Currently, Arsenal leads the English Premier League 2023/24 with 64 points after 28 matches. The Gunners are tied on points with Liverpool but hold the top spot due to a superior goal difference (+46 vs +39). Meanwhile, Manchester City sits in third place, just 1 point behind. It is evident that the title race is more intense than ever before, with the narrow margins between the top three teams. With only 10 matches left in the season, any slip-up by the leading clubs could lead to significant shifts in the standings.
Analyzing the remaining fixtures for Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester City reveals a common opponent: Tottenham Hotspur – a formidable adversary known for their unpredictability. Arsenal will face Tottenham on April 27, Liverpool on May 4, and Manchester City on April 20. Should any of the top three teams falter or be held by Spurs, it is conceivable that the outcome of the Premier League 2023/24 title race could be decided.
Manchester City will be the first to encounter Tottenham, on April 20. In the first leg at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester City drew 3-3 with Tottenham in a thrilling back-and-forth encounter. Son Heung-min opened the scoring for Spurs in the 6th minute, but Manchester City quickly turned the game around to lead 2-1. However, Giovani Lo Celso equalized for Spurs before Jack Grealish restored Manchester City’s lead. In the dying moments of the match, Dejan Kulusevski salvaged a 3-3 draw for Tottenham.
Tottenham, led by Son, remains a formidable opponent despite their inconsistencies. Similar to Manchester City, Arsenal also failed to defeat Tottenham, even with a home advantage in the first leg. At the Emirates Stadium last September, the Gunners twice took the lead against Spurs only to be pegged back by Son Heung-min’s brace.
Meanwhile, Liverpool suffered a 1-2 defeat to Tottenham at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 1 last year. This match was marred by controversies surrounding serious errors from both the referee and the VAR, notably the disallowed legitimate goal by forward Luis Diaz in the 34th minute and the red card shown to Diogo Jota. Fairly speaking, Liverpool could have emerged victorious in this encounter, but in football, anything can happen.
Nevertheless, compared to Arsenal and Manchester City, Liverpool will have the advantage of playing Tottenham at home. This season, The Reds remain unbeaten at Anfield in the Premier League with 11 wins and 3 draws. In their last 6 meetings with Tottenham in the Premier League at Anfield, Liverpool secured 4 victories.
As for Tottenham, they will undoubtedly be determined to defeat Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester City as their manager, Ange Postecoglou, aims to secure a Top 4 finish for Champions League qualification next season. Currently, Spurs sit in fifth place with 53 points, trailing fourth-placed Aston Villa by 2 points but with a game in hand. Therefore, Tottenham’s fate lies in their own hands, as a victory in the postponed fixture would see them break into the Top 4.
Undoubtedly, every match from now until the end of the season for Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester City will be akin to a final, but the clashes with Tottenham promise to have a significant impact, potentially deciding the outcome of the Premier League 2023/24 title race. Each team desires victory, and it remains to be seen what unfolds.