Replay 1988-89: An epic race from Christmas to the last kick

Times may have changed, but tension always remains. In the 1988-89 season, the last when the top-flight title in English football was decided by the final kick of the season in a game between the only contenders, Liverpool looked likely to avoid a two-goal defeat and take the League Championship.

But their final-day visitors were their long-running rivals, Arsenal, and 26 May 1989 became forever known, in north London at least, as "St Michael's Day" because the never-say-die midfielder Michael Thomas scored a famous injury-time decider for the visitors. Alan Smith, who had scored earlier, laid on the goal.

Arsenal lifted the title because, though the teams were level on points and goal difference, they had scored eight goals more. It was the closest finish in the League's history, celebrated in the film of Nick Hornby's famous book Fever Pitch, and one that always acts as a sharp reminder of what could lie ahead now as Manchester United and Chelsea embark on an apparently intensifying duel for the 2006-07 Premiership crown.

Weather permitting, they will have at least a month to play after their prospective crucial meeting at Stamford Bridge on 14 April before meeting their final opponents in respective home clashes on 13 May against West Ham and Everton. They could also meet, of course, in Athens, in the European Cup final on 23 May.

In the build-up to that 1989 denouement, played out after Liverpool had won the FA Cup final against Everton to create the prospect of a domestic double, there were signs of strain in both camps.

In the Arsenal squad, built around men such as Tony Adams, Steve Bould, Paul Merson and Alan Smith, they struggled with nerves, alcohol and stuttering form.

Liverpool, with a squad containing Bruce Grobbelaar, Steve Nicol, Noel Whelan and Peter Beardsley, had their own problems; not least the effects of Hillsborough, where on 15 April, in gruesome circumstances, 96 of their supporters lost their lives.

Yet it is almost forgotten that in that season Liverpool also lost the services of Jan Molby and saw little of Alan Hansen. "Jan went to prison for a driving offence and we missed him," said Kenny Dalglish, the manager. "We missed him in the League, which intensified into an extraordinary two-horse race..."

On Christmas Day, the leaders were Norwich City. On Boxing Day, after a 3-2 triumph over Charlton Athletic at Selhurst Park, Arsenal went top. Three days later, Arsenal and Liverpool drew 1-1 at Highbury. Liverpool had embarked on their run. From fifth, they climbed to second, on Arsenal's shoulders, by April Fool's Day, when they reeled off a seventh successive League win.

Then it was nip and tuck. Liverpool were distracted, and exhausted, by their FA Cup win over Everton. To play Arsenal, six days later, was one demand too many. In between, they beat West Ham 5-1 and then ran out of steam, physically and emotionally. "Three big, tense games in six days took it out of the players," said Dalglish. Fatigue, and tension, decided it - just as it could again by May next year.