The 2023/24 title race is placed on a knife-edge heading into The Run In, but will the ongoing success of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City in other competitions affect their hopes of being crowned Premier League champions?
A total of 41 matches could be played by the three teams between Sunday 31 March, when they all return to action after the international break, before the final day of the 2023/24 campaign on Sunday 19 May.
As it stands, all three challengers are facing a congested end to the campaign on the domestic front, and possibly European too, with Man City also factoring in an FA Cup semi-final against Chelsea on Sunday 20 April as they look to keep their Treble dream alive.
| Position Pos | Club | Played Pl | GD | Points Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Arsenal
ARS
|
34 | +56 | 77 |
| 2 |
Man City
MCI
|
33 | +48 | 76 |
| 3 |
Liverpool
LIV
|
34 | +41 | 74 |
This weekend could prove to be one that ultimately shapes the destination of the 2023/24 Premier League Trophy.
Liverpool have an opportunity to return to the top of the table on Sunday afternoon if they beat Brighton & Hove Albion at home, but if they drop points, a Man City win at home to current leaders Arsenal would propel Pep Guardiola's side to top spot.
The Gunners' trip to City is their first of four matches in 10 days, with Mikel Arteta's side facing an equally challenging four matches in the 14 days preceding their huge north London derby with Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday 28 April.
During that 14-day period, Arsenal's fixtures include a midweek UEFA Champions League quarter-final second-leg tie in Germany against Bundesliga side Bayern Munich. Spurs, on the other hand, will be able to approach the battle with their bitter rivals fresh and energised, with NO fixtures across the same period.
Remaining confirmed/possible fixtures MW30-38
| Date | Arsenal | Liverpool | Man City |
|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Mar | Man City (A) | Brighton (H) | Arsenal (H) |
| 3 Apr | Luton (H) | Aston Villa (H) | |
| 4 Apr | - | Sheff Utd (H) | - |
| 6 Apr | Brighton (A) | - | Crystal Palace (A) |
| 7 Apr | - | Man Utd (A) | - |
| 9 Apr | Bayern Munich (H) (UCL quarter-final 1) |
- | Real Madrid (A) (UCL quarter-final 1) |
| 11 Apr | - | Atalanta (H) (UEL quarter-final 1) |
- |
| 13 Apr | - | - | Luton (H) |
| 14 Apr | Aston Villa (H) | Crystal Palace (H) | - |
| 17 Apr |
Bayern Munich (A) |
- | Real Madrid (A) (UCL quarter-final 2) |
| 18 Apr | - | Atalanta (A) (UEL quarter-final 2) |
- |
| 20 Apr | Wolves (A) | - | Chelsea (FA Cup semi-final) |
| 21 Apr | - | Fulham (A) | - |
| 23 Apr | Chelsea (H) | - | |
| 24 Apr | - | Everton (A) | - |
| 25 Apr | - | - | Brighton (A) |
| 27 Apr | - | West Ham (A) | - |
| 28 Apr | Spurs (A) | - | Nott'm Forest (A) |
| 30 Apr/1 May | (UCL semi-final 1) | - | (UCL semi-final 1) |
| 2 May | - | (UEL semi-final 1) | - |
| 4 May | AFC Bournemouth (H) | Spurs (H) | Wolves (H) |
| 7/8 May | (UCL semi-final 2) | (UCL semi-final 2) | |
| 9 May | - | (UEL semi-final 2) | - |
| 11 May | Man Utd (A) | Aston Villa (A) | Fulham (A) |
| 19 May | Everton (H) | Wolves (H) | West Ham (H) |
| 22 May | - | (UEL final) | - |
| 25 May | - | - | (FA Cup final) |
| TBC | - | - | Spurs (A) |
| 1 Jun | (UCL final) | (UCL final) |
* UEFA Champions League (UCL), UEFA Europa League (UEL)
Meanwhile Liverpool, who already have the EFL Cup in the bag this season, have two distinct fixture patterns that could define them as champions in Jurgen Klopp's last season, or deny him a fairytale ending to his Anfield career.
Four of the Reds' next five matches across all competitions are at home, including bitter rivals Manchester United, who knocked Liverpool out of the FA Cup in an epic quarter-final earlier this month.
After that, however, the Reds' Europa League quarter-final second-leg in Italy against Atalanta on Thursday 18 April kick-starts a potentially energy-sapping run of four away matches in the space of 10 days, including two trips to London either side of a local derby at Everton, who are themselves battling for points.
Reigning champions Man City do, of course, have the reputation as being a side that can churn out win-after-win when it comes to the business end of the season.
Who could forget the 2018/19 campaign? The leadership at the top of the table changed an incredible 32 times during the course of an unforgettable season, in which City won each of their final 10 Premier League matches to hold off Liverpool.
On paper, Guardiola's side could play a maximum of 14 matches between now and their final day fixture at home to West Ham United - a team they will be confident of claiming three points from having beaten the Hammers in their previous seven consecutive home encounters.
Indeed, after Arsenal this Sunday, two of City's next three matches will also be played at the Etihad Stadium, with a trip to Spurs yet to be rescheduled, arguably their toughest encounter to come.
The prospect of possibly facing four matches in 13 days prior to their penultimate fixture at Fulham on Saturday 11 May, including the UCL semi-finals should they reach them, is unlikely to faze a City side who are imperious at dealing with pressure situations such as this.