Liverpool’s Crucial Premier League Stretch: A Comprehensive Analysis

The edgy atmosphere at Anfield during the closing stages of Liverpool’s 2-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers dispelled any doubts about the start of the Premier League title run-in. Arne Slot now has a taste of what the title run-in may feel like on Merseyside as he faces the final third of the Premier League season seven points clear of Arsenal, Liverpool’s only serious challengers.

Comparing the two clubs’ remaining fixtures suggests there is little between them in terms of average position of their opponents, with Liverpool (10.8) having a fractionally easier sequence than Arsenal (10.5). However, a deeper look reveals that Liverpool’s away fixtures have a higher average position of 9.3, with five of them against top 10 teams, while Arsenal’s is 11.8, but they have to visit Anfield and third-placed Nottingham Forest. At home, Liverpool have more favorable fixtures: 12 to Arsenal’s 9.4.

The Athletic has looked at each of Liverpool’s remaining league fixtures and assessed the positives and negatives ahead of those matches.

Aston Villa (Wednesday, A)

Reason to be cheerful: Goalscoring has not been an issue for Liverpool at Villa Park or against Unai Emery’s side. They have scored three in each of their last two visits and have not lost since the remarkable 7-2 defeat in 2020. They dominated the fixture earlier this season (2-0) and will need to impose themselves again.

Reason to be fearful: A midweek match under the lights at Villa Park is no easy task for any team. Villa haven’t lost at home in all competitions since the end of October.

Manchester City (Sunday, A)

Reason to be cheerful: This is not the Pep Guardiola side Liverpool are used to visiting at the Etihad, and the stakes are very different. Slot’s side were dominant in the reverse fixture, and City have been plagued by inconsistency all season.

Reason to be fearful: The Etihad is Liverpool’s kryptonite, having not won there in the league since Jurgen Klopp’s first season in charge in 2015. Erling Haaland and Nico Gonzalez’s performance against Newcastle offer them the sort of control they’ve missed in Rodri’s absence.

Newcastle (Feb 26, H)

Reason to be cheerful: History is in Liverpool’s favor, as they are unbeaten against Newcastle in 16 matches and have not lost to them at Anfield in the league since 1994.

Reason to be fearful: Alexander Isak has been Newcastle’s X factor all season and is capable of winning games on his own. Liverpool struggled against Newcastle’s aggressive approach in the 3-3 draw earlier this season.

Southampton (Mar 8, H)

Reason to be cheerful: Southampton are competing to be statistically the worst side in Premier League history. This should be Liverpool’s easiest remaining fixture by a distance.

Reason to be fearful: Complacency is the only real enemy for Slot and his players here, even if Southampton did make life awkward for them on the south coast in November.

Everton (Apr 2, H)

Reason to be cheerful: Liverpool have dominated this fixture at Anfield in recent years and have a score to settle after the frustrations in the reverse fixture.

Reason to be fearful: It’s the Merseyside derby, and another opportunity for their closest rivals to derail their title charge.

Fulham (Apr 5, A)

Reason to be cheerful: Liverpool were able to dominate Fulham in the second half of the 2-2 draw this season despite only having 10 men and haven’t lost at Craven Cottage since 2011.

Reason to be fearful: Marco Silva sets up his side shrewdly, and they have quality in attacking areas, with Adama Traore’s pace posing a test to Andy Robertson.

West Ham (Apr 12, H)

Reason to be cheerful: Liverpool have scored 10 goals in total against West Ham this season, once in the league and once in the Carabao Cup, and utterly dominated both encounters.

Reason to be fearful: Hopefully, they haven’t used all their goals up. Graham Potter’s West Ham have a squad sprinkled with attacking quality that can produce a moment like Matheus Cunha did for Wolves.

Leicester City (Apr 19, A)

Reason to be cheerful: Leicester, along with the rest of the promoted sides, are staring relegation in the face and struggle to score and concede goals.

Reason to be fearful: The relegation battle always leads to a few shock results, and Liverpool just need to make sure it does not come against them.

Tottenham (Apr 26, H)

Reason to be cheerful: Ange Postecoglou’s side were outplayed, outclassed and dispatched earlier this month as Liverpool booked their place in the Carabao Cup final with a dominant 4-0 semi-final second-leg victory.

Reason to be fearful: Tottenham should arrive at Anfield with many of the key players they have been without in recent weeks and months, making them a different proposition.

Chelsea (May 3, A)

Reason to be cheerful: After looking like potential title contenders in 2024, Chelsea have faded in recent months and are fighting to secure a Champions League spot instead.

Reason to be fearful: Stamford Bridge is always a tough away trip regardless of form, and Liverpool’s record there is mediocre.

Arsenal (May 10, H)

Reason to be cheerful: If Liverpool were able to maintain the lead they currently have, then that would put all the pressure on Arsenal to come to Anfield and win — something they haven’t done since 2012.

Reason to be fearful: This could be the title decider, and a 2-0 Arsenal win at Anfield could snatch the title, as it did in 1989.

Brighton & Hove Albion (May 18, A)

Reason to be cheerful: Brighton are a side that want to go toe-to-toe with opponents in a footballing sense, and the tactical tweaks Slot made in the 2-1 victory in November changed the game.

Reason to be fearful: Brighton outplayed Liverpool in the first 45 minutes of the match earlier this season and have attacking quality that can produce a moment like Matheus Cunha did for Wolves.

Crystal Palace (May 25, H)

Reason to be cheerful: Hopefully, this will be a day of celebration, and Liverpool will be strong favorites as they have always done their job on final days of recent seasons, even if it has led to nothing.

Reason to be fearful: Palace’s 1-0 victory last season was the start of Liverpool’s slide out of title contention, and they’ve had a strangely prominent role in some of Liverpool’s biggest recent setbacks.

In conclusion, the title run-in for Liverpool will be a rollercoaster ride, with both favorable and daunting fixtures ahead. However, with their resilience and quality, Arne Slot and his players will be confident of navigating this challenging stretch and emerging victorious in the Premier League title race.