Review of the year - 2010

We look back at another thrilling year in the Barclay's Premier League.

It has been another exciting year in the Barclays Premier League with goals galore for fans to enjoy.
Chelsea won the 2009/10 title and went on to complete the Double but have found it harder in the final quarter of the year.

The race for the 2011 crown is boiling up into a thrilling contest and looks set to go right to the wire with five teams all in contention going into the New Year, headed by unbeaten Manchester United. Blackpool have come into the Premier League as a breath of fresh air under charismatic manager Ian Holloway while newly-promoted duo Newcastle United and West Bromwich Albion have also established a firm foothold.
The survival struggle also looks set to go the distance in what is widely acknowledged to be a more competitive division than ever with any team capable of beating anyone else.
Here we review the highs and lows of 2010 and wish all our readers a very Happy New Year.

January:

The year begins with a shock as Manchester United lose 1-0 at home to Leeds United in the FA Cup third round.
Former Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira joins Manchester City from Juventus as heavy snow hits the first Barclays Premier League programme of the year.
Burnley appoint Brian Laws as their new manager to replace Owen Coyle who switches to Bolton Wanderers. Sol Campbell rejoins Arsenal.
Wayne Rooney helps United to a 3-1 victory at Arsenal, closing the gap at the top to just a point at the end of the month.
David Moyes claims the first Barclays Manager of the Month award of the New Year. Wayne Rooney is announced as Barclays Player of the Month.

February:

Adam Johnson is the big deal as the transfer window closes, moving from Middlesbrough to Manchester City.
Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey is ruled out for the season after breaking a leg against Stoke City.
Chelsea remain at the summit after Didier Drogba scores two goals in the win over Arsenal and Manchester United come from behind to beat Aston Villa 2-1 in the Carling Cup final.
Fulham's Roy Hodgson collects his second Barclays Manager of the Month of the season with his goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer winning the players' award.

March:

Michael Owen is ruled out for the season with a hamstring injury and Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas breaks a leg in the Champions League tie against Barcelona.
Phil Brown moves aside as Hull City manager and Iain Dowie comes in to try and keep the Tigers up. Portsmouth are deducted nine points after falling into administration.
Everton's David Moyes wins his second Barclays Manager of the Month award of the season and Chelsea's Florent Malouda scoops the Player of the Month.

April:

Newcastle United are promoted to the Barclays Premier League, quickly followed by West Bromwich Albion.
Chelsea win 2-1 at Old Trafford with goals by Joe Cole and Didier Drogba but Tottenham's 2-1 win over Carlo Ancelotti's men blows the title race wide open after Paul Scholes nets a dramatic stoppage-time winner at rivals City.
Bottom club Portsmouth are relegated after West Ham United's win over Sunderland, while Burnley's defeat against Liverpool sends them back to the Championship after one season. Fulham secure their place in the Europa League final after a two-legged semi-final victory over German club Hamburg.
Martin O'Neill wins April's Barclays Manager of the Month award and Tottenham's Gareth Bale claims the Barclays Player of the Month honour.
Wayne Rooney wins the PFA and the Football Writer's Player of the Year awards.

May:

Manchester United beat Aston Villa on penalties after a 3-3 draw at Old Trafford to claim the Barclays Premier Reserve League title.
Hull City are relegated after two seasons in the top flight following a 2-2 draw with Wigan Athletic.
The title is decided on the final day with Chelsea hammering Wigan Athletic to claim the Barclays Premier League crown ahead of Manchester United.
Arsenal take third spot again, while local rivals Tottenham secure fourth place and qualification for next season's Champions League with victory over Man City.
Drogba finishes as the division's top scorer with 29 league goals to win the Barclays Golden Boot. Chelsea's win gives them a goal tally of 103 for the season - a Premier League record.
There is Europa League heartbreak for Fulham who lose 2-1 to Atletico Madrid in extra-time but Premier League referee Howard Webb takes charge of the Champions League final between Bayern Munich and Inter Milan at Real Madrid's Bernabeu Stadium.
Wayne Rooney is named Barclays Player of the Season and Harry Redknapp is Barclays Manager of the Season.
Chelsea go on to claim their first Double, beating Portsmouth in the FA Cup final and Blackpool secure the final promotion place, beating Cardiff City 3-2 in the play-off final at Wembley.
Everton sign Jermaine Beckford from Leeds United while Manchester United bring in Mexican star Javier Hernandez.

