, Lineker, Shearer & Richards rank the top 10 best Premier League comebacks in their latest Match of the Day podcast.
Gary, Alan and Micah have returned this spring with their latest series of Match of the Day Top 10, ranking their top 10s from an assortment of topics across the Premier League era.
Lineker said: “There will be some of these we remember that make the top 10 and there will be some we remember during the show and think ‘how on earth did we leave them out’?
“There are plenty of famous ones, some involving our teams. I remember Leicester coming back from 3-1 down to beat Manchester United 5-3 in 2014 and there had to be one of ours in there – otherwise I am not playing!
“Shearer tried to shift in about 14 Newcastle comebacks when we spoke about it – and those are the only ones he ever mentioned.
“These sort of extreme shifts in momentum only happen occasionally anyway, but some of them have got far more at stake than just one-off games.
“Micah was on the bench when Manchester City came back from 2-1 down to beat QPR and win the title in the last second with the ‘Aguerooooo moment’ in 2012, which was just remarkable. I watched a re-run recently and it still gives me goosebumps now, and I don’t have a foot in either camp.”
Without further ado, Lineker, Shearer & Richards rank top 10 Premier League comebacks, read below or listen for yourself HERE…
Man City 3-2 QPR, 2011-12
(Alan Shearer, 1st – Micah Richards, 1st)
Everyone recalls that dramatic day in May 2012 when Sergio Aguero’s 94th-minute winner earned Manchester City their first Premier League title.
Roberto Mancini’s side were losing 2-1 against 10-man QPR two minutes into stoppage time and it seemed the title, once again, was heading to the red half of Manchester, who were waiting to hear the result at the Etihad.
Striker Edin Dzeko levelled the scoring with a towering header.
Ex-City full-back Richards told the podcast he had spoken to Dzeko recently, adding: “When we scored the second he [Dzeko] said he knew we were going to win. We had that feeling, we knew we were going to get another chance.”
Aguero causes wild scenes after latching on to Mario Balotelli’s pass before stepping away from a challenge and smashing an effort beyond Paddy Kenny.
It was a a slight ‘bittersweet’ day for Richards, who was an unused substitute for that occasion.
“Can you imagine that feeling of the greatest game ever in PL history being sat on the bench?” joked Shearer.
Richards admitted: “When the teamsheet comes out it just deflates you doesn’t it? But then all the emotions for yourself go out of the window – you are part of the team.”
Newcastle 4-4 Arsenal, 2010-11
(Alan Shearer, 2nd – Micah Richards, 2nd)
The Magpies started off terribly, finding themselves 3-0 down inside 10 minutes with goals coming from Theo Walcott, Johan Djourou and Robin van Persie.
The Dutch striker went on to get a fourth for the Gunners before the key turning point saw midfielder Abou Diaby issued with a red card.
Joey Barton got the comeback rolling when he scored from the spot after Laurent Koscielny brought down Leon Best.
Best rose highest above Gael Clichy to send a header into the back of the net to turn the screw, before Barton then succeeded with his second penalty of the match after another Koscielny foul.
The best was saved for last as the late Cheick Tiote – who sadly died in 2017, aged 30, after collapsing in training with Chinese side Beijing Enterprises, just four months after leaving St James’ Park – netted his first and only Newcastle goal.
He hit a wonderful volley into the bottom corner from around 20 yards out after Arsenal failed to deal with a corner to send the Newcastle faithful into raptures.
Shearer said: “From 4-0 getting to 4-4, and it was Tiote’s only goal in a Newcastle shirt. That lives high in the memory of the Newcastle fans.”
Everton 3-2 Wimbledon, 1993-94
(Alan Shearer, 7th – Micah Richards, 3rd)
The Toffees went 1-0 down on the 7th minute after Anders Limpar handled a corner and Dean Holdsworth converted the penalty.
After 21 minutes the situation went from bad to worse when Gary Ablett managed to divert the ball past goalkeeper Neville Southall.
With 10 minutes left in the first half, Limpar made amends for his earlier error by winning a penalty which Graham Stuart dispatched.
Then one of the great goals of the season from Barry Horne meant that Everton needed only one more goal for survival.
That came thanks of another Stuart effort, nine minutes from time, which bobbled over the reach of Hans Segers in the Wimbledon goal.
Crystal Palace 3-3 Liverpool, 2013-14
(Alan Shearer, 3rd – Micah Richards, 4th)
Remember this result cost Liverpool that season’s Premier League title? Striker Luis Suarez certainly thought it was a huge blow when he was left in tears and Gerrard’s arms as the full time whistle blew.
