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Premier League: Can Man City emulate the four teams that came from behind after 23 matches?

Manuel Pellegrini Man City manager

Only four teams have won the Premier League despite trailing after 23 matches. Can Man City emulate them this season?

Saturday's draw at Stamford Bridge leaves Manchester City five points behind Premier League leaders Chelsea after 23 matches.

Frank Lampard believes the champions are still in with a shout of retaining their title, but only four teams have won the Premier League despite trailing the leaders after 23 games. Here we look at those four examples…

1995/96 - Man United

The first of two entries for Manchester United, with Sir Alex Ferguson's teams enjoying a late title surge as much as they cherished last-minute winners.

After 23 matches of the 1995/96 campaign, United were stuck in third place behind Newcastle and Liverpool. While Roy Evans' side were only ahead on goal difference, the gap to the leaders was a seemingly insurmountable 12 points, with Newcastle losing only three games all season.

Terry McDermott and Kevin Keegan of Newcastle look on after Blackburn's winning goal during a loss to Blackburn

Five successive victories through January and February saw the Magpies retain a nine-point lead and it looked as though the title would return to St James' Park for the first time in 69 years. However, a dramatic collapse followed as Newcastle lost five of their next eight fixtures including a home defeat to United and an unforgettable 4-3 loss at Liverpool.

With the title race going to the last day, an irate Keegan had a message for Ferguson: "You can tell him now, we're still fighting for this title and he's got to go to Middlesbrough and get something. And I'll tell you, honestly, I will love it if we beat them. Love it."

United triumphed 3-0 at the Riverside to win their third crown in four years and leave Newcastle kicking themselves.

1997/98 - Arsenal

Arsenal also appear in this list on two occasions, the first being the Premier League and FA Cup double-winning season of 1997/98.

MANCHESTER - MAY 8:  Sylvain Wiltord of Arsenal takes the ball past Wes Brown of Manchester United during the FA Barclaycard Premiership match played at Ol

The Gunners were back in fifth place after 23 matches, trailing Manchester United by eight points. Blackburn, Liverpool and Chelsea stood between the two teams, but all would fall by the wayside as the title race went to the wire.

A ten-game winning run secured success for Arsene Wenger in his first full season at Highbury, with Arsenal beating United at Old Trafford in March and lifting the trophy with two games to spare thanks for a 4-0 thrashing of Everton.

2001/02 - Arsenal

Despite trailing their rivals by one point after 23 games of the 2001/02 season, Arsenal eventually won the title relatively comfortably as Manchester United finished outside the top two for the first time in 11 years.

United had suffered twice as many defeats as the Gunners (six to three) in the first 23 matches, hinting at a lack of staying power in the battle at the top.

Two further defeats left them five points behind with two games to play and afforded Arsenal the chance to clinch the title on May 8 at Old Trafford. Wenger's side duly obliged thanks to Sylvain Wiltord's second-half strike, following FA Cup success against Chelsea four days earlier with their second Premier League crown in five years.

Thierry Henry proved to be the driving force for the Gunners, pipping Ruud van Nistelrooy to the Golden Boot by a single goal.

2002/03 - Man United

United got their revenge a year later, however, clawing back a five-point deficit after 23 matches to win what would turn out to be their last title for four years.

With Arsenal boasting a handsome lead and much stronger goal difference in mid-January, it looked as though they would retain the title for the first time since the 1930s. But Ferguson and United had other ideas.

Following back-to-back defeats to Blackburn and Middlesbrough in December, United achieved a remarkable 18-match unbeaten run in which they dropped only six points. Van Nistelrooy proved the catalyst, notching 25 goals on the way to his only Premier League winner's medal.

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