June:

Avram Grant replaces Gianfranco Zola as the new manager of West Ham United and makes former Aston Villa midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger his first signing.
West Ham academy director Tony Carr receives an MBE in the Queen's Birthday List.
Roy Hodgson becomes the new manager of Liverpool following the departure of Rafael Benitez.
Among the major transfers, Hull City midfielder Stephen Hunt signs for Wolverhampton Wanderers and Martin Petrov moves from Manchester City to Bolton Wanderers.
Manchester City snap up midfielder Yaya Toure from Barcelona and Chelsea bring in Yossi Benayoun from Liverpool.

July:

Premier League referee Howard Webb receives the ultimate honour as he takes charge of the World cup final, assisted by Darren Cann and Mike Mullarkey.
He has his work cut out in a tempestuous match which forces him to issue 14 yellow cards and one red as Spain beat the Netherlands 1-0.
Mark Hughes succeeds Roy Hodgson as manager of Fulham.
Manchester City snap up David Silva and Aleksandr Kolarov while Liverpool sign Joe Cole and Dan Gosling joins Newcastle United.

August:

Manchester United beat Chelsea 3-1 to win the Community Shield at Wembley.
Stoke City break their transfer record to capture Sunderland striker Kenwyne Jones.
On the eve of their first season in the Premier League, Blackpool sign five players in one day to strengthen their ranks. They kick off with a 4-0 win at Wigan.
Ryan Giggs maintains his unique record of scoring in every Premier League season as he nets in Manchester United's 3-0 win over Newcastle United.
Champions Chelsea begin the new season in style, beating Stoke 6-0 at Stamford Bridge before thumping Wigan by the same score at the DW Stadium.
That flying start earns Carlo Ancelotti the Barclays Manager of the Month award with the evergreen Paul Scholes capturing the Barclays Player of the Month award.

September:

For the first time, Premier League clubs have to submit squad lists to comply with new regulations.
There are injury blows for Jermain Defoe, Jack Rodwell, Robin van Persie, Theo Walcott and Bobby Zamora who breaks a leg.
Antonio Valencia needs surgery after suffering a dislocation and fracture of an ankle.
Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur all play their 700th match in the Premier League.
Gerard Houllier takes over as manager at Aston Villa following the surprise departure of Martin O'Neill. Alex McLeish signs a new contract with Birmingham City.
West Bromwich Albion's Roberto Di Matteo and Peter Odemwingie are Barclays Manager and Player of the Month.

October:

Newcastle midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa sustains a broken tibia and fibula to his left leg at Manchester City.
Impressive newcomers Blackpool win 2-1 at Liverpool who are in the bottom three but facing a more settled future following the take-over by the NESV group.
Wayne Rooney ends frenzied speculation over his future by singing a new contract at Manchester United.
Newcastle thrash local rivals Sunderland 5-1 as Gareth Bale hogs the headlines for Tottenham with some stunning displays in the Champions League.
Rafael van der Vaart wins the Barclays Player of the Month award with Everton's David Moyes scooping the managerial title.

November:

Wayne Rooney is sent to America in a bid to cure an ankle problem and Blackburn Rovers get new owners in Venky's London Limited.
Former Arsenal star Robert Pires joins Aston Villa as a free agent and there are goals galore on 27th November as a new Premier League record is set for the most goals scored on a single Saturday.
Dimitar Berbatov leads the way with five in Manchester United's 7-1 win over Blackburn becoming only the fourth player in Premier League history to net five in one match.
For the first time, every single Barclays Premier League club scores over the weekend.
Manchester United complete the signing of goalkeeper Anders Lindegaard from Aalesunds. Jelle van Damme is homesick and leaves Wolves.
Bolton Wanderers duo Owen Coyle and Johan Elmander are named the Barclays Manager and Player of the Month.

December:

Chris Hughton leaves his post as Newcastle manager and is replaced by former West Ham boss Alan Pardew.
Sam Allardyce is a surprise departure at Blackburn with Steve Kean given the nod for the rest of the season.
Chelsea go six league matches without a win before beating Bolton 1-0 at Stamford Bridge. Jermaine Pennant makes a permanent switch to Stoke City and Wigan sign Spanish defender Adrian Lopez.
Manchester United finish the year in top spot, having chalked up a new club record of 18 matches unbeaten from the start of the season.
Bottom club going into 2011 is West Ham, thanks to a surprise 1-0 win by Wolves at Liverpool.
World Cup final referee Howard Webb receives an MBE in the New Year Honours List.