Premier League 2011-12 Season: Ranking the 20 Best Games

The recently ended Premier League season provided viewers with some brilliant games.

This season was described as the greatest Premier League season by Richard Scudamore, the Premier League Chief Executive, and these games are a big reason why.

These games are the best for a variety of reasons. They were full of goals and action; they were close run encounters or they were some of the most surprising results of the season.

From the first whistle to the last, the 2011/12 Premier League season entertained fans. The best games are usually the most exciting ones and that's what we have to show you here.

Here are the 20 best games for the Premier League season.

20. Chelsea vs. Liverpool

There were a lot of stories surrounding this game that made it the spectacle it was. Two former Liverpool players, Fernando Torres and Raul Meireles, had the chance to earn a win against their club.

Their replacements, Luis Suarez and Charlie Adam, had a chance to make fans forget about them. The night was stolen by another player appearing against his old club in the form of Glen Johnson.

Johnson's late goal gave Liverpool a 2-1 victory after a game with missed chances and some defensive errors on both sides.

Neither club ended up in the European positions and Chelsea missed out by three points. The three points they lost in this game could have gotten them over the hump.

19. Fulham vs. Manchester City

Fulham and Manchester City produced an entertaining 2-2 draw early on in the season.

Manchester City was in control throughout the first half and a goal from Sergio Aguero inside 20 minutes and another one right after the half had them in front.

Fulham responded in the second half through Bobby Zamora and forced an own goal from City. There were some last minute chances for the away side but nothing hit the back of the net and the Cottagers earned a fantastic away point for their efforts.

18. Arsenal vs. Norwich City

Norwich showed they could hang with the big boys after their display in this game. Arsenal's Champions League hopes took a hit when they tied with Norwich 3-3 at the Emirates.

As is usually the case with Arsenal, when they defend badly they can produce some exciting games and that was very much the case in this encounter.

The Gunners went ahead after two minutes through a Yossi Benayoun strike but Norwich responded only 10 minutes later. The away team then took the lead 15 minutes before half-time and set up a really good second half.

Arsenal continued to create chances and that man Robin Van Persie finally equalized less than 20 minutes before time and then helped his team take the lead with another strike eight minutes later.

All was not done though as Norwich was gifted a goal in the last five minutes and put a dent in Arsenal's European hopes for the upcoming season.

17. Norwich City vs. Blackburn Rovers

Blackburn Rovers were involved in some of the most exciting games this season and their game against Norwich definitely qualifies.

The final result was a 3-3 tie but the action-packed second half made for a very entertaining fixture. Blackburn took the lead just before half-time after some good chances for both sides but the second half really made the game.

Norwich equalized soon after the break but that scoreline was brief as both Yakubu and Christopher Samba struck two minutes apart to give Blackburn a 3-1 lead.

The home side did not give up however and an 82nd minute goal as well as a stoppage time penalty allowed them to earn a point.

16. Blackburn vs. Arsenal

While Arsenal put on a poor display in this game the role that Blackburn played cannot be discounted, especially considering that they forced their opponents in to two own-goals.

Blackburn came out on top 4-3 winners but had to hold on for dear life at the end.

Arsenal took the lead twice and Blackburn responded both times before taking the lead for good with two goals nine minutes apart. A 85th minute Marouane Chamakh header made for a nervy ending but the home team held on.

There were a number of missed chances for both sides throughout the game and Arsenal was especially wasteful with 23 shots and only nine on target. That showed the kind of goalmouth action that was present during the game.

15. Swansea City vs. Arsenal

Swansea proved a tough team to beat at home and Arsenal found that out better than many of the big clubs as they lost 3-2.

The two teams played a similar brand of football and the game that was expected to produce some good attacking football did not disappoint.

Arsenal got the party started with a goal in the fifth minute but Swansea were awarded a penalty and leveled the game within 10 minutes.

Swansea took charge in the second half through a Nathan Dyer strike but Theo Walcott nullified that advantage after 12 minutes.

