Premier League European Race Intensifies As Saints Battle To Avoid Historic Low

‎Liverpool have secured the Premier League title, and the three teams relegated know their fate.

‎Meanwhile, the battle for the top five spots is intensifying.

‎Manchester City, having recovered from a surprising mid-season dip in form, are optimistic about finishing in one of the Champions League positions.

‎At the other end of the table, Southampton are bidding to avoid finishing their dismal season on a historic low note.

‎Sportxparte looks at three talking points ahead of this weekend’s action:

‎Man City Set for Wolves test

‎Manchester City, aiming to salvage their turbulent season by securing a Champions League spot, faces a tough challenge against in-form Wolves on Friday.

‎Currently in fourth place, City are in a tight contest with Newcastle, Chelsea, Aston Villa, and Nottingham Forest, the latter having lost 2-0 to Brentford on Thursday.

‎The top five finishers will all qualify for the Champions League after strong performances in Europe from English clubs.

‎Nottingham Forest returns to action at Crystal Palace on Monday, while Aston Villa hosts Fulham on Saturday.

‎Newcastle will travel to Brighton on Sunday, and Chelsea will host Liverpool later that afternoon.

‎Pep Guardiola has recently welcomed City stars Rodri and Erling Haaland back to training, but neither player is yet ready to return to match action.

‎Deprived of arguably his two most important players, Rodri since September and Haaland since March, Guardiola has at least kept City in the hunt as their four-year reign as champions came to an end.

‎Wolves have achieved six consecutive wins, moving them clear of relegation danger, and Guardiola expects them to be a tough opponent at the Etihad Stadium.

‎”The quality they have, the shape they play, the courage, it’s no surprise,” he said.

‎”Wolves have always had, in the last years, really good players and now they’re having an incredible run. It’s another final for us, an important game.”

‎Saints aim to avoid record-low

‎Last weekend, Southampton was on the verge of a draw against Fulham, which would have surpassed Derby’s record-low Premier League points total of 11.

‎However, the bottom-of-the-table Saints couldn’t hold on, as Ryan Sessegnon’s stoppage-time goal secured Fulham’s comeback from a goal down at St Mary’s.

‎It was the latest kick in the teeth for Southampton, with relegation to the Championship long since confirmed.

‎With just four games remaining, Southampton has their best chance to end their season with a record-low points total. Their upcoming match at second-bottom Leicester offers an opportunity to surpass Derby’s 2007/08 record.

‎”We have to be realistic about the situation I inherited,” said interim boss Simon Rusk.

‎”We’ve had some difficult results and we are bottom of the league. We were never going to become solid and dominant.

‎”If we did that when I came in with seven games to go, I’d probably be able to bring world peace as well.”

‎Arsenal warm up for PSG showdown

‎With the title race concluded and Arsenal likely finishing as runners-up for the third consecutive season, Mikel Arteta’s team is now focused on next Wednesday’s crucial Champions League match against Paris Saint-Germain.

‎After losing 1-0 to PSG in the first leg semi-final in London on Tuesday, the Gunners will travel to the Parc des Princes aiming to secure a historic victory.

‎Arsenal have never won the Champions League so it would be a surprise if Arteta risked many of his key players for Saturday’s game against Bournemouth.

‎Spain midfielder Mikel Merino said his teammates still believe they can advance to their first Champions League final since 2006.

‎”We don’t have to prove things to other people. We have to prove things to ourselves because we are our main critic, and we are the ones that want to win the most,” he said.

‎”That is why we are going to go in the second leg with all the energy in the world.”