The Premier League title race is starting to look like a foregone conclusion, with Liverpool steamrolling to England’s holy grail without breaking a sweat.
However, there are still a couple of key games that could determine the fate of the league title, and Liverpool vs Arsenal is particularly one to look out for.
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The Reds have opened up an eight-point lead at the Premier League summit and still have a game in hand. Arne Slot’s side are cruising to the title, and it’s undoubtedly theirs to lose from here on out.
However, Arsenal are refusing to throw in the towel despite sitting nine points behind the runaway leaders having played one more game.
After finishing the last two seasons as runners-up to Manchester City, Arsenal were expected to push on and finally end Pep Guardiola’s reign of terror, but they’ve struggled to keep up with a rejuvenated Liverpool side.
The champions themselves fell by the wayside even before there was a title race, with Guardiola’s side struggling to break through the mother of all capitulations.
Even a spot in the top four has been hard to come by for the reigning champions, who would at least be eager to secure Champions League football in what has been a massively underwhelming campaign.
Chelsea initially emerged as surprising title contenders, given where they were just 12 months ago.
However, Enzo Maresca’s magic spell appears to be fading, with the Blues now going three Premier League games without a win for the first time this season (D1, L2).
Surprisingly, Nottingham Forest are defying the odds and stand as the major surprise package of 2024/25.
They sit second on the Premier League table, and Nuno Espirito Santo’s side look like real contenders for a Champions League spot heading into the new year.
However, despite their fine form, Arsenal and Chelsea are still considered Liverpool’s closest challengers, so we’ve analysed a number of high-profile games that could determine the fate of the title race heading into the run-in.
Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur – Matchday 21
Tottenham Hotspur fans were shockingly delighted with a 2-0 defeat against Manchester City at the tail end of last season as it further derailed Arsenal’s chances of winning the Premier League title.
Not even Spurs gaffer Ange Postecoglou could wrap his head around the depth of the rivalry between both clubs, so it’s bound to get feisty when the north London rivals lock horns on matchday 21.
The outcome of the game could have a telling impact on the fate of the title race, and Spurs would be more than willing to halt Arsenal’s momentum.
However, the Emirates Stadium hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for Tottenham, failing to pick up a win on Arsenal’s turf in over a decade.
You’d have to go back to November 2010 for the last time Spurs won at the Emirates, so the Gunners will head into that fixture as overwhelming favourites.
Arsenal will be hoping Forest can take points off Liverpool a day before they host their North London rivals, considering the Tricky Trees are the only side to get the better of the Reds so far this season.
Manchester City v Chelsea – Matchday 23
Chelsea’s title credentials have taken a hit over the past three match weeks, with the Blues going three Premier League games without a win for the first time this season.
Depending on how they respond to the setback, this contest could be more of a top-four showdown than one that has any bearing on the title race.
Nevertheless, Chelsea will be keen to get their revenge on City after falling to a 2-0 defeat against Guardiola’s side on the opening day of the season.
Shockingly, City have become the whipping boys of the division, with nearly everyone getting a slice of Guardiola’s side. It remains to be seen if he’d find a solution before his side hosts Chelsea on matchday 23.
The Blues will be keen to secure a win that could reassert their title ambitions. With Liverpool and Arsenal facing Ipswich Town and Wolverhampton Wanderers, defeat for the Blues could put the final nail in their title hopes.
Arsenal v Manchester City – Matchday 24
In the past two seasons, this matchup would have been billed as a title showdown, but with City floundering outside the top four, it’s more of Arsenal’s chance to keep up with Liverpool in the title race.
Getting the better of City has been a major issue for the Gunners, but they seem to have gotten the number of Guardiola’s side after going three meetings without defeat (W1, D2).
The last two games between these two sides have ended in a draw, and Arsenal must find a way to turn one point into three if they’re going to keep pace with Liverpool at the summit.
The Reds will get a chance to extend their lead at the top of the table a day before, although they’d have to navigate a tricky Bournemouth side at Vitality Stadium.
Regardless of the outcome of that game on the South Coast, Arsenal can ill-afford to drop points against City if they want to keep their title hopes alive.
Manchester City v Liverpool – Matchday 26
The rivalry between these two sides were delightful to watch during the Jurgen Klopp era.
It’s a matchup that always delivered plenty of fireworks, but given how Slot’s side have played this season, it should be no different when both sides lock horns on matchday 26.
A win for Liverpool will solidify their claim as Premier League champions-elect – if they haven’t already before the game – so they’d be keen to get one over the champions at the Etihad Stadium.
Liverpool have already had the first laugh, claiming a 2-0 win at Anfield, but City could massively dent their title hopes with a revenge win at Anfield.
It’ll be a result that Arsenal will welcome wholeheartedly, but they’d need to get the job done against West Ham a day before.
Liverpool v Arsenal – Matchday 36
Liverpool are already on course to secure the title with at least two games in hand, but if, by some miracle, the race goes down to the wire, this matchup could be a major deciding factor.
Both sides couldn’t be separated when they went toe to toe at the Emirates, settling for a share of the spoils in a pulsating 2-2 draw back in October.
Bukayo Saka and Mikel Merino scored on either side of a Virgil van Dijk goal to give the Gunners a 2-1 lead heading into half time, but Mohamed Salah made sure Liverpool didn’t leave North London with a point, scoring late to snatch a point for Slot’s side.
A similar result will most likely favour Liverpool on matchday 36, but with the stakes higher than ever, both sides should be going for the jugular at Anfield.