Incredibly, less than a minute later, Danny Graham scored the winning goal for Swansea and though Arsenal produced a few more solid chances to score late on, it was Swansea picking up an impressive three points.

14. Manchester United vs. Newcastle

The rearguard action from Newcastle to hold on for their 1-1 tie at Old Trafford makes this one of the best games of the season.

United took the lead through Javier Hernandez a few minutes into the second half but, around 15 minutes later, a controversial penalty call allowed Demba Ba to equalize for his side.

What came after was wave upon wave of attack by the Red Devils and an astounding defensive display from a Newcastle team that went down to 10 men with 10 minutes remaining.

Some fantastic blocks from the Newcastle defenders and fantastic saves from goalkeeper Tim Krul helped the team achieve a very well-earned point.

13. Blackburn Rovers vs. Liverpool

Liverpool almost looked likely to have another away game disappointment but came out on top against Blackburn through a very surprising source.

The Reds beat Blackburn 3-2 with a stoppage time header from Andy Carroll providing the game-winner. This game could have been a lot different though.

Yakubu missed a penalty that may have cost them three points but he did manage to score twice more on his opponent. Yakubu's strikes and missed penalty came after an early double from Maxi Rodriquez had given Liverpool the lead.

Then came Andy Carrol's header and Liverpool, despite being down to 10 men for the majority of the game (goalkeeper Doni was sent of for his foul on Yakubu's penalty), won in dramatic fashion.

12. Blackburn Rovers vs. Queens Park Rangers

Blackburn was involved in three 3-2 scorelines that produced some very entertaining games. Their 3-2 win over QPR can be added to the list.

In a battle of relegation candidates, Blackburn took a 3-0 lead into half-time and should have had a much easier end to the game. Two goals in the last 20 minutes from QPR made sure thinks were very nervy at the end.

QPR had the better possession and shot count but could not manage to find a third goal and came up on the losing end.

11. Wigan Athletic vs. Blackburn Rovers

This early season clash between Blackburn and Wigan brought some very late drama. The 3-3 tie ended with Blackburn's Yakubu slotting home a penalty eight minutes into stoppage time.

The two teams got off to a very fast start with Blackburn opening the scoring in the second minute and Wigan equalizing in the seventh.

The action continued up until the final whistle with Wigan taking the lead twice before Blackburn equalized after 60 minutes and then with Yakubu's stoppage time penalty.

10. Queens Park Rangers vs. Liverpool

Liverpool suffered more disappointment in their season after losing 3-2 to Queens Park Rangers after leading by two goals.

Sebastian Coates scored one of the best goals of the season but it came to mean absolutely nothing for his club.

All the action took place in the second half as Liverpool scored two goals by the 72nd minute and looked set to close the game out.

QPR opened their account for the day only five minutes later and finished the game in dramatic fashion with two goals in the final four minutes of the game.

09. Swansea City vs. Wolves

Wolves were already relegated when this game was played but showed some incredible spirit to recover from a three goal deficit to tie the game 4-4.

Swansea came out on fire in this game and scored three goals within the first 15 minutes while seemingly putting the tie to bed.

Around the 30 minute mark proved to be the turning point of the game as three goals were scored in a matter of five minutes, two of them being from Wolves.

The relegation side didn't waste much time continuing their comeback as they scored less than 10 minutes into the second half and added their final goal 20 minutes before regulation time.

Despite the lack of importance of this game, the action involved and the resulting scoreline make it one of the best games of the season.

08. Manchester United vs. Everton

Manchester United's 4-4 draw with Everton wasn't exciting just because of the scoreline and the action during the game but its importance as well.

This slip gave Manchester City even more of a chance to close in on United after they had taken a lead in the Premier League. It made the team's next game, against Manchester City, even more important.

United had a 4-2 lead heading into the final 10 minutes but Everton struck twice during that time to tie the game. The majority of the action occurred in the second half with both teams scoring three of their four goals during that time.

