With the Premier League title race entering its final stages, Liverpool and Arsenal’s remaining games could be pivotal. Arne Slot’s side is edging closer to lifting the trophy, while Mikel Arteta has already set his sights on progressing further in the Champions League.
Arsenal dropped more points in the title race on Saturday, drawing 1-1 with Brentford. The result marks another setback for the Gunners, who have now slipped up five times in their last seven games, leaving them in second place.
Liverpool, on the other hand, now needs just six more points to secure the league title after beating West Ham 2-1 with a late winner by Virgil van Dijk.Wins against Leicester City, and Tottenham Hotspur would see the Reds match a record 20th top-flight title, with the possibility of clinching it even sooner.
During the Easter weekend, Liverpool will travel to Leicester, while Arsenal heads to Ipswich Town. A defeat for Arsenal next Sunday against Kieran McKenna’s side, followed by a Liverpool win over Leicester, would secure the title for the Reds
The following weekend, Liverpool will host Ange Postecoglu’s side, while Arsenal faces Crystal Palace a few days earlier due to Oliver Glasner’s side being in the FA Cup semi-finals when the original game was scheduled.
Arsenal’s focus seems to be shifting away from the Premier League, as evidenced by Arteta’s decision to rest five key players for Saturday’s match against Brentford. Jurrien Timber, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, and Mikel Merino all dropped to the bench, with the potential of getting into the Champions League semi-final seeming to be the priority.
Arsenal’s focal point over the next couple of weeks won’t be solely on success in Europe, but it is certainly a prime concern. As a result, further dropped points in the league remain a possibility.
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When Liverpool travels to Chelsea at the start of May, Arsenal will host Bournemouth earlier in the same weekend. The two sides will then face off at Anfield on matchday 36. Liverpool’s season concludes with an away trip to Brighton and a home fixture against Crystal Palace, while Arsenal finishes with home matches against Newcastle and a visit to already-relegated Southampton.
The Gunners have yet to string together more than three consecutive league wins this season, and Arteta has made it clear where he stands on their title ambitions. “Yes it is difficult because obviously there are a lot of reasons why we are with that distance [to Liverpool in the Premier League] and the amount of things that we have to deal with, . Still we are where we but yeah, we want to be higher, that’s for sure.” Arteta said ahead of the Brentford game
If Arsenal wins all of its remaining games, Liverpool would still only need six points to secure the title—meaning just two wins from their final six matches. Should both sides continue winning over the next few weeks, Liverpool could be crowned Premier League champions at Stamford Bridge.
If results differ, the showdown between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield in May might still hold significance. But as things stand, there’s a growing possibility that the Gunners could be offering a guard of honor, rather than playing for points that matter in the title race.
Liverpool fixtures
April 20 – Leicester (A), April 27 – Tottenham (H), May 4 – Chelsea (A), May 11 – Arsenal (H), May 18 – Brighton (A), May 25 – Crystal Palace (H)
