We've been here be-FOUR! Sportsmail's guide to the Premier League's 4-4 thrillers

22 April 2009 13:42
Liverpool's last two matches have ended in a 4-4 draw. But what were the odds? Well William Hill would have offered one punters 10,000-1 on both matches ending in a  4-4 draw, or alternatively 100-1 on each game ending in the same outcome. Rafa Benitez takes his side to Hull on Saturday, so what are the odds in the game ending 4-4? Well William Hill are again offering 100-1 on a 4-4 draw. The thrilling draw with Arsenal was the 11th 4-4 in the Premier League's 17-year history. Here, Sportsmail looks at the other 10 matches to see how they compare. Eight goal thriller: Fernando Torres scores for Liverpool against Arsenal Only one of the eight-goal carve-ups came in the first seven years of the division, whereas there have been no less than five since the start of 2007-08. Tottenham have been involved in four of these contests while Aston Villa played their part in three. Chelsea and Leicester featured in two each. Aston Villa vs Leicester City February 22, 1995This Midlands derby was given an even sharper edge as it was also a relegation dogfight. Villa - title contenders just two years before - had slipped into the mire while newly promoted Leicester had been in trouble all season. Ron Atkinson's ageing side raced into a three-goal lead thanks to Dean Saunders, Steve Staunton and Dwight Yorke by the hour mark. Even when Mark Robins got one back for the Foxes, Tommy Johnson quickly made it 4-1. But Leicester were to manage an amazing comeback in the final 12 minutes, with goals from David Lowe (2) and Iwan Roberts earning them a point. But it was not enough to save Mark McGee's side, while Villa narrowly avoided being relegated alongside them. Everton vs Leeds UnitedOctober 24, 1999White hot: Michael Bridges (left) and Alan Smith celebrate scoring Leeds' first in their 1999 clash It's almost hard to believe that 10 years ago David O'Leary's Leeds side travelled to Goodison Park looking for their 11th straight win. But they were to leave disappointed after a pulsating game. Kevin Campbell put Walter Smith's Everton ahead within four minutes, but Michael Bridges quickly equalised. Campbell scored again only to see Harry Kewell cancel it out with a curving shot before Don Hutchison gave the Toffees a 3-2 half-time lead. After the interval, further goals from Bridges and Jonathan Woodgate put the Yorkshire club 4-3 ahead. But Everton were not finished yet and David Weir's last-minute header ended Leeds' run and sent most of the 37,355 fans at Goodison Park wild. Bradford City vs Derby CountyApril 21, 2000With Paul Jewell's Bradford stuck in the relegation zone, they were desperate for a win to drag Derby down into the dogfight. But they could not have had a worse start, with Rory Delap and Branko Strupar putting the Rams 2-0 up in the first six minutes at Valley Parade. But Dean Windass struck back twice before a Peter Beagrie penalty put the home side 3-2 up with only 27 minutes played. Craig Burley equalised from the spot before Windass completed his hattrick to make it 4-3 at the break. The second half was comparatively quiet, but Burley did add another penalty to make it 4-4. The result essentially secured safety for Derby. Bradford went on to beat their main relegation rivals Wimbledon 3-0 the next week before a final day victory over Liverpool kept the Bantams up and sent the Dons down. Charlton Athletic vs West Ham United November 19, 2001 Charlton and West Ham were both enjoying mid-table seasons, but there was nothing mundane about this thrilling London derby. Paul Kitson, in his first start for 21 months, put West Ham ahead after three minutes before a brace from Jason Euell turned the tables. Kitson then went on to grab two equalisers to seal his hat-trick and pin back the home side after Euell and Jonatan Johansson had twice given them the lead. And Jermain Defoe, a former Addicks youth star, looked to have snatched the points for the Hammers with a well-taken volley six minutes from time. But Finland striker Johansson equalised with a brilliant overhead kick in the dying moments to square this fiercely contested match. Tottenham Hotspur vs Leicester CityFebruary 22, 2004Normally a 4-4 result will come as quite a surprise. Here, however, Spurs fans must almost have expected it after their previous four games produced no less than 28 goals, of which they scored 15. But, despite the entertainment value, Tottenham fans must have wondered why their team made such hard work of a Leicester side who, having not won in 14 games, already looked unlikely to avoid relegation. Spurs led 3-1 at half-time with a 30-yard free kick from Michael Brown and strikes from Jermaine Defoe and Robbie Keane. Leicester's only goal had come when Gary Doherty pushed the ball into his own net. But second-half goals from Les Ferdinand, Ben Thatcher and Marcus Bent put Tottenham on the rack before an 89th-minute equaliser from Defoe spared the home side's blushes. Spurs manager David Pleat took it all in good humour afterwards. 