07. Manchester United vs. Blackburn Rovers

One of the most surprising results of the season occurred at Old Trafford. While it may have been somewhat acceptable for Blackburn to pick up a point away against Manchester United, no one would have expected them to win.

This is exactly what they did though and in the last 10 minutes no less. Blackburn won the game 3-2 after having their two-goal lead wiped away by a brace from Dimitar Berbatov.

It seemed all would return to normal for the Red Devils after Berbatov's two strikes but that was not the case at all as it was Blackburn who came away with the all-important winning goal.

06. Arsenal vs. Tottenham

Arsenal was involved in a lot of exciting games during the season and this 5-2 London derby win over Tottenham was one of them.

Theo Walcott and Co. gave Arsenal fans, themselves and their opponents a sense that they were still a force to be reckoned with during a emphatic comeback.

The Gunners went down to an early goal from Louis Saha and former player Emmanuel Adebayor added insult to injury with a penalty 11 minutes before halftime. Only six minutes later the comeback began with a Bacary Sagna strike followed by a Robin Van Persie goal.

The second half was all Arsenal as they banged in three more goals to make it five unanswered for the Gunners. Theo Walcott won the plaudits with two well-executed finishes.

With both teams always likely to attack and produce goals, they did not disappoint and gave fans a lot to talk about the next day.

05. Chelsea vs. Arsenal

Nobody expected Arsenal to go to Chelsea early on in the season and win but that is exactly what they did.

The thrilling, high-scoring encounter saw some great goals being scored by either side and a wonderful hat trick from Arsenal captain Robin van Persie. Arsenal won the game 5-3 after eventually pulling away with two goals in the last five minutes of the game.

This game had a lot of back and forth in the scoring with Chelsea taking the lead twice only for Arsenal to come roaring back. The Gunners then scored their third goal to take their first lead but it was only a matter of time before Chelsea scored.  However, van Persie ended all hopes with two more goals.

04. Chelsea vs. Manchester United

Manchester United came from behind in typical fashion against Chelsea when the teams met in early February to tie the game 3-3.

Chelsea had a three goal lead going into the last 30 minutes of the game but that all changed. Two contentious penalty calls by referee Howard Webb allowed Wayne Rooney to step up and bring his club within one goal with 20 minutes remaining.

United continued to knock on the door and got the breakthrough with a 84th minute header from Javier Hernandez.

03. Manchester City vs. Tottenham

It was a tight and exciting affair from two of the leagues top teams. A late penalty from Mario Balotelli was enough to give Manchester City a 3-2 win after some great attacking football in the second half.

There were four goals scored within a matter of nine minutes as Samir Nasri and Joleon Lescott gave Manchester City the lead before Jermain Defoe and Gareth Bale equalized.

Bale's goal was a standout from this game but it meant nothing when Balotelli stepped up to convert in the final minutes of the game.

02. Wigan vs. Manchester United

Wigan will look at this game as one of the major reasons why they will still be in the Premier League next season. The Latics produced possibly the most surprising result of the season against former champions Manchester United.

All it took was a 1-0 win courtesy of a Shaun Maloney strike in the 50th minute. Manchester United tried again and again but could not find a way through.

This game may not have had a lot of goals and the excitement that comes with lead changes and so forth but the importance for both Wigan and Manchester United as well as the result made it one of the best games of the season.

01. Manchester City vs. QPR

The final day of the season provided fans the best game of the season and possibly one of the best in the Premier League history. Manchester City won the title at home with a comeback 3-2 win over QPR.

Manchester City and QPR win top marks for all the drama in the second half. City went into the second half leading 1-0 looking comfortable and on the way to a title.

By the 66th minute that had all changed with two QPR goals. The second goal came after the sending off of a certain Joey Barton that spiced up proceedings.

City kept knocking at QPR's front door but could find no way in until two stoppage time goals helped them claim a very dramatic and important victory.

While City dominated the game in terms of possession there was much tension and excitement in this game and the end result as well as the importance of the result makes this the best game of the season.