It’s been one of the most enthralling title races we’ve ever had in Premier League history.
With just 10 games to go, only goal difference that separates table toppers Arsenal with second placed Liverpool, and Manchester City a point away from first-placed Arsenal, it’s all set up for one of the closest finishes the league has had in a while.
Pep Guardiola’s City will be confident of going all the way, having seen off competition to win the league for the last four years, while Liverpool will push to give their manager Jürgen Klopp the perfect send-off with a league title.
Arsenal is determined to make things right, following last year’s calamitous title challenge. Mikel Arteta’s men threw away a 10-point lead to hand City the title, and so they’ll be determined to go all the way this season.
However, Arteta will be buoyed by his team’s performances of late, having won their last six games on the spin and having scored countless goals in the process.
All three teams have massive tasks ahead, with City, Liverpool, and Arsenal set for a number of crucial and tough fixtures. But the trio will be well up for it knowing that only a near perfect record will help them achieve glory.
With City, Liverpool and Arsenal set for a crucial few weeks ahead, Showmax takes a look back at the pivotal moments that shaped this seasons title race.
Arsenal v Brentford (Home and Away) Home: 2-1; Away: 0-1
Kai Havertz’s late-winning header against Brentford last weekend could prove to be one of the most pivotal moments in Arsenal’s season. Had it not been for Havertz’a late header at the Emirates, the Gunners could very well have missed the opportunity to go top, following the tie between Liverpool and Manchester City. The game ended 2-1 with goals from Declan Rice and Havertz proving to be enough to take all three points.
In the fixture at the home of the Bees in November last year, it was Kai Havertz once again who proved to be the difference, scoring the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win. Havertz bagged an 89th-minute winner to ensure the Gunners enjoyed a thrilling last gasp win at Brentford.
Arsenal v Man City: 1-0
Gabriel Martinelli scored a dramatic late winner as Arsenal earned a statement victory over defending Premier League champions Manchester City at Emirates Stadium.
A largely disappointing game was given a stunning finale four minutes from time just as both sides looked certain to have to settled for a point.
Making his return from a hamstring injury as a substitute, Martinelli’s strike deflected in off Nathan Ake to earn Arsenal a first league win over City since December 2015.
It was a moment that sparked wild celebrations and put the Gunners level on points with north London rivals Tottenham at the top of the table.
Arsenal v Liverpool (Home and Away): Home: 3-1; Away 1-1
In their most recent meeting, Arsenal clinched a 3-1 win over 10-men Liverpool in a pulsating game at the Emirates Stadium that blew the title race wide open.
The hosts dominated much of the contest but gifted Liverpool a route back into the game when a defensive mix-up on the stroke of half-time saw Gabriel Magalhaes turn into his own net to cancel out Bukayo Saka’s early opener.
Arsenal continued to push, though, and went back in front when Gabriel Martinelli turned into an empty net after Liverpool’s Alisson Becker had charged off his line and failed to clear a long ball.
Jürgen Klopp’s side, unbeaten in their previous 15 Premier League games, had Ibrahima Konate sent off before substitute Leandro Trossard wrapped up a huge win for the Gunners in stoppage time, finishing smartly through Alisson’s legs from an acute angle.
In the nail-biting fixture at the Emirates last year, Arsenal started off with a flyer, going ahead in just the fourth minute with a bullet header from their defender Gabriel Magalhaes. It was Liverpool’s Egyptian King that had to come to the rescue for his teammates, scoring a rocket of a goal to level matters. The two teams shared the points in what was a tight encounter.
Newcastle v Liverpool: 1-2
Darwin Nunez was the hero as Liverpool produced a sensational last-gasp comeback to defeat their top-four rivals at St James’ Park. The Uruguayan striker came off the bench to net twice as spirited Liverpool recovered from Anthony Gordon’s goal and the first-half sending off of captain Virgil van Dijk in three minutes of madness to produce a stunning late turnaround with only 10 men on Tyneside.
Tottenham v Liverpool: 2-1
Liverpool had a goal incorrectly ruled out and then, after being reduced to nine players, saw Joel Matip concede a 96th-minute own goal as Tottenham triumphed 2-1 in a Premier League thriller to go second in the table above their rivals Arsenal. But it all could have been different and Liverpool boss Jürgen Klopp had already slammed “the most unfair circumstances, crazy decisions,” before referee body PGMOL officially apologised for Luis Diaz’s first-half strike being disallowed for offside.