'I feel like a drunken man who hasn't got a drink,' he said. Norwich City vs Middlesbrough January 22, 2005 Middlesbrough travelled to Carrow Road hoping a win would push them into European contention. Three late goals from the relegation-threatened Canaries rescued them a point, but ultimately not their Premier League status. It was Norwich who took the lead, with midfielder Damien Francis turning home a shot from mercurial striker Darren Huckerby. Braces for Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink, one a 25-yard free kick, and Franck Queudrue put Boro in what looked like an unassailable position with 10 minutes left. But Dean Ashton pulled one back on his home debut before two injury-time goals from Leon McKenzie and captain Adam Drury gave Nigel Worthington's men the unlikeliest of results. Tottenham Hotspur vs Aston Villa October 1, 2007 These two sides dominate this list so it seems inevitable at least one clash between them would end 4-4. Spurs had celebrated their 125th anniversary with a legends parade before the game but manager Martin Jol was proving to be anything but legendary among Tottenham fans after a stuttering start to the season. Dimitar Berbatov gave the home side the lead before four Villa goals silenced White Hart Lane. It was 3-1 at half time after strikes from Martin Laursen (2) and Gabriel Agbonlahor but when Craig Gardner added another from a free kick on the hour mark, the Spurs boo-boys really got going. But Pascal Chimbonda pulled one back before captain Robbie Keane hit a penalty home. The final minutes were all Tottenham pressure and it paid off as Younes Kaboul rammed home the loose ball at an injury time corner. Jol was a relieved man, but the result did not stop him being sacked three weeks later. Chelsea vs Aston Villa December 26, 2007 As incident-filled a game as one could ever hope to see. Martin O'Neill's side looked set to smash Chelsea's long unbeaten home record when Shaun Maloney scored twice, the second after a horrendous howler from Petr Cech. But just before half time Zat Knight was sent off for fouling Michael Ballack and Andriy Shevchenko powered home the penalty. In the second half Avram Grant's side took control, with another from Shevchenko and one from Alex putting them 3-2 up against 10 men. But the match was turned on its head again as Martin Laursen volleyed home and Ricardo Carvalho was sent off for a bad challenge on Gabriel Agbonlahor. Nonetheless Ballack scored an 88th-minute free kick but Villa were not to be denied  and Gareth Barry calmly scored a penalty after Ashley Cole had been sent off for handling on the goalline. Tottenham Hotspur vs Chelsea March 19, 2008 Fresh from beating Chelsea in the Carling Cup final, Spurs decided yet another 4-4 was in order. Didier Drogba rose to head home for Chelsea after three minutes but Jonathan Woodgate headed an equaliser. Michael Essien's neat finish restored the lead before Joe Cole looked to have put the match beyond doubt just after half time. But Dimitar Berbatov and Tom Huddlestone pulled Spurs back into it before Cole restored the lead. However, a wonderful goal from Robbie Keane two minutes from time leveled it once again before Carlo Cudicini produced a brilliant save when Dimitar Berbatov looked set to score the winner. Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur October 29, 2008 Yet another comeback, this time against their greatest rivals, immediately endeared Harry Redknapp to the Spurs faithful in his first official match in charge. A brilliant early strike from David Bentley had put the visitors ahead, before Arsene Wenger's side took control at the Emirates. Mikael Silvestre headed an equaliser before William in Gallas and Emmanuel Adebayor looked to have made the points safe at 3-1. Darren Bent gave the visitors hope before Robin van Persie added a fourth. But Redknapp's side refused to lie down and die. Jermaine Jenas scored with a minute to go before an injury time tap-in from Aaron Lennon earned Spurs an incredibly well-deserved point.

Source: Daily_Mail