Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta plans to follow Thursday’s Premier League match between Liverpool and Sheffield United on TV after Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said he didn’t even know the Gunners and Manchester City were playing in midweek.
It means there is barely one point separating the highest three, although Liverpool still have one game in hand and can return to the highest in the event that they beat Sheffield United at Anfield.
Asked how essential it was for Arsenal to be on top for even 24 hours, Arteta replied: “It means we’re there. We’re really close.”
Arsenal are still third favorites despite being at the highest
After Sunday’s 0-0 draw with Arsenal, City manager Pep Guardiola said: “The favorite is all the time whoever is first.”
However, Opta disagrees with Wednesday’s results still favors second-placed Liverpool (42%).
According to Opta, Arsenal, who like City have eight games left, are third favorites with 23% of the votes.
| Team | % likelihood of winning the title | Current position and points |
| 1. Liverpool | 42 | 2nd place – 67 points |
| 2. City of Man | 35 | third place – 67 points |
| 3. Arsenal | 23 | 1st place – 68 points |
Nielsen’s Gracenote data analyst estimates the probability of each match’s outcome – win, draw or loss – using the Euro Club Index, then simulates the rest of the season a million times to determine the probability.
Liverpool are also favorites after recent results, and Gracenote’s head of analysis Simon Gleave says the difficulty of Arsenal’s next five games – all against top-half teams, with three away – is a key factor.
| Team | % likelihood of winning the title | Current position and points |
| 1. Liverpool | 44 | 2nd place – 67 points |
| 2. City of Man | 37 | third place – 67 points |
| 3. Arsenal | 20 | 1st place – 68 points |
Current table
| Team | He played | Steering | GD | GS | Form (last 5 matches) |
| 1. Arsenal | thirty | 68 | 48 | 72 | WWWDW |
| 2. Liverpool | 29 | 67 | 40 | 67 | WWWDW |
| 3. City of Man | thirty | 67 | 38 | 67 | WOW |
| If the teams are level after 38 games, the title will be decided by goal difference and, if still equal, by the number of goals scored. |
What are the opposite pieces of apparatus?
| April | Sheffield United (hours) | ||
| Manchester United | Crystal Palace(a) | Brighton(a) | |
| Crystal Palace (hours) | Luton (hours) | Aston Villa (hours) | |
| Fulham(a) | Wolves | ||
| Everton(a) | Brighton(a) | Chelsea (h) | |
| West Ham(a) | Nottingham Forest(a) | Tottenham | |
| Power | Tottenham | Wolves (h) | Bournemouth (hours) |
| Aston Villa(s) | Fulham(a) | Manchester United | |
| Wolves (h) | West Ham (hours) | Everton(a) | |
| Postponed until now TBC | Tottenham |
When were the opposite next three-way title races?
There were several three-way races for the Premier League title, with the teams separated by just two points at the end of the 38-game season.
2013-14: As recently as May 6, 2014, Liverpool, Man City and Chelsea were only two points apart, but City won the match outright and jumped ahead tripping Liverpool – characterized by Steven Gerrard’s infamous mistake in the defeat to Chelsea, and then Crystal Palace’s comeback from three goals down to a 3-3 draw – and winning the title.
2001-02: On April 23, 2002, Arsenal led Liverpool by one point and Manchester United were another point behind. However, Arsenal had a game in hand and were midway through an 11-game winning streak. They sealed the title beating United at Old Trafford.
1995-96: In mid-March, with eight games left, Manchester United had 61 points on their account with Newcastle, and third-placed Liverpool had 59 points. Despite playing two more matches during this time, Sir Alex Ferguson’s men rose to the challenge Kevin Keegan’s Magpies.
What happened at this stage last 12 months?
What happens if teams finish with the identical variety of points?
In the event of a draw, the league is decided by goal difference, then goals scored, then most points in head-to-head matches, and then most away goals in head-to-head history.
Whatever happens, there are sure to be plenty of twists and turns between now and the final day of the season on May 19.
Credit : www.bbc.co.uk
