MANCHESTER CITY vs Arsenal was the most-watched Premier League game for three years – with the top five of all-time, revealed.
The huge clash at the Etihad pulled in a staggering 2.6million viewers with fans desperate to get their live football fix.
That figure equates to 14.3 per cent of all TV on Wednesday night, with Aston Villa vs Sheff Utd drawing just 1.4m viewers.
Of the 2.6m people to tune into Man City’s crushing 3-0 win over the Gunners, 75 per cent opted to use the artificial sound function.
The huge ratings make the clash the most-watched game since 2017 – when 2m people tuned in to watch Manchester United’s 1-1 draw with Liverpool.
But despite attracting a huge crowd from home – with fans not allowed in stadiums – the Man City vs Arsenal game came nowhere the all-time top five in terms of viewers.
Check out which games make the list, below…
5. Chelsea 3-3 Man Utd
February 5, 2012 (3.26m)
IT was the game that truly sparked the most incredible title race of all-time – culminating in “Agueroooo!”.
Fans turned their TVs on in their millions to watch what was always going to be a thrilling encounter – and they weren’t disappointed.
Man Utd roared back from 3-0 down to snatch a point, including two Wayne Rooney penalties.
But ultimately it wasn’t enough to win the league as Sergio Aguero’s late winner against QPR handed Man City their first-ever Premier League crown at United’s expense.
4. Man Utd 1-1 Liverpool
October 20, 2019 (3.28m)
WITH Liverpool having achieved maximum points in every match up until their trip to Old Trafford, fans were intrigued to see what would happen as the old enemies collided once more.
The Reds in peak form and Man Utd struggling to find top gear, many predicted a win for Jurgen Klopp and Co.
But it took a late leveller from Adam Lallana for Liverpool to salvage a point as the Kop mob dropped points for the first time in 2019-20.
3. Liverpool 3-1 Man City
November 10, 2019 (3.35m)
AS the Anfield juggernaut continued to smash its way towards the Premier League title, viewers were keen to see how they fared against the reigning champions.
Many expected the wheels to fall off the Liverpool machine, but the Reds made light work of Pep Guardiola’s team, going 2-0 up in the first 15 minutes.
That day, the 3.35m watching realised just how strong this Kop team really was…
2. Arsenal 2-2 Man Utd
April 16, 2003 (3.43m)
WITH Man Utd at the peak of their powers and Arsene Wenger’s Gunners just months away from the start of their “Invincibles” season, this was always going to a fan-favourite.
Not to mention all the animosity surrounding the two fierce rivals at the time…
Ultimately it ended as a feisty 2-2 draw in North London – with United clinching the title just weeks later… but Arsenal would get their revenge in 2003-04.
1. Man City 1-0 Man Utd
April 30, 2012 (4.04m)
NO game has ever even come close to the Manchester derby of 2011-12 at the Etihad…
A staggering 600,000 MORE viewers tuned in for this game than any other in Premier League history.
United were desperate to get one over on their “noisy neighbours” City, who had been ominously climbing the Premier League table, gaining on the Red Devils.
Three weeks before the match, City were trailing by eight points – but Vincent Kompany’s crucial headed winner sent his side top on goal difference that night.
They would go on to win it all, of course…
