Five Serious Injuries That Proved Pivotal In Premier League Title Races

Man City might have stolen a point against Arsenal right at the death, but the injury to Rodri might cost them much more than any defeat could of.

The Spanish international is one of the most important players in Pep Guardiola's team, and is a key reason behind their unprecedented success in recent years.

Unfortunately, it has been revealed that Rodri injured his ACL in the match and will miss the majority, if not the entirety, of the season.

If any team as the strength in depth and firepower to win the league, even without one of their best players, then it is this Man City team, but history has shown before that even one big injury can cost teams the title.

Here are five serious injuries that proved pivotal in Premier League title races:

Virgil van Dijk - 2020/21 season

"He could have easily been sent off."

"I'm very surprised it's just been forgotten about?"

Jordan Pickford's challenge on Virgil van Dijk did not look good 😬

Should VAR have stepped in after this? pic.twitter.com/wTcW6CHcIf

— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 17, 2020

Liverpool had just won the European Cup and Premier League title in consecutive seasons and were quite literally at the top of the footballing world.

Jurgen Klopp was in man in charge, Mo Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino struck fear into the hearts of all defenders, and the imperious Virgil van Dijk controlled everything from the back.

So when the Reds went into the 2020/21 season as defending champions, they looked like they were in a very healthy place, and the campaign got off to a decent start, but a draw against Everton proved to season-defining.

A tangle with Jordan Pickford saw the Dutchman tear his ACL, and miss the remainder of the season, which went from bad to worse for the Anfield faithful.

Aymeric Laporte - 2019/21 season

Pep Guardiola has confirmed that Aymeric Laporte will be out for ‘five to six months’ with a knee injury. pic.twitter.com/S4whOdOFEV

— B/R Football (@brfootball) September 13, 2019

Guardiola's Man City were going for three Premier League titles in a row in the 2019/20 season, and after beating Liverpool on the very last day the previous year, it looked like they had their number when it came to the league.

Vincent Kompany had just retired, but the defence still looked very strong, and the signing of a certain Rodri was going to have significant influence on their future fortunes, but one injury early in the season cost them dearly.

Centre back Aymeric Laporte picked up a knee injury in September which ruled him out for three months, and Klopp's Liverpool went on a winning rampage that saw them have the league pretty much tied up by Christmas.

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Petr Chech - 2013/14

Petr Cech successfully underwent surgery today following his shoulder dislocation. He will be out for approximately 8 to 10 weeks. #CFC

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) May 7, 2014

People mostly remember the 2013/14 season as an epic two horse race between Brendan Rogers' Liverpool and Manuel Pellegrini's Man City team, that was decided by the cruel hand of fate that tripped up Steven Gerrard.

However, up until April Chelsea were well and truly in the title race, and had just slipped from first place to second when goalkeeper Petr Chech picked up a serious shoulder injury in the Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid.

The shot stopper needed to have surgery on the shoulder, and would play no further part in the campaign as substitute keeper Mark Schwarzer was drafted into the starting line-up.

In the end Chelsea would finish in third place behind Liverpool and Man City, and end the season trophy-less.

Nemanja Vidic - 2011/2012

This is the famous season that saw Man City go from being 'the noisy neigbours' to Premier League champions, and Martin Tyler's commentary of 'Agueroooooo' will forever ring in the ears of fans.

United looked like they had the title locked in as QPR were beating Roberto Mancini's side on the very last day of the season, and the old tag of "bottlers" was being thrown at the blue side of Manchester yet again.

However two very famous goals later and the course of Premier League history was changed forever, but what people often forget is that United were without their main centre back Nemanja Vidic for the majority of that season.

In fact, the demonic defender had only played six games in the whole campaign, and his absence clearly weakened Alex Ferguson's team, and hampered their title charge.

Roy Keane - 1997/98 season

Roy Keane's response to ending Alf-Inge Haaland's career with horror challenge: "There are things I regret in my life and he’s not one of them." pic.twitter.com/OQ7qeN1RVP

— Pure Roy Quotes (@PureRoyQuotes) October 4, 2022

If you ever wondered what started the infamous beef between Roy Keane and Alf-Inge Haaland, it can be pinpointed to this very incident, a moment that would cause ripples in the Premier League.

Haaland, who is the father of Man City's talisman Erling, was playing for Leeds as they faced United in September 1997, and he collided with the Irishman during the match.

Keane went down injured and it would later be revealed that he tore his ACL, but Haaland stood over his opponent and accused him of diving, something which he would later regret.

In the short term however, the United captain missed the rest of the season, and Arsenal won the league, and if anyone doubts the importance of the Ireland international in that team, he returned the following season to captain them to an unprecedented treble.

In 2001 he got his revenge on his old foe who was then playing for Man City by kicking out at him off the ball, resulting in the player being stretchered off and Keane sent off, but not before he leant over the Norway star and accused him of diving.