Five matches that will determine the Premier League championship race

As each club enters its final ten games of the season, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester City are embroiled in an intense battle for the Premier League title.

Those in charge On goal difference, Arsenal leads second-place Liverpool, while third-place City is one point below the top two.

AFP Sport examines five games that are anticipated to be crucial in determining the winners of this season.

The following five games will determine the Premier League title race:

Manchester City v Arsenal, March 31
Immediately following the international break, the biggest match of the title run-in takes place at Etihad Stadium.

An unprecedented fourth consecutive Premier League title for City might be lost with a third loss against the Gunners this season.

Thanks to a late goal from Gabriel Martinelli, Arsenal defeated Pep Guardiola’s team 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium in October. In the Community Shield in August, Arsenal also defeated Pep Guardiola’s team on penalties.

Although Mikel Arteta’s team has triumphed in their last eight league games, City has won 22 games overall and hasn’t suffered a home loss since November 2022.

Manchester City v Aston Villa, April 3
Should City manage to achieve an invaluable triumph over Arsenal, their chances of finishing in the top four will be severely limited. Villa only makes a three-day visit to the Etihad.

Former European Champions Villa, who are in fourth place and aiming for a first since the competition changed to the Champions League, are having an incredibly successful campaign.

In December, Unai Emery’s team surprised City with a 1-0 victory thanks to a goal from Leon Bailey in the 74th minute.

Since then, City has not lost, while Villa has held onto a top four spot despite Tottenham’s charge.

Manchester United v Liverpool, April 7
Liverpool will be seeking retribution at Old Trafford following their agonizing 4-3 defeat at the hands of their fierce rivals in the FA Cup quarterfinals.

Amad Diallo’s last-gasp winner halted the Reds’ quest for a quadruple crown, but Jurgen Klopp’s team was unable to cling on as they trailed 2-1 and 3-2 near the end of regulation time and extra time, respectively.

If Liverpool adds the Premier League and Europa League to the League Cup they won in February, they still have a chance to give Klopp a spectacular sendoff in his last season.

Liverpool will need to win at Old Trafford for the first time since 2021 in order to tie United’s record of 20 English championships.

Tottenham v Arsenal, April 28

The traditionally fierce north London derby will have an added edge because there is so much on the line for these long-standing rivals.

In both 1971 and 2004, Arsenal famously won the league at White Hart Lane to secure the championship. By defeating their bitter rivals in the renovated stadium where those legendary victories were held, they might take a significant step toward winning another championship.

The last time Arsenal was named champions was 20 years ago, but they have only lost once in the last six north London derbies, even though in a September 2-2 draw at the Emirates, they twice gave up the lead.

Attack-oriented Tottenham, rejuvenated in Ange Postecoglou’s debut season as manager, will undoubtedly be on the front foot as they look to place in the top four.

Aston Villa v Liverpool, May 11
Even though Liverpool easily defeated Villa 3-0 at Anfield in September, the rematch could be a tougher challenge for the Reds.

Klopp will try to win at Villa Park for the fourth time in his last away league game as manager of Liverpool.

When Villa defeated Liverpool 7-2 in 2020, Klopp confessed that his team had “lost the plot.”

Liverpool can’t afford a similar collapse, especially when they could be about to win their first championship in four years.

Day of Judgment
After those games, if there’s still no separating the championship contenders, May 19 is the last day of play, with Arsenal hosting Everton, Manchester City playing West Ham, and Liverpool playing Wolves.