Home of football statistics and historyThis season’s Premier League title race looks set to go down to the wire, with just one point separating Manchester City and Liverpool with nine games to play.
With Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea battling to secure one of the other two Champions League places, there is still plenty to look forward to this season.
City have been relentless over the past few weeks and they are now odds-on favourites in the English Premier League betting market to win the title.
Their defeat at Newcastle United at the end of January appeared to have seriously damaged their challenge, but five wins in a row has cranked up the pressure on Liverpool.
The Reds’ 0-0 draw at Everton left them a point behind City and their long wait to win the Premier League could go on for at least another season.
Both sides have some tricky fixtures during the run-in, with City’s visit to United on April 24 the most difficult game either team will face.
The Red Devils have been impressive under temporary manager Ole Gunnar Solksjaer and they will undoubtedly be eager to derail City’s title challenge.
However, Liverpool still have to play both Spurs and Chelsea this term and it’s difficult to imagine them winning every game between now and the end of the campaign.
Recent title race slip-ups remain fresh in the memory and the Reds still look short of the required quality needed to finish top of the pile.
Spurs had done well to keep themselves in the race, but one point from their last three matches has effectively ended their challenge.
Last Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal has given the chasing pack renewed hope, with just five points separating Spurs from sixth-placed Chelsea.
Spurs still have to travel to face City and Liverpool during the run-in and it is not beyond the realms of possibility that they will miss out on the top four this term.
United’s relentless march up the Premier League has sparked talk that they could claim third place and they look a good bet to do that despite still having to face Arsenal, City and Chelsea this season.
The Red Devils are yet to lose in the league under Solskjaer and they should qualify for the Champions League.
Chelsea have a game in hand on all the teams above them and they will fancy their chances of overhauling their rivals in the race for the top four.
The Blues are currently two points behind fourth place with a game in hand and their run-in doesn’t look too difficult.
Arsenal missed a glorious chance to boost their top four hopes by spurning a winning opportunity against Spurs over the weekend.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s late penalty miss could prove to be costly in the final reckoning and the Gunners will probably have to settle for fifth or sixth this term.
Despite picking up a point at Wembley, fragility away from home appears to be a problem for Unai Emery’s side.
They have won just two of their last 10 matches on the road in the Premier League and will need to address that issue if they are to kick-on next season.
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