#1 Race for top four blown wide open
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The race for the top four has been blown wide open and made further interesting with an Arsenal win as the Gunners refuse to go down without a fight.
Sunday’s first game saw Liverpool host Southampton which culminated in a frustrating draw for the home side, besides dealing a blow to their quest for the top four. It did, however, guarantee a Champions League spot for Spurs along with Chelsea, leaving four teams to battle for the remaining two places.
Jurgen Klopp’s side have 70 points from 36 games and are in third place, followed by Manchester City with 69 points who have a game in hand. United are fifth with 65 points, having played as many games as City while Arsenal have 63 points from 34 matches.
City look favourites to clinch the third spot after their battering of Crystal Palace on Saturday; they play Leicester City and West Brom at home before travelling to Watford for the final fixture of 2016/17.
Liverpool have a tricky away game to deal with against West Ham next week followed by the last game of the season at Anfield against (nearly?) relegated Middlesbrough. If the Reds win both their games, they are pretty much assured of a top four finish. However, anything less than six points from their last two games would mean that at least one of United or Arsenal have an outside chance of making it.
While United have trips to Spurs and St. Mary’s before closing off the season at Old Trafford against Palace, Arsenal have to navigate trips to Southampton and Stoke before hosting Sunderland and finally, Everton.
If indeed neither of United or Arsenal make the top four, it will be the first time in 38 years that such an event has occurred. Come May, who will have the last laugh?
