Sky Sports pundits pick their favourite Premier League matches from 2016

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Riyad Mahrez went on to win the PFA Players
Riyad Mahrez went on to win the PFA Players' Player of the Year award

What was your favourite Premier League match of 2016? We asked our Sky Sports pundits to pick theirs...

They had plenty to choose from, with nine-goal thrillers, late-season title drama, and even a surprise appearance from an award-winning opera singer.

From Leicester's remarkable win at the Etihad to the 'Battle at the Bridge', here's what Merse, Thommo, Jamie and the rest of our Sky Sports pundits had to say...

Niall Quinn - Man City 1-3 Leicester City, February 6

Here's what we said at the time: Leicester City's title challenge reached unprecedented heights as they went five points clear at the top of the Premier League after beating Manchester City 3-1. A Robert Huth double and a fine Riyad Mahrez goal did the damage, with Sergio Aguero grabbing a late consolation for the hosts. 

QUINN: There were a few, but I suppose the match that made me stand up and take note of Leicester was when they went up to Man City and won.

That was huge as everybody was waiting for the Leicester bubble to burst, and that was when people started to say this team may have something to offer.

Riyad Mahrez scored a spectacular solo goal at the Etihad
Riyad Mahrez scored a spectacular solo goal at the Etihad

Man City were supposed to win, they were then going to beat Spurs the week after and were going to waltz to the title.

So that was the game that made me think as I walked away from the ground, that this Leicester team were going to be hard to push away.

Jamie Redknapp - Leicester 3-1 Everton, May 7

Here's what we said at the time: Jamie Vardy scored twice as Leicester celebrated being crowned Premier League champions with a 3-1 win against Everton at the King Power Stadium. In a carnival atmosphere, opera legend Andrea Bocelli started the title party by singing before kick-off before Vardy sparked the festivities into life on the pitch.

REDKNAPP: There have been some great matches, the Chelsea v Tottenham game on Monday Night Football was a brilliant football match, but the game that I will always remember is when Leicester played Everton on the last day of the season.

I still look back on that and think, "I can't believe…" when you see Wes Morgan lift that trophy.

Leicester, a team that just about stayed up the year before, were now Premier League champions.

It just made me realise that anything can happen in football if you get the right recipe, the right players and the right manager.

Claudio Ranieri with the Premier League trophy following Leicester
Claudio Ranieri with the Premier League trophy following Leicester's win over Everton

Phil Thompson - Arsenal 2-1 Leicester, February 14

Here's what we said at the time: Arsenal breathed life back into their Premier League title charge as Danny Welbeck's 95th-minute winner sealed a 2-1 victory over 10-man Leicester on Sunday. Welbeck struck late on to break Leicester's resolve after the league leaders looked to have survived 40 minutes with a man down, following Danny Simpson's dismissal for a second bookable offence.

THOMMO: Leicester got beaten, but only 2-1 and this was an Arsenal side that was vying for the Premier League title.

What impressed me was how the Foxes played at the Emirates, their attitude and how close they ran Arsenal away from home.

Danny Welbeck scored a late winner to break Leicester hearts at the Emirates
Danny Welbeck scored a late winner to break Leicester hearts at the Emirates

They had Danny Simpson sent off but still only lost in the last minute and I went, "Wow, if they can do that…"

It was such a fascinating game, Jamie Vardy won a penalty kick against Nacho Monreal, and it was so close to call. That was the day I thought, "Leicester can win the title".

More than being just the best football game with loads of goals, bad defences and great strikes, it was an eye opener in the context of the Premier League title race.

Wes Morgan and his Leicester team-mates react after Danny Welbeck scores Arsenal
Wes Morgan and his Leicester team-mates react after Danny Welbeck scores Arsenal's late winner

Matt Le Tissier - Swansea 5-4 Crystal Palace, November 26

Here's what we said at the time: Fernando Llorente's stoppage-time double gave Bob Bradley his first Premier League win as Swansea claimed a thrilling 5-4 victory over Crystal Palace.

