Premier League Title Race: Who Has the Best Run-In?

This has to be the best Premier League title race ever!

Come on…when did we last have a three-way race which was so tight with just seven games to play?

But that’s where we are, and, after another great weekend of action, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal are in top spot, and, quite simply, if they win their last seven games, they will almost certainly be crowned champions. Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool would need to match the Gunners’ results and claw back a nine-goal deficit to snatch the title.

Should both of these two clubs drop any points at all, then I wouldn’t bet against Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City putting together a perfect set of Premier League 2024 results to pick up a sixth title in seven seasons and a fourth on the bounce.

I asked last week whether the Sky Blues were on a stumble, and Pep Guardiola’s team answered emphatically by thumping to- four hopefuls Aston Villa 4-1 and then winning 4-2 away to Crystal Palace, so the 2023 Treble winners are in good shape again.

The Premier League 2024 betting odds tell us just how exciting the next six weeks promise to be. The Gunners are marginal favourites at SBOTOP odds of 2.50 to lift the title for the first time since 2004, while Manchester City are at 2.60 and Klopp’s Reds are not at all far behind at 3.00.

Liverpool’s match away to Manchester United on Sunday may have been a pivotal moment as they missed a chance to stay top, having to settle for a 2-2 draw while Arsenal won impressively away to Brighton and Hove Albion.

Lverpool and Manchester United shared points in the Premier League after their 2-2 draw — Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah during their match against Manchester United

One thing we can be sure of is that there will be plenty of twists and turns to come, so let’s take a look at the run-in and see who has the best chance of lifting the title in May.

Tottenham Hotspur will have plenty to say about the title race. A win over Nottingham Forest on Sunday lifted Ange Postecoglou’s swashbucklers up to fourth place in the Premier League, and they still have to play all three of the title hopefuls, at home to Arsenal and City and away to Liverpool.

Any or all of the three could drop points to the Spurs, but where are the other big games?

I’d say the Gunners have the hardest task, with three games against the top six sides, Spurs and Aston Villa, and then a really tough match away to Manchester United on the penultimate weekend.

The Red Devils frustrated Liverpool, and they would love to do the same to their old London rivals. Then the Gunners host Sean Dyche’s Everton on the last day of the season; the Toffees may still be in relegation trouble and will fight tooth and nail.

Arteta’s side also have a big London derby against Chelsea to come, and Mauricio Pochettino’s Blues are about as unpredictable as any team can be.

Liverpool have some notably tricky dates too. From April 24^th to May 11^th, Klopp’s men have four games that could make or break their season.

A Merseyside Derby at Goodison Park under the floodlights promises to be a night to remember, one way or the other; then, three days later, the Reds head to London to take on West Ham United, who sit in seventh place.

Then it’s Tottenham at home and Aston Villa, currently in fifth place, and if Liverpool can win all four of those, they will be in great shape.

And that leaves us Manchester City, who, in my view, have the gentlest run-in, and, as they are still on track to repeat their treble achievement, that could give the Sky Blues a crucial edge.

Guardiola has the deepest squad, and he and his players have shown time and time again that they can take the pressure at the business end of the campaign. Spurs away is the key one, and the date is yet to be set as the fixture clashes with the FA Cup.

Brighton away could be a good game, but then matches against West Ham (at home), Luton Town, Nottm Forest, Wolves, and Fulham won’t fill City’s rivals with confidence.

It looks to me like the Blue Moon may be rising again in May.

Arsenal Manchester City Liverpool

Aston Villa (H) Luton (H) Crystal Palace (H)

Wolves (A) Spurs (A) Fulham (A)

Chelsea (H) Brighton (A) Everton (A)

Spurs (A) Nottm Forest (A) West Ham (A)

Bournemouth (H) Wolves (H) Spurs (H)

Manchester United (A) Fulham (A) Aston Villa (A)

Everton (H) West Ham (H) Wolves (H)

Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.

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