David Beckham scored an extraordinary goal from the half way line on the opening day of the season as Manchester united beat Wimbledon 3-0. Fabrizio Ravenelli also started the season off in spectacular fashion as he scored a hat trick for Middlesbrough in a thrilling 3-3 draw against Liverpool.
Newcastle were searching for the title once again after losing it to Manchester United the previous season. Alan Shearer signed to Newcastle for a record breaking £15 million from Blackburn and he scored a total of 25 goals through out the season. The title was a four horse race at the beginning of the season with Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Newcastle all in the chase. Newcastle went top of the league in November as they thrashed Manchester United 5-0 and this inflicted the biggest defeat for twelve years on the defending champions. Manchester United followed that embarrassing defeat by another, this time Southampton pounced them 6-3.
Liverpool were coming strong by the end of 1996 as they beat Middlesbrough 5-1, with four goals coming from Robbie Fowler, this put Liverpool at the top of the league. Manchester United found their form and by the end of January they were back on top of the league and they remained their for the rest of the season. The remaining months of the premiership was an anti-climax, as Manchester united were crowned Premiership winners without even playing when Liverpool lost to Wimbledon and West ham held Newcastle to a 0-0 draw on 6th May. Newcastle once again lost out on the title at the hands of Manchester United as they trailed by seven points; their biggest victory of the season was a 7-1 win over Tottenham in December.