Nothing too drastic happened in the Premier League over the weekend, at least not at the top. After Arsenal and Manchester City’s wins, the table is balanced, with most clubs having played 26 games.
With 12 games to go, the gap between first and third place is just two points and we are in for a squeaky clean season. Arsenal are not letting up despite the winter lull and have won five in a row, scoring 25 goals in the process.
Manchester City showed a chink in their armour against Chelsea last week, but proved too strong for Bournemouth. Both sides had to respond after Liverpool closed to within four points on Wednesday when they beat Luton in the second half.
Now it’s a game in which the title rivals take turns to clash and prove why they should be considered favourites. Liverpool and Arsenal are scoring goal after goal, while Pep Guardiola’s champions are fighting their way through the games without conceding a single goal.
The goal difference has also changed dramatically. Liverpool have a points advantage but are +38 goals behind the Gunners. City, thanks to their profligacy in the final third, remain at +33. With European football back on the agenda and the season heading into the home straight, here’s where you could win or lose the title.
Arsenal’s five toughest remaining games:
Brighton (A) – 6 April
Chelsea (H) – 16 March
Tottenham (A) – 27 April
Manchester United (A) – 11 May
Manchester City (A) – 31 March
Verdict: March is shaping up to be an exceptional month at the top of the standings. The Gunners have a big game against City at the end, but the first and second teams will also meet. Guardiola has to face Manchester United first.
Liverpool have Everton and away at City, while Arsenal have relatively nicely scheduled games for now. For Mikel Arteta’s men, it is the finish that is difficult. They will have to take full advantage of their rivals being on the bounce over the next four weeks and look to build some sort of advantage at the top.
Manchester City’s toughest five remaining games
Brighton (A) – 17 March
Manchester United (H) – 3 March
Tottenham (A) – 20 April
Liverpool (A) – 10 March
Arsenal (H) – 31 March
Verdict: It will be crucial for City to get through March. If Guardiola is on top in April, it will be difficult to take the title away from them. But should they take advantage of a brutal run of games and the international break, there is a chance City will be far enough away to make the almost inevitable end-of-season assault too little, too late.
Liverpool’s five toughest remaining games
Everton (A) – 17 March
Aston Villa (A) – 11 May
Tottenham (H) – 4 May
Manchester United (A) – 6 April
Manchester City (H) – 10 March
Verdict: Liverpool are still the best opponents. They have already won one trophy this season and the Klopp factor has a big influence. They have a tougher finish than City, which could become a key factor when Europa League commitments are taken into account, but for now they are expected to continue their strong rise. Their pre-competition is tough, but the home games against City and Spurs give a slightly lighter feeling.