Manchester City, on the cusp of Premier League glory, put together for a momentous coronation that would safe their place in soccer historical past as they set their sights on a possible treble, transcending boundaries and redefining their legacy.
Victory at house for Pep Guardiola’s facet in opposition to Chelsea on Sunday would seal the deal however will probably be everywhere in the earlier day if Arsenal lose to relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest.
Liverpool are nonetheless within the hunt for a top-four end after seven straight wins whereas Leicester and Leeds look destined for the drop.
Here are among the key speaking factors forward of the weekend’s motion within the English high flight.
City chase historical past
Last season City had been pushed to the restrict by Liverpool, solely sealing the title after an exciting comeback from 2-0 down in opposition to Aston Villa on the ultimate day of the season.
This yr they’re in a extra comfy place after profitable their previous 11 video games to take a vice-like grip on the Premier League.
Arsenal, for therefore lengthy front-runners, should keep away from defeat at Forest to maintain the race alive however it’s now a query of if, moderately than when, for Guardiola’s group.
Even if Arsenal win at Forest, few would again in opposition to City beating Chelsea on the Etihad and turning into Premier League champions for a 3rd straight yr.
It could be their fifth title in six years, underlining their dominance within the richest league on the planet.
Once they’ve lifted the trophy, City could have the posh of specializing in the FA Cup remaining in opposition to Manchester United and the Champions League remaining in opposition to Inter Milan as they search to emulate United’s distinctive 1999 treble.
Newcastle dare to dream
Newcastle are inside touching distance of a top-four end for the primary time in twenty years simply 19 months after the launch of their new period.
A Saudi-backed consortium purchased the membership in October 2021 with the Magpies within the doldrums and made it clear they had been dreaming huge.
Newcastle, with out a main trophy since 1969, have outstripped expectations underneath supervisor Eddie Howe and will likely be assured of a top-four end if Liverpool lose to Aston Villa on Sunday.
They can full the job themselves in the event that they beat struggling Leicester on Monday.
Fourth-placed Manchester United, three factors behind Newcastle however with a recreation in hand, want two extra wins from their remaining three video games to ensure Champions League soccer subsequent season.
If both slip up, Liverpool are ready to pounce, looking for to qualify for the Champions League for the seventh consecutive season.
Exit looms for Leicester
Jamie Vardy nonetheless believes Nineteenth-placed Leicester can survive within the Premier League after a horrific season however the odds are closely stacked in opposition to them.
The 2016 champions and 2021 FA Cup winners began the marketing campaign with six defeats of their first seven video games and their sporadic mini-revivals have petered out.
The Foxes’ 3-0 house defeat in opposition to Liverpool on Monday left them two factors from security with two video games remaining – in opposition to Newcastle and West Ham.
“It’ll be tough but we know we’ve got the talent in that dressing room,” stated veteran striker Vardy. “It needs to click. We’ve got two games left and the minimum we can have is two wins just to give ourselves a chance.”
Leeds, only one level forward of Leicester, additionally face a bleak state of affairs, with matches to return in opposition to West Ham and Tottenham.
Everton are only one level away from the drop zone however their two remaining video games are in opposition to Wolves and Bournemouth, neither of whom have something to play for.
The different group nonetheless in actual hazard of becoming a member of relegated Southampton within the Championship are Forest, who host an Arsenal group with some extent to show after their painful 3-0 defeat by the hands of Brighton.
Source: www.dailysabah.com
