The final stretch of the Premier League campaign starts this weekend. From this point on, there are no more international breaks to halt momentum or allow teams to recharge and reset. It is the final stretch to the end, and the next matchday that kicks off this mad dash could prove pivotal for all the teams involved.
This weekend, Man City-Liverpool, Newcastle-Man United, Brighton-Brentford and Crystal Palace-Leicester are all huge fixtures that could have major implications for each team. But with just two months of the season left to run, everything is still to play for.
The title race has come down to Arsenal and Manchester City, while as many as six clubs are battling it out for the final two Champions League spots. There is also the congested battle for European qualification and the relegation fight sees nine teams separated by just four points.
With so much at stake, what can we expect during the final two months of the season?
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The Premier League title race: Arsenal or Man City?
Arsenal have built an eight-point lead at the top with 10 games to play. Reigning champions Manchester City have 11 games remaining, but their hopes of winning a third successive title are likely to rest on the outcome of their clash against the Gunners at the Etihad on April 26. It is a game City must win.
Arsenal have been so formidable this season, winning 22 of their 28 games, that they’ve given themselves margin for error in their pursuit of the title. During their final 10 games, they have two obvious hazards to overcome — the game at Man City on April 26 and a visit to Liverpool on April 9. Fixtures against Newcastle and Chelsea may also carry some danger, but if Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side can avoid defeat at the Etihad and Anfield, they can start to celebrate Arsenal’s first title since 2004.
For Man City to win the title again, they realistically must win all of their final 11 games and hope Arsenal slip up along the way. City’s best run so far this season is their current streak of five successive Premier League wins, so it will be a tall order to win the rest and make it 16 straight victories.
All of that is to say: Arsenal simply need to hold their nerve. If they do, the title should belong to them.
Crystal Palace are in 12th position, but it is anything but mid-table safety for the Eagles, who sacked manager Patrick Vieira before the international break and replaced him with 75-year-old ex-boss Roy Hodgson.
Without a win in any competition in 2023, Palace are now three points above the bottom three and in real danger of sliding into the relegation zone.
Of the eight teams below them, Wolves, Leeds and Everton appear to have enjoyed a bounce under their new managers, Julen Lopetegui, Javi Gracia and Sean Dyche. Those teams have positive momentum.
Nottingham Forest and Leicester have slid towards the bottom three after a run of poor results, while West Ham are now in the relegation zone after winning just once in the league since the turn of the year. Meanwhile Bournemouth and Southampton occupy the bottom two positions, but Southampton are just two points adrift of safety despite being rock bottom.
This weekend sees some huge fixtures in the relegation battle with Palace facing Leicester, Wolves travelling to Forest and West Ham at home to Southampton. If any of those games generates a winner, the three points will be massive.
