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A Look At Premier League Title Race With Nine Games Remaining
Arsenal’s visit to Manchester City did not meet expectations, resulting in a goalless draw at the Etihad Stadium. This outcome has kept the Premier League title race tightly contested among three teams.
Liverpool has now taken the lead with nine games remaining, following their comeback victory over Brighton. Despite conceding a goal just 85 seconds into the match, Liverpool secured a 2-1 win on Sunday.
Sportxparte examines the current standings of each title contender and compares their upcoming fixtures.
Liverpool – 67 points
Jurgen Klopp is on track for a fairytale ending to his time at Anfield as Liverpool capitalized on their title rivals dropping points.
The Reds were tested by Brighton, with Roberto De Zerbi, a potential successor to Klopp, causing problems for the German once again. However, Klopp emerged victorious over the Italian for the first time in five meetings, courtesy of goals from Luis Diaz & Mohamed Salah.
Liverpool have a relatively easy fixture at home against bottom-placed Sheffield United before facing a challenging trip to Manchester United next weekend. Just three weeks ago, Liverpool’s hopes of a quadruple were dashed at Old Trafford as they narrowly lost in the FA Cup quarter-final 4-3 after extra time.
A local derby on the road against Everton could present a challenge for Liverpool, while they are set to encounter Champions League-chasing Tottenham & Aston Villa in two of their last three matches.
Next Fixtures:
April 4: Sheffield United (H)
April 7: Manchester United (A)
April 14: Crystal Palace (H)
April 20: Fulham (A)
April 24: Everton (A)
April 27: West Ham (A)
May 4: Tottenham (H)
May 11: Aston Villa (A)
May 19: Wolves (H)
Arsenal – 65 points
Arsenal’s impressive eight-game winning streak was halted at the Etihad, but securing a point still highlights the significant progress made by’ Mikel Arteta’s team in the past year.
Twelve months ago, Arsenal suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat against City, with Arteta’s young squad faltering towards the end of the season after leading the title race for a significant period.
Now, they appear more experienced & possess a deeper squad capable of handling the pressure as they strive to clinch their first title in two decades.
Although Luton is expected to be a manageable opponent at the Emirates on Wednesday, Arsenal will face a challenging series of away matches against North London rivals Tottenham, Manchester United, Brighton, & Wolves in the next fixtures.
Next Fixtures:
April 3: Luton (H)
April 6: Brighton (A)
April 14: Aston Villa (H)
April 20: Wolves (A)
April 23: Chelsea (H)
April 28: Tottenham (A)
May 4: Bournemouth (H)
May 11: Manchester United (A)
April 19: Everton (H)
Manchester City – 64 points
Manchester City are hoping to achieve a historic feat by’ becoming the first team to win four consecutive English top-flight titles. With their experience in sealing victories, City has the necessary expertise to navigate towards success.
Despite their strong position, Pep Guardiola has acknowledged that City are currently considered third favorites for the title, as they require assistance from both Liverpool & Arsenal in the remaining matches.
As they approach the end of a crucial month, the defending champions will face fourth-placed Aston Villa at the Etihad on Wednesday. If they can maintain their closeness to the top, City will be optimistic about closing the gap on the leaders, with a visit to Tottenham being their most challenging fixture in the final eight games.
Next Fixtures:
April 3: Aston Villa (H)
April 6: Crystal Palace (A)
April 13: Luton (H)
April 25: Brighton (A)
April 28: Nottingham Forest (A)
May 4: Wolves (H)
May 11: Fulham (A)
May 19: West Ham (H)
TBC: Tottenham (A)
