Manchester Metropolis can ramp up the strain on Premier League leaders Arsenal by reducing the hole on the prime to simply three factors after they face Fulham on Wednesday, a day earlier than the Gunners journey to in-form Brentford.
Arsenal stay in pole place for a primary title in 22 years, however Metropolis’s dramatic late rally to beat Liverpool on Sunday might show a turning level for Pep Guardiola’s males.
One other defeat broken Liverpool’s possibilities of Champions League qualification and Arne Slot’s threadbare squad face one other powerful activity in midweek away to Sunderland.
Tottenham and Newcastle are in even deeper hassle within the backside half of the desk, elevating doubts over the way forward for respective managers Thomas Frank and Eddie Howe.
AFP Sports activities seems at three speaking factors from the midweek spherical of fixtures:
Can Metropolis present title twist?
Bernardo Silva conceded even the Metropolis gamers thought the title race would have been all however over with had they not rotated a 1-0 deficit with six minutes remaining at Anfield.
The query now could be whether or not a seismic win for Guardiola’s facet might be the launching pad in direction of one other league title.
Metropolis have made a behavior of ending strongly in Guardiola’s six title-winning seasons in England, however have received simply two of their seven league video games in 2026.
“We have to imagine and to begin profitable video games. That is what issues in the long run,” mentioned Erling Haaland, who’s demanding extra of himself within the title run-in.
The Norwegian is the runaway chief for the Golden Boot however has scored simply as soon as from open play in his final 13 appearances.
“I haven’t scored sufficient targets because the begin of this yr and I do know that I would like to enhance,” added Haaland.
With a beneficial run of fixtures earlier than Arsenal go to the Etihad in mid-April, Metropolis have the prospect to actually take a look at the Gunners mettle within the run-in.
Mikel Arteta’s males have bounced again from their very own January wobble with 4 straight wins in all competitions.
However a buoyant Brentford which have misplaced simply twice at residence all season will present a stiff take a look at of Arsenal’s title problem.
Liverpool face powerful trek to Sunderland
Final season’s title winners look more and more prone to miss out on the Champions League subsequent season with Liverpool now 4 factors adrift of the highest 5.
Worse may very well be nonetheless to come back for Arne Slot as they journey to a Sunderland facet boasting the one undefeated residence report within the Premier League.
Already wanting choices because of a mounting harm record, the Reds will likely be with out their star performer in a troublesome season, Dominik Szoboszlai, after his controversial late pink card in opposition to Metropolis.
With Manchester United and Chelsea having on paper simpler duties this week, Liverpool might discover themselves minimize additional adrift to ramp up hypothesis on Slot’s future.
Spurs ‘determined’ to keep away from relegation battle
It says a lot for the domination of the Champions League by English sides this season that each Tottenham and Newcastle cruised into the knockout phases however discover themselves mired within the backside half of the Premier League.
The edges meet in north London on Tuesday with Frank and Howe beneath the highlight.
Frank admitted Spurs are the extra “determined”, sitting simply six factors above the relegation zone in fifteenth.
The Dane has thus far been handed a keep of execution regardless of repeated requires his head by the Tottenham assist.
Howe, against this, stays a a lot beloved determine on Tyneside having ended the membership’s 70-year look ahead to a home trophy by lifting the League Cup final season and twice delivering Champions League soccer to St. James’ Park.
He insisted on Monday he stays the best man for the job for now.
However with England and Manchester United reportedly within the 48-year-old, Howe could really feel he has taken Newcastle so far as he can come the tip of the season.
Fixtures (all instances GMT)
Tuesday
Chelsea v Leeds, Tottenham v Newcastle, Everton v Bournemouth (all 1930), West Ham v Man Utd (2015)
Wednesday
Aston Villa v Brighton, Crystal Palace v Burnley, Man Metropolis v Fulham, Nottingham Forest v Wolves (all 1930), Sunderland v Liverpool (2015)
Thursday
Brentford v Arsenal (2000)
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