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The race for the Premier League title is shaping up to be a thrilling battle, as Manchester City, Liverpool, and Arsenal prepare for a three-way showdown in the upcoming final stretch of the season.
Manchester City, the reigning champions, hope to secure their fourth consecutive league title with the leadership of Pep Guardiola – a feat that has never been accomplished in the past of English football. City dominated Arsenal in the last stretch of the previous season, but the Gunners are back in the competition this year and have been joined by a rejuvenated Liverpool team – who will have an emotional final stretch under Jurgen Klopp on Merseyside.
The points were shared at Anfield following an epic clash between Klopp’s Liverpool and Guardiola’s City, as the managerial rivals met in the Premier League for the final time. It means Arsenal lead the way, but the Premier League will return from March’s international break for another blockbuster fixture, as Mikel Arteta’s side visit the Etihad to take on the champions, having already beaten City earlier this season.
As April approaches, the Premier League title race is heating up and the final stretch is just beginning. Which team has the most favorable schedule and who will face the toughest opponents in the last few games of the season? This is where the championship could be decided.
Points: 64
GD: +46
Avg. opponents PpG: 1.63
Difficulty: ★★★★
Can Mikel Arteta’s team avoid the same mistakes as last season as they currently hold the lead? Arsenal only managed to win three of their last nine Premier League matches, going four games without a win, resulting in their title chances slipping away.
Rephrased: It is crucial for Arsenal to not repeat their previous performance as they face Manchester City once again on March 31st. Having lost eight consecutive away games to City, their last victory was in January 2015. A tie in the upcoming match would greatly uplift their spirits for the upcoming months of April and May.
Arsenal will also have challenging matches against Aston Villa and Tottenham. Their trip to North London in late April to face their rival should be an exciting one. They will also have to navigate visits to Brighton, led by Roberto de Zerbi, and Wolves, managed by Gary O’Neil. The season finale at Old Trafford also poses a major challenge for them.
Last season, Arsenal relinquished the title while playing away from their home ground. They suffered a loss at the Etihad and gave up crucial points after initially being in the lead at Anfield and the London Stadium. Their success this season will once again be dependent on their performance away from home. Additionally, competing in the latter stages of the Champions League will add a new dynamic to the title race this season.
The impressive offensive streak of Arsenal, winning eight consecutive games in the Premier League, has resulted in the team having the top goal difference in the league.
Points: 64
GD: +39
Avg. opponents PpG: 1.44
Difficulty: ★★★1/2
Following two almost-successful attempts in 2019 and 2022, Liverpool is aware that they need to strive for perfection in order to overthrow Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in the race for the title. Despite the potential for a missed chance, their 1-1 tie against the reigning champions at Anfield allowed them to maintain their lead over Guardiola’s team. Additionally, their upcoming schedule after the break for international games appears to be in their favor.
A second trip to Old Trafford in a matter of weeks (following their FA Cup quarter-final on 17 March) stands out for obvious reasons, as does a Merseyside Derby at Goodison Park, in a fixture could be rearranged for late in the season. Both are set to be emotional occasions and Jurgen Klopp does not have the best away records at Liverpool’s two biggest rivals.
Aside from that, one should be wary of potential conflicts with teams vying for a spot in the Champions League. These could include facing Tottenham at Anfield and traveling to Aston Villa in the last three games, with the final match at home against Wolves also posing a challenge for Liverpool.
Klopp’s team has already claimed victory in the Carabao Cup and remains in contention for the FA Cup and Europa League. In 2022, they went all the way in their quest for the quadruple, but ultimately came up short in the Champions League and title race. The Reds are once again facing an exciting finale to the season, but the question remains: can Klopp lead them to Premier League victory in his last year?
Manchester City
Points: 63
GD: +35
Avg. opponents PpG: 1.62
Difficulty: ★★★1/2
Can Manchester City redeem themselves and reclaim their title-winning performance in the second half of the season? Despite a challenging start, Pep Guardiola’s team has gone 19 games without a loss and came close to defeating Liverpool at Anfield. As the champions face a crucial series of matches, they are up against their toughest stretch of the season thus far.
The journey to Anfield marks the beginning of a crucial stretch for the team, as they face four of the top five teams in the Premier League. This includes consecutive matches against Liverpool and Arsenal, separated by the international break, followed by a visit to Tottenham, a venue where City has yet to secure a victory in the Premier League under Guardiola.
If City maintains their winning streak, they will most likely become champions for the fourth consecutive year. Although they still need to reschedule their match against Brighton, they will have the advantage of playing at home against Luton and Wolves in April and early May, amidst the possibility of competing in the Champions League quarter-finals and semi-finals. This situation could have been much more difficult.
The city’s schedule towards the end of the season is challenging, with the toughest matches happening at the beginning.
Cannot be reworded.
