Premier League season: 1994-95

24 November 2011 16:15
The third Premier League season, then known as the FA Carling Premiership.

Having lifted the trophy in both the first two Premiership seasons, Manchester United were again looking strong going into the new season having recruited Andy Cole from Newcastle for £6million plus Keith Gillespie.

Another major signing of the summer was Tottenham bringing in German International Jurgen Klinsmann from Monaco for £2million. Tottenham were fined over financial irregularities something which former owner Alan Sugar firmly challenged. They were deducted 12 points and banned from the FA Cup, this was later revoked.

In January 1995, Manchester United's French striker Eric Cantona (then holder of the PFA Players' Player of the Year award) assaulted a Crystal Palace fan in his team's 1-1 draw at Selhurst Park. Cantona was banned from football for eight months, fined £20,000 and sentenced to 14 days in prison. The prison sentence was later reduced to 120 hours community service on appeal.

The FA decided to reduce the number of teams in the League from 22 to 20. This meant 4 teams would be relegated and only two promoted. Ipswich Town and Leicester City were relegated in resounding fashion while early season title contenders Norwich City managed just one win in 20 games after Christmas and slipped out of the division along with Crystal Palace.

They were replaced by Division one winners Middlesbrough and play off winners Bolton Wanderers.

West Ham controversially sacked fans favourite Billy Bonds and replaced him with his long time friend Harry Redknapp. It was West Ham who played perhaps the biggest part in the deciding the League Champions.

Nottingham Forest, Liverpool, Leeds United and Newcastle were all at one point in contention to take the Premier League crown from United, but going into the final game of the season the title would be going to either Old Trafford or Ewood Park.

Jack Walker had spent heavily to achieve success at Blackburn. The prolific strike force of Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton was deadly and elevated Rovers to the top of the league.

Despite losing the final game of the season 2-1 to Liverpool, Blackburn were crowned Champions after United failed to beat West Ham at Upton Park on the final day, despite their domination the game finished 1-1.

Blackburn boss Kenny Dalglish was named Manager of the Year following the success but stepped down after the season ended.

Blackburn forward and league top scorer Alan Shearer, with 34 goals, was given the PFA Player's Player of the Year award, while Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler was the PFA Young Player of the Year.

Tottenham's controversial German Jurgen Klinsmann was named FWA Football of the Year before leaving England to return to Bayern Munich in the summer.



#ClubPWDLFAGDP
1Blackburn42278780394189
2Man Utd422610677284988
3Notts Forest422211972432977
4Liverpool4221111065372874
5Leeds422013959382173
6Newcastle4220121067472072
7Spurs421614126658862
8QPR42179166159260
9Wimbledon421511164865-1756
10Southampton421218126163-254
11Chelsea421315145055-554
12Arsenal421312175249351
13Sheff Wed421312174957-851
14West Ham421311184448-450
15Everton421117144451-750
16Coventry421214164462-1850
17Man City421213175364-1149
18Aston Villa421115165156-548
19Crystal Palace421112193449-1545
20Norwich421013193754-1743
21Leicester42611254580-3529
22Ipswich4276293693-5727

Source: DSG