Liverpool may still be top of the Premier League despite losing 3-1 to Arsenal on Sunday, but that’s only half the story when it comes to the title race.The Reds moved up to five points after beating Chelsea 4-1 on Wednesday. The Gunners, who started the weekend in third place, beat Jurgen Klopp’s side to close the gap to two points and move into second place, ahead of second-placed Manchester City.
Elsewhere, Aston Villa moved back into fourth, five points behind Liverpool, with a 5-0 win over Sheffield United, while Tottenham Hotspur moved seven points clear of fifth with a draw 2-2 with Everton. But as always, reigning champions Man City are the team’s title rivals I’m watching most closely.Pep Guardiola’s men remain five points behind Manchester United ahead of their trip to Brentford on Monday night.
A win for the Bees would see them move back into second place and cut their lead to two points.But City can still play extra games against their title rivals thanks to their performance at the Club World Cup in December. Liverpool got their title race off to a flying start with Arsenal’s defeat at home to Brentford on Tuesday, February 20, taking maximum points against Wasps, who are struggling above the Reds.Klopp admitted he expects City to get maximum points and outscore his side after the loss to the Gunners.
“I’m not nervous because City have two finals to go,” he said after Sunday’s game. “We always expect City to win every game with 100% honesty. “We don’t have to follow them, that’s okay. Nothing has really changed for us.”With Liverpool and most of the Premier League still in contention with 15 games and 45 points in the table, it is still too early to tie the blue and white ribbon around the trophy.
A win in their remaining games would see City crowned champions, but United could also host Guardiola’s side at Anfield on Saturday, March 9. And this clash comes in some of the toughest matches as the reigning champions host the strongest of the best teams in the coming weeks.Before traveling to Anfield, they will face Manchester United in the Manchester derby on Sunday, March 3. They also visit Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday 16 March and play Arsenal on Saturday 30 March in their first game after the first international break of the year.
The home game against Aston Villa is scheduled for Wednesday, April 3, completing 31 match days against five European rivals. Meanwhile, following these fixtures, City travel to Crystal Palace on Saturday 6 April. Crystal Palace have taken six points from either side in their last 12 meetings. They will play a home game against Luton Town on Saturday 13th April and then travel to Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday 20th April. The quarter-finals will be played between both teams’ games against Manchester United and Liverpool at home to Luton on Wednesday 6 March.
At the same time, the aforementioned FA Cup quarter-final and semi-final meetings with Brighton and Tottenham will also be rearranged. Of course, City were in this position at the end of every game when the stakes were too high. And that didn’t stop them from winning the treble last season. However, this year was much more intense and difficult considering that such tough matches were repeated one after the other.Arsenal have a tough schedule ahead, including a home game against Chelsea and an away game against Manchester City during the international break in March.
The away trip to the Etihad on Saturday 30 March will be followed by games against Brighton on Saturday 6 April, Tottenham on Saturday 27 April and Manchester United on Saturday 11 May.Conversely, Liverpool’s toughest remaining games are against Manchester City on Saturday, March 9, with next weekend’s games against Everton on Saturday, March 16, Manchester United on Saturday, April 6, Tottenham on Saturday, May 4, and Manchester City is an away game. Aston.
Villa play their last game of the season on Saturday 11 May. There will be many twists and turns in the Premier League title race this season. And while the Reds’ loss to Arsenal was an unexpected blow, there are still important games to play.
