Arsenal could take a MASSIVE step to the title against Man City, Liverpool will be out for revenge at Man United and there’s a potential relegation six-pointer on the final day… the 10 most vital games left in the Premier League
After waving goodbye to the final international break of the campaign, the Premier League resumes this weekend – and there’s plenty to be decided at both ends of the table as the season veers towards a thrilling climax.
At the top of, there is just one point separating Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City, with a huge game to come this weekend when the Gunners travel to the Etihad on Sunday.
It is a lot more complicated at the other end. Everton have been docked six points – and are potentially facing a second punishment – while Nottingham Forest have appealed their own four-point deduction.
There is also the matter of who qualifies for the Champions League, with Manchester United pursuing Aston Villa and Tottenham above them. At the time of writing, the top five are set to qualify for Europe’s premier club competition next season.
With all that in mind, Mail Sport takes a look at the 10 most pivotal games left to play in the Premier League.
Arsenal could take a massive step to the title if they get a positive result at Man City on Sunday
Liverpool return to Old Trafford next week after their dramatic 4-3 loss in the FA Cup
The title race is set to go down to the wire with just 10 games of the season remaining
Manchester City v Arsenal (March 31)
We start off this list with a game that could prove decisive where the Premier League title heads in May.
It was this game last season where Pep Guardiola’s side struck a huge psychological blow on the Gunners with a 4-1 victory – closing the gap to two points with two games in hand in the final weeks of the season.
Arsenal arrived into that match on the back of three straight draws. This time they go into it as the form team in the league, with eight straight victories, scoring 33 goals and conceding just four in the process.
Manchester City struck a massive psychological blow on Arsenal with their 4-1 win last season
But Mikel Arteta’s side could go four points clear of Man City with a victory on Sunday
If the Gunners are able to repeat their victory at the Emirates earlier this season, they will have a four-point gap over their rivals with nine to play.
Arsenal have not won at the Etihad however since Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud both struck in a 2-0 victory in January 2015.
Guardiola’s side are still the favourites to lift what would be their fourth consecutive title, and this would only be strengthened if they walk away the victors this Sunday.
Liverpool, who lost the lead with their draw against City before the international break, could jump back to the top of the standings if the Gunners fail to win.
Gabriel Martinelli scored an 86th minute winner in the return fixture back in October
Manchester United v Liverpool (April 7)
Liverpool will be out for revenge when they return to Old Trafford next week, following their dramatic 4-3 defeat to Manchester United in the FA Cup quarter-finals 10 days ago.
In arguably the game of the season, Amad Diallo netted a 121st-minute winner to end the Reds’ quadruple hopes in what is Jurgen Klopp’s final campaign at the club.
The Reds famously humiliated United in April last year with a 7-0 victory, and though Erik ten Hag’s side have declined this season, they have been a thorn in the side of their biggest rivals.
Liverpool will be out for revenge after United’s epic 4-3 FA Cup victory before the international break
Manchester United have been a thorn in Liverpool’s side this season, and remain the only team to prevent Jurgen Klopp’s side from scoring a goal during a match so far this campaign
They are the only club to stop Liverpool from scoring in a game – in December’s goalless draw – while they did to the Reds what Klopp’s side have done to so many others this season, by coming from behind to win in the FA Cup.
There is a strong chance that Liverpool could hold the title advantage by the time this match is played, and Klopp will be determined for his side not to slip up a third time this season against their bitter rivals.
Everton v Nottingham Forest (April 21)
This match has taken on extra importance given the points deductions handed out to both sides.
Everton would have been comfortably clear of the bottom three if it wasn’t for a six-point deduction, and they could yet face a second deduction for breaching the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules.
Nottingham Forest’s four-point deduction meanwhile means they have gone from three points clear of the drop-zone to one point off Luton Town and safety.
Uncertainty will continue off the field in the coming weeks, given Forest have appealed their four-point deduction, and Everton could look to appeal any potential further punishment they receive.
