After this weekend’s matches, Premier League leaders Manchester City and their relentless opponents Liverpool are expected to remain neck and neck in the title fight.
Arsenal can deal a hammer blow to Manchester United’s chances in the race for the top four, while Chelsea can’t avoid another fall against West Ham.
In a title chase, there is no room for error.
Manchester City, according to Pep Guardiola, will have to stave off one of the best teams in history if they are to beat Liverpool to the title.
After both clubs won handily in midweek, Guardiola’s side is one point ahead of second-placed Liverpool.
After this weekend’s matches, Premier League leaders Manchester City and their relentless opponents Liverpool are expected to remain neck and neck in the title fight.
Arsenal can deal a hammer blow to Manchester United’s chances in the race for the top four, while Chelsea can’t avoid another fall against West Ham.
With six games remaining, the thrilling race will most likely be decided by a single blunder by either team.
It would be a massive shock if that happened this weekend, with City hosting second-bottom Watford on Saturday and Liverpool hosting fourth-bottom Everton in the Merseyside derby on Sunday.
Guardiola has said that City must win all of their remaining matches to be certain of lifting the trophy, which is a fair compliment to Liverpool’s quality as quadruple chasers.
In a title chase, there is no room for error.
Manchester City, according to Pep Guardiola, will have to stave off one of the best teams in history if they are to beat Liverpool to the title.
After both clubs won handily in midweek, Guardiola’s side is one point ahead of second-placed Liverpool.
With six games remaining, the thrilling race will most likely be decided by a single blunder by either team.
It would be a massive shock if that happened this weekend, with City hosting second-bottom Watford on Saturday and Liverpool hosting fourth-bottom Everton in the Merseyside derby on Sunday.
Guardiola has said that City must win all of their remaining matches to be certain of lifting the trophy, which is a fair compliment to Liverpool’s quality as quadruple chasers.
Liverpool is one of the top teams in the world, and we are up against one of the finest teams ever,” Guardiola stated earlier this week.
“They have everything, which is why being with them is so important.” The players are well aware of this. They’ve dealt with them before and know how to deal with them.
“We don’t have a chance to drop anything, but we’ve been in this situation before and dealt with it.”
Arsenal has the ability to exacerbate Manchester United’s problems.
Manchester United’s decision to name Ajax coach Erik ten Hag as their new manager for the upcoming season comes just two days after the Dutch coach was given a sharp reminder of the monumental task he confronts at Old Trafford.
United’s dreadful performance against Liverpool on Tuesday highlighted just how far they’ve slipped since Alex Ferguson guided them to their last Premier League title in 2013.
United, who are currently in sixth place, 23 points behind Manchester City, have been left to scraping for a top-four finish, and even that objective may be out of reach.
United travel to Arsenal on Saturday with a three-point deficit to both the fifth-placed Gunners and fourth-placed Tottenham.
Losing to a direct opponent for a Champions League spot would be a catastrophic blow for interim manager Ralf Rangnick and his team, who were rattled by out-of-form captain Harry Maguire’s bomb threat on Thursday.
Arsenal, who behind Tottenham on goal difference, will be buoyed by their 4-2 victory over Chelsea on Wednesday, which halted a run of three consecutive defeats.
“I told the players that if they want to play Champions League football, they have to defeat the best clubs in the world,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta remarked.
Chelsea’s defensive flaws must be addressed.
Chelsea had won six consecutive games prior to their shock 4-1 home defeat to Brentford, and were showing few symptoms of being harmed by the penalties against Russian owner Roman Abramovich.
However, since that surprising defeat, Thomas Tuchel’s team has been trapped in an inconsistency that threatens to derail their dreams of a positive conclusion to a difficult season.
Their heartbreaking Champions League quarter-final demise to Real Madrid included a 3-1 first-leg loss in which Karim Benzema obliterated the gaps in Chelsea’s defense that Brentford had already uncovered.
The joy of a 2-0 FA Cup semi-final victory over Crystal Palace quickly faded as Arsenal ravaged Stamford Bridge, reigniting fears that the Blues might miss out on a top-four finish.
Chelsea, who are currently five points clear of fifth place, have surrendered 11 goals in their last three home games and would be further thrown into disarray if they lose to West Ham on Sunday.
Fixtures:
Today is Saturday (1400 GMT unless stated)
Manchester United vs. Arsenal (1130 GMT),
Aston Villa vs Leicester City,
Watford vs. Manchester City
Newcastle vs. Norwich,
Tottenham vs. Brentford (1630)
It’s Sunday (1300 GMT unless stated)
Southampton vs. Brighton
Wolves vs. Burnley
Chelsea vs. West Ham United
Everton vs Liverpool (1530)
Monday
Leeds vs. Crystal Palace (1900)
SOURCE: AFP
