Dominik Szoboszlai is suspended for Liverpool’s journey to Sunderland. Photograph: AFP
MANCHESTER:
Manchester Metropolis can ramp up the strain on Premier League leaders Arsenal by slicing the hole on the prime to only three factors once 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 process 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 appears to be like 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 could 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 gained simply two of their seven league video games in 2026.
“We have to consider and to start out successful video games. That is what issues in the long run,” stated 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 have never scored sufficient objectives for the reason that begin of this yr and I do know that I want to enhance,” added Haaland.
With a beneficial run of fixtures earlier than Arsenal go to the Etihad in mid-April, Metropolis have the possibility to essentially 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 might be nonetheless to return for Arne Slot as they journey to a Sunderland facet boasting the one undefeated residence file within the Premier League.
Already wanting choices attributable to a mounting harm checklist, the Reds might be with out their star performer in a tough season, Dominik Szoboszlai, after his controversial late purple card towards Metropolis.
With Manchester United and Chelsea having on paper simpler duties this week, Liverpool might discover themselves reduce 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 perimeters meet in north London on Tuesday with Frank and Howe underneath the highlight.
Frank admitted Spurs are the extra “determined”, sitting simply six factors above the relegation zone in fifteenth.
The Dane has to date 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 forward 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 precise 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 top of the season.
