With three stages to go, the competition is hotter than ever, starting with the race to the top, but also with fierce battles for European places and to avoid relegation.
Title: City in the lead
Arsenal (80 points) want their first title since 2014. The last three opponents are Bournemouth, Manchester United and Everton.
The Gunners, who have the best attack and defense in the league, have City in their sights (79).
The reigning triple champions have a crucial advantage: a game in hand against Tottenham on May 14.
This means that City are in their hands, and Arsenal depends on the results of the champions.
Pep Guardiola’s side have not lost in the Premier League for five months and have virtually no injuries (except for goalkeeper Ederson).
City also have an easy schedule with Wolverhampton, Fulham and West Ham at home.
Liverpool, third with 75 points and who have won only one of their last five matches, are out of the competition in Aprilalthough he still has a mathematical chance of winning the championship.
Champions League: A walk in the park for Aston Villa
Emery’s side, fourth on 67 points, are within reach of Champions League qualification, a feat for a side struggling to avoid relegation when the Spaniard took over from Steven Gerrard in November 2022.
Only Spurs, fifth in the standings with 60 points and a game in hand, can prevented the Birmingham club from reaching Europe’s elitemore than 40 years after their last appearance, in the 1982-83 Cup Winners’ Cup.
The London group hopes to benefit from a crisis at Villa, also engaged in the Conference League – they lost 2-4 in the first leg of the semi-final with Olympiakos -, provided they successfully complete a “slalom” that includes Liverpool, Burnley , Sheffield United and Manchester City.
Europa League: for United?
In case of finish fifth, Ange Postecoglou’s team would play in the Europa League next season.
United have two options to play in the second continental competition: either by winning the FA Cup final on May 25 against their city rivals, or by maintaining their current position of sixth.
With 54 points, the Red Devils are followed by seventh-placed Newcastle on 53 and eighth-placed Chelsea on 51.
Depending on the outcome of the Cup Final, either sixth or seventh place would play in the Conference League.
Relegation: A three-way tie
With Sheffield Wednesday already relegated, three teams are fighting to avoid the other two places heading into next season’s second-tier Championship.
Burnley, 19th, with 24 points, and Luton, 18th, with 26 points, promoted this seasonare in the red zone after 35 games, but are a short distance behind the top team in the relegation zone, Nottingham Forest, in 17th place, with 26 points.
Luton, however, have a less contested match.
Of the three, Burnley probably have the toughest schedule, hosting Newcastle and Forest with a trip to Tottenham in between.
Tags: fight title Premier League enters straight line marked ArsenalCity duel
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