There will certainly be a lot of anger from the stands at Goodison Park towards the Premier League from both clubs, though the players themselves will need to focus on their responsibilities on the field, given this could be a relegation six-pointer by the time it is played.
Nottingham Forest are in the relegation zone following their recent four-point deduction
Everton are currently out of the drop zone, but could yet receive a second points deduction against an alleged breach of profitability and sustainability rules
Everton v Liverpool (April 24)
Just three days later, Everton have another massive game at Goodison Park when they host Liverpool in Klopp’s final Merseyside derby.
It comes in the middle of what could be a make or break stint of the season for Liverpool who have four away games (against Atalanta, Fulham, Everton and West Ham) in the space of nine days.
Klopp will particularly be unhappy that this match kicks off at 8pm on a Wednesday, when they have a 12.30pm kick-off on Saturday at the London Stadium.
The German’s record at Goodison Park is an interesting one. They have never lost their under his management, yet it won’t sit as pretty reading for Liverpool fans when they are locked in a title fight.
Four of Jurgen Klopp’s seven trips to Goodison Park have ended up in goalless draws
In seven trips, Liverpool have only won twice, with five draws – four of which have been goalless.
Given how late into the season we are, you would expect goals, given how much will be at stake for both sides at opposite ends of the table.
It is remarkable that Everton have not beaten their rivals since current Arsenal boss Arteta and Tim Cahill scored in a 2-0 victory in October 2010. The Toffees would love to get the last laugh over Klopp before he departs the city.
Tottenham v Arsenal (April 28)
Tottenham play all three of the title contenders in the final weeks of the season and all of which could produce epic games.
None more so than what could be the biggest North London Derby in Premier League history at the end of April.
Spurs would love to end Arsenal’s hopes of winning their first title in two decades, while a victory for the Gunners could put them in a strong position going into the final weeks – depending on their results until April 28.
One big worry for the Gunners is that while they are facing a potential fixture backlog, Tottenham will enjoy a 15-day break before the derby due to their postponed clash with Manchester City.
Tottenham currently have a 15-day break before they play Arsenal in the North London derby
Arsenal’s trip to Tottenham could come days before a Champions League semi-final
Arsenal will only have a five-day break following their clash with Chelsea on April 23, and should they progress in the Champions League, they will have a semi-final clash with Manchester City or Real Madrid just days after their trip to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The Gunners don’t have a great record at Tottenham, with their 2-0 win last season the first time they have beaten them away since 2014.
A thrilling end-to-end game at the Emirates in September ended in a 2-2 draw, and this is likely to be just as evenly matched.
Luton v Everton (May 4)
Luton Town’s Premier League survival hopes have been boosted by the respective off-field woes of Everton and Nottingham Forest.
Yet there still remains a feeling that they are the underdogs in the battle to avoid the drop, and it remains imperative that they make Kenilworth Road a fortress between now and the end of the season.
Their clash with Everton on May 4 in particular could have an incredible atmosphere depending how the relegation dogfight fares until that point.
The Toffees have struggled against the Hatters this season, losing 2-1 in two meetings at Goodison Park.
A defeat at Kenilworth Road could have lead to dire consequences for the Toffees unless they are able to pick up enough points in the rest of their remaining games.
However, a loss for Luton could prove to be curtains on their first season back in the top-flight.
Luton have beaten Everton twice at Goodison Park this season, and their clash at Kenilworth Road could play a big part in the relegation dogfight to come in the final weeks
Aston Villa v Liverpool (May 11)
Matchday 37 could be the biggest of the season when it comes to the title race and in the fight for the Champions League places.
City travel to Craven Cottage to play Fulham, but Liverpool and Arsenal have difficult games against sides who could still be fighting for a place in Europe’s most prestigious competition.
Aston Villa’s record at home might not be as formidable since their 17-game unbeaten run ended against Newcastle in January, but Unai Emery’s side could be the ones to put the dagger in Liverpool’s title hopes.
Both City and Arsenal have fallen at Villa Park already this season, with Emery’s side producing performances that show why they currently sit fourth in the standings.
