There was another twist in the 2023/24 title race at the weekend as Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola's last dance ended in a 1-1 draw that kept Arsenal in top spot following their late winner against Brentford on Saturday.
But with 10 matches to go, leaders Arsenal have on paper the most difficult remaining fixtures, starting with a trip to Manchester City in their next Premier League match.
With just ONE point separating the top three teams, who are the favourites to lift the Premier League Trophy this season?
| Position Pos | Club | Played Pl | GD | Points Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Arsenal
ARS
|
36 | +60 | 83 |
| 2 |
Man City
MCI
|
35 | +54 | 82 |
| 3 |
Liverpool
LIV
|
36 | +43 | 78 |
Roy Keane
"Honestly I can’t call it," seven-time Premier League champion Keane told Sky Sports. "Last season I never had any doubt that City would eventually win it.
"I’m not betting against them but I look at Liverpool and their performance [against Man City] had everything. They're creating chances, scoring goals. I look at Arsenal and physically compared to last year they look such a stronger team, so I don’t think they’ll fade. They’ve added quality players and I look at Arsenal and their mindset, and they look ready for the challenge. I don't know who to go with."
Jamie Carragher
"If City beat Arsenal they’ll be strong favourites," Carragher told Sky Sports. "If Arsenal go to City and get something then it’s up in the air. I do feel like Arsenal and Liverpool would need a three or four-point gap going into the last five or six games if they are to top City."
Shay Given
"It's in Liverpool’s hands," said Given to BBC Sport. "Arsenal have to go to the Etihad Stadium in a couple weeks' time and I remember what happened last year. It was built up as a winner-takes-all match and Man City steamrolled them. I know Arsenal this year are a lot stronger but if Liverpool win all their games and City beat Arsenal at home it’s all in Liverpool's hands."
Daniel Sturridge
"Arsenal have been brilliant. They’ve shown their capabilities, they’ve shown they’re building something," said Sturridge, the former Liverpool striker, to Sky Sports. "They have a great chance of winning the title but City are the team to beat. They’ve shown over the years they’re the team to beat."
Micah Richards
"It’s tough," Richards, a champion with Man City in 2011/12, told Sky. "I gave Arsenal the big build-up last year. I thought they would do it last season and they fell off towards the end. This season I think City will win it. But if City had lost at Liverpool I would have said Arsenal!"
Ian Wright
“There was a time where none of the [Arsenal] guys up front were scoring but the defence was still solid, and you’d feel that once they did start scoring again then they were going to get on a run like this," Wright told Sky, having won the title with the Gunners in 1997/98. "Literally everybody’s fit now. They’re actually kicking on in a time of the season where they fell away last season.
"I feel confident about how it is at the moment because they’re very focused. I thought it was a good result against Brentford in the end [on Saturday]. They’re beating teams who, if they’re not right, you hammer them. And if, like against Brentford, you get tight then you’ll still find a way to beat them - and that’s what you’ve got to do at this stage of the season.”
"I feel confident" 🙌
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 11, 2024
Ian Wright think Arsenal have what it takes to go all the way 🏆 pic.twitter.com/I8P7FV3f8C
Darren Bent
"Arsenal’s run-in looks difficult and out of the three teams, I’d say theirs is the hardest overall," Bent told Premier League Productions. "Arsenal have still got to go to Etihad Stadium, and because they’ve never won there under Mikel Arteta, you know the title is still very much in Man City’s hands.
"It’s hard to see Man City dropping any points at all from their last four or five matches. But Arsenal will be better this time around than they were last season. Last time was an unknown. This time, they know exactly what to expect."
Dion Dublin
"None of the three teams can afford to lose more than one of their remaining matches," Dublin told Premier League Predictions, having won the title with Manchester United in 1992/93. "They can maybe afford to drop four points. That’s crazy. It turns things around from the skill and the physical side of the game to more of the mental element, to be able to perform at the highest level every single time and not make any mistakes."
Owen Hargreaves
"A big thing is pressure," said Hargreaves, a champion with Man Utd in 2007/08, to Premier League Productions. "Arsenal should be more ready than they were last season, and have added Declan Rice. We know that Man City won't crack under pressure, they have been there before. As for Liverpool, Jurgen Klopp has experience of dealing with pressure and their fixtures look the friendliest. If and when these teams do drop points, and crack, it's about how they respond. Last season, Arsenal had a little wobble and it turned into a bigger wobble. This season they're more ready.
"But let’s be honest, none of us have a clue who’s going to win! Injuries are a big factor, and all these teams are still in Europe, so we’ll have to see how that plays out. But with 10 games to go, we’re in for potentially the most exciting title race ever.”