LE TISS: I'm going for one that happened very recently. I love a 5-4 - you cannot beat goals in football matches.

For me, although some of the defending left a lot to be desired, I think all the fans that were in that stadium will remember that game for many a year to come.

Watch highlights: Swansea 5-4 Crystal Palace

Alan Smith - Leicester 3-1 Everton, May 7

The celebrations at the end, when they had wiped the floor with a very poor Everton team, were amazing.

The opera singing, the atmosphere within the King Power that day and then the scenes on the pitch - I was lucky enough to be commentating and went down to join in.

Claudio Ranieri came up and all the different players too, with their families and kids out there. It was a special moment.

Opera singer Andrea Bocelli performed at Leicester City
Opera singer Andrea Bocelli performed at Leicester City's title coronation

Graeme Souness - Leicester 3-1 Everton, May 7

Same for me, the game when Leicester actually lifted the trophy, with the opera singer Andrea Bocelli in the stadium.

I know there is always a fabulous atmosphere in that stadium, but it was just unbelievable that this should be happening to little Leicester.

And it was just that moment, it was a lovely summer's day and it was quite surreal.

Jamie Vardy opened the scoring for Leicester against Everton
Jamie Vardy opened the scoring for Leicester against Everton

Paul Merson - Man City 1-3 Leicester, February 6

Every week we were on Soccer Saturday saying, "Leicester will blow up in a minute" and they went to Man City and gave them a doing.

It wasn't a smash-and-grab; they ripped Man City to shreds and for me, that was the stand-out game, just above them winning 1-0 against Tottenham.

Robert Huth also found the net in a victory for Leicester over Manchester City
Robert Huth also found the net in a victory for Leicester over Manchester City

Don Goodman - Chelsea 2-2 Tottenham, May 2

Here's what we said at the time: Tottenham saw their Premier League title dreams shattered after Chelsea came back from 2-0 down to secure a 2-2 draw at Stamford Bridge. Substitute Eden Hazard scored his first home goal in a year to complete the comeback seven minutes from time and hand Leicester an historic title.

GOODMAN: The game that won Leicester the title. It stands out because once Chelsea equalised to make it 2-2, it then became a throwback to the old days.

A mass brawl broke out at full-time between players and staff from both sides at Stamford Bridge
A mass brawl broke out at full-time between players and staff from both sides at Stamford Bridge

Players were kicking lumps out of the opposition. They completely lost their discipline and both teams could have finished the game with eight men if the referee had followed the letter of the law.

It stands out not just for the occasion, but I've never seen a group of players lose the plot like that in modern times.

It was a fiery encounter between Chelsea and Tottenham on Monday Night Football
It was a fiery encounter between Chelsea and Tottenham on Monday Night Football

Charlie Nicholas - Tottenham 0-1 Leicester, January 13

Here's what we said at the time: Robert Huth's late header shocked Tottenham at White Hart Lane and gave Leicester an impressive 1-0 victory as the title race took another twist. After 83 minutes of exhilarating Premier League football, with a string of chances for both sides, the Foxes centre-back nodded into the top corner beyond Hugo Lloris after being left unmarked from a corner.

CHARLIE: There are many, and on Soccer Saturday we do get a lot of different games, but the one that stood out for me was when Leicester had to go to Spurs, because Tottenham were gathering momentum.

There was a belief that this was going to be their time to take advantage.

Robert Huth (No 6) scored Leicester
Robert Huth (No 6) scored Leicester's winning goal at White Hart Lane

When Leicester got a result, that was actually the day when I thought they provoked Spurs, and said, "You really have to start playing catch up, you just can't close the gap on us". And that is quite soul-destroying.

That Spurs match seemed to be the game when Leicester convinced themselves they could be champions.

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Source : skysports[dot]com

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