Brendan Rodgers’ side looked to be continuing putting pressure on Manchester City when they took a 3-0 lead through Joe Allen, a Damien Delaney own goal and a Suarez strike.
But the Reds fell apart by conceding three goals in the final 11 minutes as Delaney made amends at the right end and Dwight Gayle’s late double messed up Liverpool’s title hopes with City going on to triumph.
Man City 2-3 Fulham, 2007-08
(Alan Shearer, 8th – Micah Richards, 5th)
This victory for Fulham was a huge one, stuck in the relegation zone for much of the campaign but staying up on the final day on goal difference.
It started off badly at Manchester City, falling behind to Stephen Ireland who produced a brilliant curler as well as Benjani’s goal, and they looked to be doomed with 20 minutes left on the clock.
However Diomansy Kamara had a huge say, scoring twice, including a last-minute winner in between Danny Murphy’s strike, to leave ex-England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson shaking his head in shock.
Leicester 5-3 Man Utd, 2014-15
(Alan Shearer, 9th – Micah Richards, 6th)
The start of what was to come for the Foxes, although the newly-promoted side didn’t win the title that season, their stunning comeback against Man Utd laid the platform for the incredible success that was to follow in the campaign the followed.
Louis van Gaal in charge following the sacking of David Moyes and things were going their way as goals from Robin van Persie, a delightful Angel di Maria chip and Ander Herrera’s effort had them 3-1 in front.
Yet Nigel Pearson’s men picked themselves back up and turned the game around through David Nugent, Esteban Cambiasso’s first goal for the club, Jamie Vardy and a Leonardo Ulloa penalty, adding to his earlier goal.
It was the first time Leicester had scored four or more goals against United in the league since April 1963.
Norwich 4-5 Liverpool, 2015-16
(Alan Shearer, 4th – Micah Richards, 10th)
“I have a second pair of glasses but I can’t find them. It’s really difficult looking for glasses without glasses.” Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp revealed how he and his side celebrated Adam Lallana’s injury-time winner at Norwich so wildly it broke the German’s glasses.
Nine goals were scored at Carrow Road to become one of the matches of the campaign, with Lallana scoring in the 95th minute.
Dieumerci Mbokani, Steven Naismith and Wes Hoolahan had put Norwich 3-1 up, though Liverpool hit back to lead 4-3 thanks to Jordan Henderson, Roberto Firmino’s second of the game and James Milner.
Alex Neil hoped his side had come away with a point when Sebastien Bassong equalised in the 92nd minute of the contest, though Lallana had other ideas and scored, before producing a celebration most of us remember.
Newcastle 4-3 Leicester, 1996-97
(Alan Shearer, 5th – Micah Richards, 9th)
Newcastle fans may be feeling less optimistic following the season they are witnessing right now, but there were times in the 1990s when their side were regular title challengers.
Kenny Dalglish had replaced Kevin Keegan only a few weeks previously and the Magpies started off well against Leicester as Robbie Elliott gave them a third-minute lead.
Matt Elliott, Steve Claridge and Emile Heskey put Leicester 3-1 in front and in full control, before Alan Shearer bagged a 13-minute hat-trick, including a 90th-minute winner, to steal all three points.
But Newcastle again failed to clinch the title that season, finishing runners-up to old foes Manchester United once more.
Liverpool 3-3 Man Utd, 1993-94
(Alan Shearer, 6th – Micah Richards, 7th)
Another game on the list where one side let slip a three-goal lead. This time Liverpool were the ones producing a fantastic fightback.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United were runaway league leaders and stamped their authority at Anfield through Steve Bruce, Ryan Giggs and Denis Irwin inside 24 minutes.
But helped on by a raucous home crowd, Nigel Clough scored twice and defender Neil Ruddock thumped home a powerful header to snatch a point.
Wolves 4-3 Leicester, 2003-04
(Alan Shearer, 10th – Micah Richards, 8th)
Wolves came back from 3-0 down at half time to win this game, and did it against their Midlands rivals too, which made it even more satisfying.
The visitors made a blistering start after two goals from Les Ferdinand and a third from Riccardo Scimeca put them in total control.
But Dave Jones’ team held firm to produced a spirited comeback through Colin Cameron’s double, Alex Rae’s header and Henri Camara’s winner four minutes from time.

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