Arsenal, Liverpool and Man Metropolis are separated by ONE level with 10 video games to play… Mail Sport predicts who’s heading in the direction of Premier League triumph and who’ll be turning on the tears TERMAN WEBSITE

There is only one level separating Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester Metropolis going into the ultimate 10 video games of the Premier League season. 

Mikel Arteta’s facet now maintain prime spot on aim distinction to Liverpool, after the Reds had been held to a 1-1 draw with Manchester Metropolis – who’re a degree off the pair.

There may be one other large title tussle to come back following the worldwide break, with the Gunners going through an enormous check on the Etihad Stadium, the place they collapsed final season.

With all three sides nonetheless to face some tough matches and going through their very own challenges, there are many causes for the trio to be cheerful and fearful within the title battle. 

Mail Sport reads the runes to see who’s trending in the direction of triumph and who shall be turning on the tears come the tip of the season.

ARSENAL

BY ISAAN KHAN

REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL

1. Full-strength squad

The primary half of Arsenal’s Premier League marketing campaign was stricken by accidents all through the squad.

Within the backline, Ben White needed to play whereas not absolutely match, the left-back place turned a revolving door due to Jurrien Timber’s long-term knee damage sustained in August. 

Jakub Kiwior, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Takehiro Tomiyasu and have all had a go to various levels of success however the latter two have additionally had their damage issues and Kiwior is a centre-half by commerce.

In midfield Thomas Partey has been missed, and Jorginho has needed to be protected so has solely featured often. And up entrance, Gabriel Jesus suffered a recurring knee problem.

Now, although, bar Timber, who is anticipated to be again in competition within the coming weeks, Arsenal are full-strength for the primary time in months. Some timing.

2. Targets: Plentiful and late

Round Christmas, a aim drought which noticed the Gunners take 30 photographs in opposition to West Ham and nonetheless lose 2-0, and lose 2-1 to Fulham, appeared to have shot down their title aspirations and led to cries for a striker to be signed within the January window. However within the final eight league video games, all of which they’ve gained, the Gunners have amassed 33 targets (over 4 targets a recreation).

Throw within the behavior of scoring late — 5 of Arsenal’s 20 league wins have come courtesy of targets scored after the eighty fifth minute — and it’s a potent power.

3. Chasing, not main

The stress of being out in entrance can carry a unique psychological weight than if you find yourself within the pack.

Sure, Arsenal are prime of the desk, like they had been final season going into the ultimate run, however they’re stage with Liverpool on 64 factors and only one level forward of Manchester Metropolis. Final season that they had a lead of eight factors over Metropolis at instances and the expectation appeared to weigh heavy.

REASONS TO BE FEARFUL

1. Power in depth

Though Arsenal have suffered accidents this season, key gamers in key positions have stayed match. Declan Rice has began each league match, so has William Saliba whose central defensive companion Gabriel has began all however 4 video games. 

Bukayo Saka has missed one match, Martin Odegaard three. The worry is that if considered one of these important gamers goes down – as Saliba did final season when Arsenal’s title cost fell aside – the back-ups don’t reduce it. 

Kiwior is untested at centre-half, Fabio Vieira and Emile Smith-Rowe have been hit or miss as Odegaard replacements. Reiss Nelson shouldn’t be Saka and Rice’s all-round recreation is irreplaceable.

2. Champions League burden

Arsenal haven’t gained silverware since 2020. In the event that they beat Porto tonight and attain the Champions League quarter-finals, their consideration may very well be cut up. 

The Gunners have by no means gained this competitors and it might be a big coup in the event that they do. In reality, some followers can be torn if it must be one or the opposite. In the event that they hold progressing in Europe choice for league matches may very well be comprimised. And Arsenal nonetheless must go to the Etihad, Outdated Trafford and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

3. Lack of expertise

It has been 20 years since Arsenal final gained the league. Metropolis, however, know the drill. Liverpool have latest expertise of taking the crown. 

That lengthy wait weighs on the thoughts and till it’s been achieved, the query stays: when, if all of it, will it occur? Such emotions will not be new to Arsenal supporters, however because the run-in approaches the nerves from the stands might nicely be felt on the pitch.

Prediction:

1.Man Metropolis

2. Arsenal

3. Liverpool

LIVERPOOL

BY LEWIS STEELE 

REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL

1. Virgil van Dijk

Having the very best defender in Europe main your facet offers you an enormous benefit in any title race. Within the final month alone, van Dijk has scored a last-minute winner within the Carabao Cup remaining and pocketed the very best No 9 on the planet, Erling Haaland.

The Dutchman made an error at Arsenal, which might show expensive, however has barely put a foot fallacious all season in any other case. Many say he’s again to his pre-injury type. That’s fallacious – he’s taking part in the very best soccer of his profession.

2. Fortress Anfield

Tomorrow marks 500 days since Liverpool final misplaced a home match at Anfield – nicely achieved, Jesse Marsch’s Leeds. Pep Guardiola described it greatest on Sunday when he stated going to Anfield is like being caught in a ‘tsunami’.

The Catalan went on to say how Liverpool flood defences with wave after wave of assaults, getting numerical benefits everywhere in the pitch with intelligent runs and lightning-quick counter-pressing.

