Liverpool Extend Lead at the Premier League Summit, but Arsenal Remain in Pursuit
Liverpool have extended their lead at the top of the Premier League for the second consecutive match, securing a controlled 2-0 win over Newcastle United. This result, coupled with Arsenal’s 0-0 draw at Nottingham Forest, has sent Arne Slot’s men 13 points clear at the top of the table.
This follows a pivotal weekend where Arsenal were defeated 1-0 at home by West Ham United on Saturday, before Liverpool won 2-0 at Manchester City on Sunday. At that stage, the leaders were 11 points ahead of the Gunners, but Slot insisted “if you have to play 11 matches, it’s still a long way to go.”
Now, with 10 fixtures left for Liverpool, their toughest run of matches appears to be behind them. The Reds had to navigate a demanding schedule of five league games in 15 days, all against formidable opponents, and emerged unscathed.
In addition to claiming victories over fellow EFL Cup finalists Newcastle and the reigning champions Manchester City, Liverpool also overcame a Matheus Cunha-inspired Wolverhampton Wanderers side fighting to stay in the top flight. Challenging away trips to Everton and Aston Villa saw Liverpool take the lead in both matches, eventually earning 2-2 draws.
## Liverpool and Arsenal’s Remaining Fixtures
Only once before has a team trailed by 13 points and gone on to win the Premier League title, and that was Arsenal in the 1997/98 season. However, the Gunners had 19 matches to play in that campaign, whereas this time around, they only have 11 matches remaining.
Given the unprecedented nature of a 13-point swing over 11 matches, let’s explore the permutations of how and when Liverpool could be confirmed as Premier League champions:
– The earliest Liverpool can win the title is on the weekend of 5/6 April, with 78 points, when they visit Fulham. But for this to happen, they would need to win all of their next three matches, and Arsenal would have to lose their next four.
– If Liverpool’s lead remains at 13 points, they would be confirmed as champions on the weekend of 26/27 April, when they host Tottenham Hotspur.
– Should Liverpool’s lead be reduced to 10 points, it would delay their title until the final month of the season; they could win it when they travel to Chelsea on the weekend of 3/4 May.
– If, by the time Liverpool host Arsenal on the weekend of 10/11 May, Slot’s side are only seven points clear, a draw or a win would see them secure the title that day – assuming their visitors are the only team still able to overtake them.
## Overturning Sizeable Deficits
Never before has a team had a 13-point lead at the top at this stage of a season and failed to win the title. However, a 13-point advantage has been overturned once before in a Premier League title race – the achievement of Arsenal in 1997/98, Arsene Wenger’s first full season as their manager.
Manchester United were that many points clear at the end of December, and were still leading Arsenal by 12 points in February. The Gunners, however, produced an incredible run of 10 consecutive wins – the second of which was a 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford – and were confirmed as champions on 3 May with two matches to spare.
If Arsenal win their match in hand over Liverpool, they could be 10 points behind them. A gap of 10 or more points has been overturned seven times in Premier League history, including by Manchester United and Manchester City.
In conclusion, while Liverpool’s lead at the top of the table is substantial, Arsenal’s relentless pursuit suggests the title race is far from over. The Reds will need to maintain their unwavering focus and consistency to secure their first Premier League trophy since the 2019/20 season. The remaining fixtures promise high-stakes drama as the battle for the title continues to unfold.
