The Premier League is heading right into a classic title race, with Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal locked in a 3-way battle at the start of the season.
Defending champions Manchester City are aiming to win their fourth consecutive league title under Pep Guardiola – a feat that has never before been achieved in the history of English football. City demolished Arsenal last yr, but the Gunners are back in contention this campaign and showed newfound resilience to attract 0-0 at the Etihad on Sunday and stay above the champions with nine games remaining.
Thanks to this, Liverpool are in the lead when the confrontation really begins, i.e. Jurgen Klopp’s previous few weeks on Merseyside. After the epic clash between Klopp’s Liverpool and Guardiola’s City, the last time the managerial rivals met in the Premier League, it means all three have now played one another twice, with the fate of the title decided elsewhere.
So as the Premier League title race enters April, which team has the best games and which team has the hardest run of games to finish the season?
Here’s where to win and lose a title…
Liverpool
Points: 67
GD: +40
Wed. opponents PpG: 1.37
Difficulty: ★★★1/2
After near-misses in 2019 and 2022, Liverpool know they should be near perfect to dethrone Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in the title race. Perhaps the 1-1 draw with the champions at Anfield was a missed opportunity, but Liverpool prevailed and City and Arsenal played out a goalless draw at the Etihad. With nine games remaining, the title is in Liverpool’s hands.
The second visit to Old Trafford in a matter of weeks is special for obvious reasons, with Liverpool now much more motivated to win after their dramatic defeat to Manchester United in the FA Cup quarter-finals. Klopp’s latest trip to Goodison Park must also be an emotional affair as title-chasing Liverpool face relegation-threatened Everton in the Merseyside derby on Wednesday, April 24.
Beyond that, key clashes to look at could come from teams chasing the Champions League, with games against Tottenham at Anfield and a visit to Aston Villa giving Liverpool a difficult final three games, while Wolves will play at home on the final day also considered .
Klopp’s side, who’ve already won the Carabao Cup, are also doing well in the Europa League and are favorites for the final in Dublin on May 22. They will face Atalanta in the quarter-finals, and either Benfica or Marseille in the semi-finals. The Reds once more face a dramatic final few weeks – will Klopp have the option to lift the Premier League in his final season?
Arsenal
Points: 65
GD: +46
Wed. opponents PpG: 1.44
Difficulty: ★★★★
Have Mikel Arteta’s players learned any lessons from last season? The Gunners won just three of their last nine Premier League games last yr, which included a 4-game winless run, before crashing out of the title race.
However, a 0-0 draw at the Etihad, where they lost 4-1 last season, means Arsenal are a tougher opponent than they were at the moment last yr. The result can have given Liverpool the advantage, but it surely provides an enormous psychological boost for Arteta’s players ahead of April and May.
There, Arsenal can even face tough games against Aston Villa and Tottenham – their journey through north London on Sunday, April 28 ought to be epic. Visits to Roberto De Zerbi’s Brighton and Gary O’Neil’s Wolves is also difficult, while the penultimate weekend of the season at Old Trafford will go from strength to strength.
Arsenal lost the title away from home last season – after defeat at the Etihad and expensive points lost from winning positions at Anfield and the London Stadium. Their fate this season will probably be selected the road again.
Taking part in the later stages of the Champions League can even make the title race this season a distinct challenge. Arsenal will face Bayern Munich and Harry Kane in their first quarter-final since 2010. On Sunday, April 14, each teams will lose at home to Aston Villa.
As a results of Arsenal’s stunning attacking form – eight straight Premier League wins before the draw with City – the Gunners currently have the highest goal difference in the Premier League. This might be crucial.
Manchester
Points: 64
GD: +35
Wed. opponents PpG: 1.35
Difficulty: ★★★
The double treble continues, but are Manchester City nearly as good as last season? Pep Guardiola’s men are unbeaten in 20 matches but have been unable to beat either Liverpool or Arsenal in the two title clashes either side of the international break, leaving the champions third in the title race.
However, City have played here before and their matches look favorable, now Liverpool and Arsenal are out of the query. Still, they face the other two top five contenders: Guardiola’s host Aston Villa on Wednesday, after Unai Emery’s side beat them at Villa Park earlier this season, and a visit to Tottenham, where City have never beaten was winning in the Premier League. under Guardiola it was now possible to play at the end of the season, after reaching the FA Cup semi-finals.
City, still in three competitions, have the hardest schedule of the Premier League title contenders, although Luton’s home run between the Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid on April 9-17 might have been much worse. However, the moment of departure to Tottenham will probably be crucial.
Credit : www.independent.co.uk
