National Post (National Edition)
PREMIER LEAGUE RACE ENTERS THE FINAL STRETCH
CITY, GUNNERS MEET IN BATTLE FOR LEAD, WHILE OTHERS SEEK TO AVOID RELEGATION
Now that the useless and annoying international breaks are over, we have a 10-game sprint to the finish in the Premier League and this last portion kicks off with probably the most influential game left on the schedule.
Manchester City plays host to Arsenal on Sunday with City one point back of the Gunners, who are level on points with Liverpool but have a better goal difference.
If Arsenal wins, it will have its best chance in 20 years to win the championship. Draw and that opens the door for Liverpool, assuming it beats Brighton earlier in the day. Lose to City and that gives Liverpool and City the leg up.
It's also a clash of master and student, as Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta cut his coaching teeth under City mega-boss Pep Guardiola.
Arsenal beat City earlier this year 1-0 at home. Before that, City had won its 12 previous games against the Gunners, who have also lost seven straight at the Etihad when visiting the Blues.
Manchester City has won 12 of its past 13 Premier League games against Arsenal, though the exception was a 1-0 loss at the Emirates in the reverse fixture this season.
City really is a beast at home, so much so it's remarkable that it is actually trailing Liverpool and Arsenal, even if it is by the slimmest margin.
City haven't lost at home in 38 games and have scored in 57 straight home matches.
This is a fascinating challenge for Arsenal, famously having blown an eight-point lead at the top to City last season in an epic collapse.
Though Arsenal may have been fortunate to get all three points in its last league match, getting a late goal to beat Brentford 2-1, it has won eight league games in a row by a combined score of 33-4.
The international break always seems to find a way to mess with some team's algorithm.
Has it disrupted Arsenal's momentum or has it provided a clean break and focus before such a big match?
As we saw in the 1-1 draw between Liverpool and Manchester City earlier in March, both teams went for it, and while the final score was just a goal apiece, it was a game with a host of chances, brilliant end-to-end play, controversial calls, massive individual moments and a showpiece match for the league.
Guardiola and Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp went for it, neither opting to play it safe. What will Arsenal's approach be this weekend?
CAN LIVERPOOL KEEP PACE?
It's easy and simplistic to just say yes, because Liverpool is playing at home and hasn't lost a league game at Anfield in its last 26 outings, since a stunning 2-1 loss to Leeds in 2022.
But Brighton has actually done quite well in Merseyside, having drawn its three games there.
The injury crisis is better for Jurgen Klopp than it was in February, but once again the international break hasn't been kind to Liverpool, with just-returned left back Andy Robertson leaving Scotland's loss to Northern Ireland with an ankle injury, after he missed four months suffering a separated shoulder with Scotland in October.
Darwin Nunez, Curtis Jones, Alisson Becker and Trent Alexander-Arnold are still hurt, but Liverpool could get a boost with Mo Salah skipping international duties with Egypt to ensure his dodgy hamstring heals.
No player will be more key to Liverpool's title aspirations down the stretch than Salah. He's averaging a goal or assist every 76 minutes this season, the best rate of anyone to play at least 180 minutes in this campaign.
BUSY SCHEDULE
There's no rest for the players as they jet back from all corners of the world from international duties. This weekend's round of games are followed up by a midweek set of fixtures.
City has the hardest road to hoe. After Arsenal it hosts fourth-place Aston Villa, which is in a fight with Spurs to hold on to the last Champions League spot.
Arsenal gets Luton at home in its second match of the week, while Liverpool stays at home with lowly Sheffield United visiting.
WHAT'S HAPPENING
AT THE BOTTOM?
During the break, Nottingham Forest was given a four-point deduction for financial violations that dropped it into the relegation zone, one point behind Luton.
Forest is appealing, and Everton, which had a 10-point docking reduced to six points, is also facing another potential deduction based on further charges.
Not knowing your actual point total is chaos for these teams, as Everton is just four points out of the drop zone.
Sheffield will be relegated. They are eight points from safety and have looked awful. Burnley will likely be relegated, sitting five points back, although if Everton gets a further reduction it could offer hope.
There's little doubt every team from 14th-place Crystal Palace, with 29 points, to 18th-place Forest with 21, needs to grab every point they can.