Many groups have come to Anfield with confidence this season however left with nothing. Fulham are maybe the very best instance – Marco Silva’s males led 3-2 as late because the 87th minute however nonetheless misplaced.

3. The cult of Klopp

Scientists wouldn’t be capable to stand this one up, however Liverpool look revitalised and able to battle since Klopp introduced he’ll depart. Many on the membership have referred to as it ‘The Final Dance’ and it appears like Liverpool are doing simply that – dancing to the title.

However Klopp appears to have shocked even himself with a few of his match-winning techniques. The double-pivot of Wataru Endo and Alexis Mac Allister stopped Metropolis from taking part in in harmful areas on Sunday, whereas he stated he’ll ‘always remember’ his staff’s passing within the recreation.

Above all, he appears to have instilled a rising perception and starvation into his facet, a trait which has been evident all season however has grown tenfold since his exit announcement. Final-minute winners, digging deep via damage crises and a novel staff spirit are all essential.

REASONS TO BE FEARFUL

1. Accidents

Liverpool have been stricken by damage all season and there’s a feeling that they’re one or two knocks to key gamers away from their title hopes being obliterated.

In a race the place it appears like just one or two factors will separate the winners from the losers, one key absentee might hang-out Liverpool. Let’s think about for instance it’s 1-1 late in a recreation and Liverpool are via on aim. Klopp would a lot slightly Mohamed Salah was within the staff.

2. Rivals out to get them

The 2 defining video games of this run-in shall be tough away journeys to rivals Manchester United and Everton. The latter is prone to be the penultimate Merseyside Derby at a raucous Goodison Park – and the Toffees shall be within the midst of a relegation battle…

United can roll over for large groups, as seen with the Manchester Derby a fortnight in the past, however though they’re not the power they had been, Erik ten Hag’s males can nonetheless decide up factors in opposition to their rivals.

There’s a tough journey to come back to Aston Villa.

3. Stockley Park

Think about the fury if Liverpool misplaced the title by a single level. The Reds would level the finger at a match in September when Luis Diaz noticed a aim wrongly chalked off, which PGMOL later admitted was a monumental VAR cock-up. For those who don’t bear in mind, VAR wrongly thought the on-pitch referee had awarded the aim so stated there was nothing fallacious with the choice. However that was communicated wrongly and Tottenham restarted with a free-kick, which VAR officers later realised was fallacious.

Liverpool went on to lose that recreation, considered one of simply two league defeats this season, and had been additionally perplexed at a pink card to Curtis Jones. There have been a number of different controversial moments which have aggrieved the Reds this season, not least Jeremy Doku’s excessive boot on Sunday.

Prediction:

1. Liverpool

2. Metropolis

3. Arsenal

MAN CITY

BY JACK GAUGHAN

REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL

1. MUSCLE MEMORY

They’ve been right here earlier than. And in each single one of many tight battles beneath Pep Guardiola, they’ve prevailed. When the silverware begins to glisten, Metropolis typically go mad. It’s solely a 12 months since they gained 12 on the bounce to grab the title away from a rampant Arsenal. Reminders of that and their tussles with Liverpool would be the dressing room message.

2. MORE TO COME

It sounds unusual given Metropolis haven’t misplaced for the reason that first week of December – a foul night time at Aston Villa – however there’s a feeling that they’ve nonetheless bought one other couple of gears in them. Erling Haaland has 18 Premier League targets however Metropolis are ready for him to totally explode. There are some fixtures arising the place the larger gamers, like Kevin De Bruyne, will fancy having a definitive say on this title.

3. COPING WITH INJURIES

There have been masses this season with out anyone actually noticing. Ederson is now taking a look at weeks out however in his place, Stefan Ortega has at all times stepped up in a means that calms any fears – simply as he did at Anfield on Sunday. Despite the fact that others have crammed the void, Jack Grealish’s return, doubtless after the worldwide break, shall be a fine addition. Metropolis are extra coherent with him within the facet.

REASONS TO BE FEARFUL

1. THE TOP SIX

The shape in opposition to the opposite members of the highest six doesn’t make nice studying for Guardiola. They’ve solely crushed one top-six rival within the league, and that was Manchester United dwelling and away. 

Defeats at Arsenal and Villa have been dangerous, with each groups visiting the Etihad within the week straight after the worldwide break. Then there may be the annual battle at Tottenham to come back, though Metropolis did lastly rating and win there within the FA Cup two months in the past.

2. DEFENSIVE RECORD

Metropolis have felt extra fallible on the again this time period. A part of that’s all the way down to the prolonged absence of John Stones, with sq. pegs filling his hybrid function, however particular person errors (see Nathan Ake and Ederson on the weekend) have hindered them. Amazingly, they’ve conceded extra targets and scored fewer than each Liverpool and Arsenal. It wants correcting given it will doubtless go to the ultimate day.

3. FATIGUE

Whether or not Metropolis can muster the vitality to drive on at this stage of a marketing campaign but once more will show the distinction between successful and shedding. There was shock that they’ve reacted so strongly to the Treble – dropping off, however to not the extent some may need predicted – they usually must battle via the psychological fatigue of all of it in opposition to two unbelievable rivals.

Prediction:

1. Liverpool

2. Metropolis

3. Arsenal