After a trying 2020, the Premier League – much like the rest of the world – finally started to get back to business as usual in 2021.
But just like any other year, there were a handful of moments that just stood out from all the others and will stick in people’s memories for years to come.
With that in mind, SBOTOP has picked five of its most memorable Premier League moments during the calendar year 2021.
Alisson’s emotional header
Liverpool’s 2020-21 season was one to forget, with a rash of injuries derailing any hope they had of defending their Premier League title.
But there was one very memorable moment from the Reds’ season, and it came during the third-to-last game of the campaign care of goalkeeper Alisson.
The Brazilian had a trying year amid the tragic news of his father’s passing, which was made all the more painful by the fact that he was unable to mourn his loss at home with his family due to Covid.
That made his dramatic last-minute header to get the win over West Brom all the more emotional. After rising high to head home the winner, the overjoyed Alisson had tears in his eyes as he looked to the heavens in celebration, no doubt dedicating that unforgettable moment to his dearly departed father.
Fans return to the stands
The 2020-21 season will go down in history as the “behind closed doors” season, with fans absent from the stands for the most part.
But they finally made their way back for the last two rounds of the Premier League season, which was certainly a welcome sight.
And the stadiums were back to full capacity at the start of the 2021-22 season, with the chants of the crowd filling the ground with the glorious noise that had been missed for many months.
They say absence makes the heart grow fonder, and that is certainly the case with the fans, whose passion and energy help make the Premier League so special.
Aguero bids farewell
10,000 Manchester City fans returned just in time not only to celebrate City’s coronation as Premier League champions, but also to bid farewell to one of the club’s all-time legends as Sergio Aguero called time on his decade-long stint at the Etihad.
The writing had been on the wall for Kun as injuries and lack of form limited him to just 12 appearances (7 starts) and four goals on the season, a far cry from his scintillating best.
But while there was only a small fraction of City fans present at the Etihad in Aguero’s final game, they made it known just how much they appreciated all that Aguero had done in his 10 years of services to the club.
Unfortunately, 2021 will also go down as the year when Aguero was forced to hang up his boots altogether due to a heart condition. It was an unceremonious way for one of the all-time greats, not only of the Premier League but of world football, to call it a career.
Ronaldo returns
But while the Premier League lost one legend, they regained another with the return of Cristiano Ronaldo to Manchester United.
Ronaldo returned to Manchester after 11 years away, and from the way he started the season, it felt like he had never gone away. He had a sensational debut against Newcastle, scoring a brace en route to a 4-1 United home win that had Old Trafford rocking. And he would go on to score a few more after that, as he continues to rack up the goals at age 36.
Despite United’s recent struggles, Ronaldo will no doubt be eyeing more Premier League 2022 highlights to help the Red Devils reach the Champions League places.
Salah scores hat-trick at Old Trafford
Without a doubt, the lowest point of Ronaldo’s second spell at Manchester to date was their disastrous 5-0 drubbing at the hands of Liverpool. Not only was it a humiliating defeat to their fierce rivals, but it also marked the beginning of the end for United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.
Mohamed Salah stole the spotlight as he became the first visiting player to score a hat-trick at Old Trafford since “O Fenomeno” Ronaldo did so with Real Madrid in 2003.
It was a fabulous performance from Salah, who has been absolutely on fire this season. The Egyptian King just fell short of winning his third Golden Boot last year, but after a stunning tail-end of 2021, the Premier League 2022 odds have him favoured to get the gold back this season.
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