The Premier League season came to an end on Sunday after serving up nine months of thrills and spills that ended with Jose Mourinho's Chelsea top of the pile.
Here, AFP Sports selects the five most exciting matches from the campaign:
Everton 3 Chelsea 6, August 30
Sweeping forward with an almost reckless abandon, Jose Mourinho's reshaped Chelsea struck twice in the first three minutes as they fired a warning to their title rivals at Goodison Park. Sparked by the astute signings of Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas, Chelsea showed why they were already established as the pace-setters in a title race they would eventually win at a canter. Brazil-born Spain striker Costa netted in the first and last minutes at Goodison to provide a fitting coda to a result that foreshadowed Chelsea's march to their first Premier League title since 2010.
Arsenal 2 Manchester City 2, September 13
Displaying an abundance of attacking talent and more significantly, the frailties that would eventually undermine their respective title challenges, two of the league's most eye-catching teams served up a cracker at the Emirates Stadium. Sergio Aguero gave City the lead mid-way through the first half, but Jack Wilshere and Alexis Sanchez -- giving an early glimpse of what would prove a fine debut season -- struck after the interval for the Gunners. That should have been enough to ensure a winning Arsenal debut for Danny Welbeck, fresh from his transfer from Manchester United, but City defender Martin Demichelis bagged an 83rd-minute equaliser for the defending champions.
Leicester City 5 Manchester United 3, September 21
Louis van Gaal's startled expression spoke volumes after the new Manchester United manager's first real experience of the chaotic nature of the Premier League. It had already been a rocky start for Van Gaal in his first season in charge, but even the well-travelled Dutchman could not have expected a meltdown of the magnitude that United experienced against promoted Leicester at the King Power Stadium. Leading 3-1 after a dominant opening, featuring a superb scooped strike from club-record signing Angel di Maria, United then capitulated, leaking four goals in 21 second-half minutes as they were run ragged by former non-league forward Jamie Vardy. Incredibly, it was the first time in 853 Premier League matches that United had let a two-goal lead turn into a defeat.
Queens Park Rangers 2 Liverpool 3, October 19
With three minutes left at Loftus Road, Liverpool looked on course for a fairly unmemorable 1-0 victory courtesy of a Richard Dunne own goal -- then all hell broke loose. First, Chile forward Eduardo Vargas equalised with his first goal for QPR, then Philippe Coutinho restored Liverpool's lead in the 90th minute. There was still just enough time left for a sensational twist in the tale when Vargas levelled deep into stoppage time, only for Steven Caulker's own goal to hand Liverpool the points with virtually the last touch of a breathless finale.
Tottenham Hotspur 5 Chelsea 3, January 1
A brilliant demolition of Chelsea's previously impregnable defence served as a spectacular coming-of-age party for Tottenham striker Harry Kane. Playing as though they were still suffering a hangover from the New Year's Eve celebrations, the Blues could not cope with the power and lethal finishing of 21-year-old Kane in just their second defeat of a season with few other bum notes. Kane struck twice either side of a Danny Rose goal and an Andros Townsend penalty, giving rampant Tottenham a lead that even their occasionally porous back four could not squander. Nacer Chadli sealed victory for Spurs, with Costa, Eden Hazard and John Terry netting in vain for the visitors.
AFP
Mon May 25 2015
Chelsea's English defender John Terry (C) holds up the trophy during the presentation of the Premier League trophy after the EPL football match between Chelsea and Sunderland at Stamford Bridge on May 24, 2015. AFP PHOTO / BEN STANSALL
ANALYSIS - Australia legislated a teen social media ban, it has to figure out how to enforce it
The study, will likely set course for lawmakers and tech platforms around the world as they navigate a push to age-restrict social media.
Will the fragile peace between Hezbollah and Israel hold?
Hezbollah continues to claim that it defeated the Israeli military in Lebanon and says its forces will ensure IDF adheres to the ceasefire.
Robotic-assisted prostate cancer surgery, a quick recovery option
Prostate cancer is experienced by one in 120 men in Malaysia, especially those above the age of 50.
Astro AWANI shines with five wins at MPRA 2024
Astro AWANI excels after winning five awards at the Malaysia Public Relations Awards 2024 in Kuala Lumpur
Flood situation continues to worsen, victims exceed 120,000
The flood situation across the country continues to worsen, with the number of victims in nine states reaching 120,272 people
Starbucks serves South Koreans coffee and glimpse into the North
Hundreds show up for the opening of the US coffeehouse chain's newest store in an observatory near the city of Gimpo.
Big tech says Australia "rushed" social media ban for youths under 16
A trial of methods to enforce it will start in January with the ban to take effect by Nov. 2025.
Putin denies he tried to frighten Merkel with dog Koni
Angela Merkel wrote in her new memoir "Freedom" that, Vladimir Putin sometimes brought the pet to meetings with foreign guests.
Vocational college student murder: We saw victim beaten in hostel room - Witness
The prosecution witnesses say they did not report the incident to the hostel warden for fear of being beaten like the victim.
Don't bring small children to observe river water level, say - Police
State police chief Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mamat urges the public to remain vigilant about the rising level of the river.
Unreasonable for Syed Saddiq to claim ignorance over withdrawal of RM1 mil from Armada account
Judge Datuk Azhar Abdul Hamid says the Muar MP's testimony that he had no knowledge of the storage or use of the funds defied logic.
British lawmakers prepare to vote on assisted dying
The "Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life)" bill would allow terminally ill adults, the right to choose to end their lives with medical help.
Several roads in Tanah Merah closed to all traffic
Police say road users should not take the risk of crossing flooded roads to continue their journey to avoid any unwanted incidents.
Not all flooded areas are caused by ECRL - MRL
Malaysia Rail Link Sdn Bhd says immediate mitigation measures will be implemented to reduce the risk of flooding.
Flood: KPKM activates disaster operation room, to assist affected groups
KPKM says it has activated its Disaster Operations Room at the district and state levels is monitoring the weather conditions.
'I will still use it' vows youth, as Australia's under-16 social media ban sparks anger and relief
Children, meanwhile, says they would try to find a way around the ban.
Putin says Russia would use all weapons at its disposal if Ukraine got nuclear weapons
Vladimir Putin says that Russia would use all weapons at its disposal against Ukraine if Kyiv were to acquire nuclear arms.
Floods: No evacuation of victims in Sepang district, JBPM monitoring hotspots
Razif Mohmad Haris says his department received several calls this morning but no evacuations were carried out after an assessment was made.
Israel and Hezbollah trade accusations of ceasefire violations
Israel and Lebanon accuse each other of breaching a ceasefire that aims to halt over a year of fighting.
Floods: New relief centre in Mengkebang provides much-needed shelter for victims
The relief centre provides relief for residents affected by the floods, sparing them the trouble of finding shelter elsewhere.