Wolves v Man City: 2-1
Manchester City’s perfect start to the Premier League season was brought to a surprising halt by Wolves as the champions slumped to a 2-1 defeat at Molineux.
City had won six consecutive matches as they began their title defence in imperious form, but the 1-0 defeat at Newcastle in the Carabao Cup in midweek showed Pep Guardiola’s side were not infallible.
Having started the week without a competitive defeat in 90 minutes since May, City were handed two in a row thanks to a Ruben Dias own goal and a close-range Hee-Chan Hwang strike.
Liverpool v Luton: 4-1
Luton Town were dreaming of a shock result at Anfield when Chiedozie Ogbene gave them the lead in the first half, but Liverpool roared back in the second 45, scoring a total of four times to secure an emphatic win. The result meant that Liverpool restored their lead at the top of the Premier League table.
Liverpool v Fulham: 4-3
Trent Alexander-Arnold scored an 88th-minute winner as Liverpool mounted a stunning late comeback to beat Fulham in a seven-goal thriller at Anfield.
Trailing 3-2 in the 87th minute, Liverpool equalised as Wataru Endo scored his first Premier League goal and seconds later, Alexander-Arnold completed the turnaround.
Alexander-Arnold had helped Liverpool open the scoring in the 20th minute when his free-kick ricocheted off the crossbar and in, off Fulham keeper Bernd Leno.
Former Red Harry Wilson equalised four minutes later before Alexis Mac Allister restored Liverpool’s lead after 38 minutes with a stunning long-range strike.
Kenny Tete netted Fulham’s second equaliser in first-half injury time and Bobby De Cordova-Reid headed the Cottagers into the lead in the 80th minute.
Fulham had looked set to end Liverpool’s 13-month unbeaten home record in the Premier League. Instead, the Reds kept up their perfect record at Anfield this season and cut Arsenal’s lead at the top.
Manchester City v Tottenham: 3-3
Dejan Kulusevski conjured up a 90th-minute equaliser to earn Spurs a 3-3 draw against Manchester City in a thrilling game at the Etihad Stadium.
Jack Grealish had looked to have come off the bench to win it for the Premier League champions but in a game of high drama, Tottenham, who had led early on through Heung-Min Son, mustered a second equaliser to end their run of three consecutive defeats.
The match had it all from the outset, Son scoring at both ends before Phil Foden appeared to put City in control. But Erling Haaland wasted chances and Pep Guardiola’s side also struck post and bar before Giovani Lo Celso made them pay midway through the second half.
Aston Villa v Manchester City: 1-0
Leon Bailey’s deflected shot gave Aston Villa a fully deserved victory over Manchester City. Villa were superior throughout against the lacklustre champions, who had gone four Premier League games without a win for the first time in more than seven years.
Villa were fearless going forward from the outset, with City keeper Ederson making two fine early saves from Pau Torres and Bailey, while opposite number Emi Martinez did superbly to deny Erling Haaland twice in quick succession.
City lacked composure and were run ragged at times, and the Villa breakthrough came 16 minutes from time, when Bailey’s shot from the edge of the area took a touch off Ruben Dias as it looped beyond the helpless Ederson.
Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool: 1-0
Darwin Nunez came off the bench to score a dramatic 99th-minute winner and send Liverpool four points clear at the top of the Premier League with victory at struggling Nottingham Forest.
As the game drifted past the eight added minutes announced by the fourth official, Nunez, playing his first game since suffering a muscle injury at Brentford on 17 February, found the bottom corner with a glancing header from Alexis Mac Allister’s cross, sparking bedlam on the Liverpool bench and in the stands.
Manchester City v Chelsea: 4-4
Cole Palmer netted a stoppage-time penalty against his former club Manchester City to rescue a point for Chelsea in a pulsating, eight-goal Premier League classic at Stamford Bridge.
Palmer, who swapped his boyhood club for Chelsea in the summer, held his nerve to beat Ederson as Mauricio Pochettino’s side came from behind for a third time in a breathless game.
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