Aston Villa have already beaten Manchester City and Arsenal at Villa Park this season
Liverpool are perhaps playing Villa at a better time than when Man City and Arsenal did earlier in the season, but this remains an incredibly tricky game for the Reds.
It’s the games away from home at Manchester United, Everton and Aston Villa that will define Liverpool’s season, and given the consistency of their challengers, the Reds need to win games like this if they are to give Klopp the perfect send-off.
Aston Villa could qualify for the Champions League, even potentially with a fifth placed finish, but they are also still to play Manchester City and Arsenal away from home before they welcome the Reds.
Therefore, Manchester United could be hot on the heels of Villa by the time this match is played.
Villa have since lost what was a 17-game unbeaten home record and were beaten 3-0 at Anfield in September
Manchester United v Arsenal (May 11)
The biggest game of the weekend though comes as Arsenal travel to Old Trafford.
Manchester United and Arsenal were involved in many title fights over the Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger years, but over the last decade they have struggled to keep up with those above them.
Arsenal are now back in title contention, but United again could have a big say in whether the Gunners are crowned champions.
Arsenal play Manchester United on the same weekend that Liverpool visit Aston Villa, as Gameweek 37 could be season-defining in terms of the title fight and the top-four race
The current league leaders have only won one game at Old Trafford since 2006, showing just how much of a task in hand they will have on the weekend of May 11.
United could be in a position where they will need their biggest rivals Liverpool to beat Aston Villa on the same weekend, while also producing the goods on their side, to boost their hopes of Champions League qualification.
Manchester City and Tottenham will have a keen eye on both of these matches, before they potentially play later in the week…
Tottenham v Manchester City (Date TBC)
Tottenham could have a huge part to play in the destination of the Premier League title race, and subsequently, it could also have an effect on their Champions League hopes.
Their clash with Manchester City makes the list over their trip to Anfield towards the end of the season due to a number of factors.
For one, the game currently doesn’t have a date on the calendar since it was postponed from its original April 20 date due to City’s involvement in the FA Cup.
City have precious few free dates available given their Champions League progress, which means the trip to Tottenham could become their penultimate game of the Premier League season as a mid-week clash before they play West Ham on the final day of the campaign.
Manchester City have not beaten Tottenham away in the Premier League since October 2018
This could present a nightmare scenario for Guardiola who has not beaten Tottenham away in the league since October 2018.
Only Liverpool have a better record against Manchester City (eight wins, seven draws and seven losses) than Spurs (seven wins, three draws and nine defeats) since Guardiola arrived in 2016.
Man City took advantage of an injury-struck Tottenham in the FA Cup back in January, but Spurs came from behind twice to earn a 3-3 draw at the Etihad a month prior.
If the game is played during the final week of the season, a big factor could be whether Ange Postecoglou’s side are still fighting it out to qualify for the Champions League.
Manchester City were left frustrated by Tottenham in a 3-3 draw at the Etihad in December
The game could be played during the final week of the season which presents a potential nightmare scenario for both clubs in their respective fights to make the title and top-four
Nottingham Forest v Burnley (May 19)
Depending on how the title race, the fight to make the Champions League, and the battle to avoid the drop goes between now and the end of the season, there could be a lot of pivotal games on the final day.
One that sticks out at this moment in time however is Burnley’s trip to Nottingham Forest, as both sides could be fighting for survival on May 19.
Burnley have a bigger task at hand to make it a fight on the final day, given they are five points off Luton Town.
Nottingham Forest’s trip to Burnley on the final day of the season could be a relegation decider
However, six of their remaining nine games are against sides in the bottom half of the table meaning they could have something to fight for if they hit good form at the right time.
Forest have received a blow with their four-point deduction, but seven of their nine games remaining are against sides in the bottom half.
And even if one of these sides are already relegated, the other could still be locked in a battle against the likes of Everton or Luton Town.
Luton end the season at home to Fulham, while Everton travel to an Arsenal side who could be on the verge of their first title since the Invincibles.
