This time last year, it looked like Arsenal were going to win a first Premier League title since 2004. Unfortunately for the Gunners’ long-suffering supporters, Mikel Arteta’s exciting young side ran out of steam down the home stretch and Manchester City finished first yet again.
The champions are favourites to prevail once again this season but, as April approaches, they’re now under even more pressure than last year, with Arsenal topping the table on goal difference from Liverpool, who have surprisingly emerged as serious title contenders during what was supposed to be a season of transition at Anfield.
But who will finish the season on top of the table? GOAL attempts to predict the future by running through all three teams’ remaining fixtures below – and the good news is that we’ll be putting in the actual results and standings after our every round, so that you can make fun of us whenever we get something horribly wrong!
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Matchday 27
Sat, March 2:
Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool
Forest are an awkward proposition at home but the injury-ravaged Reds should have Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez and Dominik Szoboszlai back.
Prediction: 1-2 Actual result: 0-1
Sun, March 3:
Manchester City vs Manchester United
They say form goes out the window in a derby but Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne are firing on all cylinders and should blow Erik ten Hag’s frustratingly fragile squad away.
Prediction: 4-1 Actual result: 3-1
Mon, March 4:
Sheffield United vs Arsenal
The hosts are all-but-relegated, so expect the suddenly free-scoring Gunners to win comfortably once again.
Prediction: 0-3 Actual result: 0-6
Predicted Premier League table:
Team Played GD Points
Liverpool 27 +39 63
Man City 27 +36 62
Arsenal 27 +42 61
Actual Premier League table:
Team Played GD Points
Liverpool 27 +39 63
Man City 27 +35 62
Arsenal 27 +45 61
Matchday 28
Sat, March 9:
Arsenal vs Brentford
There would be a tremendous irony in Ivan Toney upsetting the Gunners’ title charge but Arteta’s men should have little trouble beating the Bees at home.
Prediction: 3-1 Actual Result: 2-1
Sun March 10:
Liverpool vs Manchester City
Much will depend on Klopp’s injury list but if a few more regulars are back, we can see the Reds and the champions cancelling one another out in an exciting draw.
Prediction: 2-2 Actual Result: 1-1
Predicted Premier League table:
Pos Team Played GD Points
Arsenal 28 +44 64
Liverpool 28 +39 64
Man City 28 +36 63
Actual Premier League table:
Team Played GD Points
Arsenal 27 +46 64
Liverpool 27 +39 64
Man City 27 +35 63
Matchday 29
Sun, March 31:
Liverpool vs Brighton (14:00)
The Reds might have to endure some hairy moments but they should have some top players back after the international break, allowing them to pile the pressure on their title rivals with an ultimately comfortable win.
Prediction: 3-1
Manchester City vs Arsenal (16:30)
The Gunners have already proven that they can beat Pep Guardiola’s men at home but they’re likely to once again fold at the Etihad in demoralising fashion.
Prediction: 3-0
Predicted Premier League table:
Pos Team Played GD Points
Liverpool 29 +41 67
Man City 29 +39 66
Arsenal 29 +41 64
Matchday 30
Wed, April 3:
Arsenal vs Luton (19:30)
The Gunners will bounce back from their Etihad setback by hammering the Hatters.
Prediction: 5-0
Manchester City vs Aston Villa (20:15)
Ollie Watkins & Co. will cause City’s vulnerable defence all sorts of problems but the hosts will scrape a vital victory.
Prediction: 3-2
Thurs, April 4:
Liverpool vs Sheffield United (19:30)
The Reds will run riot at Anfield to keep themselves right in the thick of the title race.
Prediction: 4-0
Predicted Premier League table:
Pos Team Played GD Points
Liverpool 30 +45 70
Man City 30 +40 69
Arsenal 30 +46 67
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Matchday 31
Sat, April 6:
Crystal Palace vs Man City (12:30)
The champions might have one eye on the Champions League quarter-finals but won’t be troubled at all by the Eagles.
Prediction: 0-3
Brighton vs Arsenal (17:30)
We foresee an awkward evening at the Amex for Arteta and his players, resulting in them dropping two precious points.
Prediction: 1-1
Sun, April 7:
Manchester United vs Liverpool (15:30)
Erik ten Hag’s team frustrated the life out of the Merseysiders at Anfield and we think they’ll do so again here.
Prediction: 0-0
Predicted Premier League table:
Pos Team Played GD Points
Man City 31 +43 72
Liverpool 31 +45 71
Arsenal 31 +46 68
Matchday 32
Sat, April 13:
Manchester City vs Luton (15:00)
The champions will roll right over a team they’ve already destroyed in the FA Cup this season.
Prediction: 4-0
Sun, April 14:
Liverpool vs Crystal Palace (14:00)
The Reds will keep their title dream alive with a routine win at Anfield.
Prediction: 3-0
Arsenal vs Aston Villa (16:30)
The Gunners will stumble again, this time against their former boss Unai Emery, who will be chasing Champions League football with Villa.
Prediction: 2-2
Predicted Premier League table:
Pos Team Played GD Points
Man City 32 +47 75
Liverpool 32 +48 74
Arsenal 32 +46 69
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Matchday 33
Sat, April 20:
Wolves vs Arsenal (19:30)
The Gunners will also be made to work hard before getting the three points they need to get back in touch.
Prediction: 0-1
Sun, April 21:
Fulham vs Liverpool (16:30)
It won’t be pretty but the Reds will get the job done at Craven Cottage.
Prediction: 1-2
Postponed:
Tottenham vs Manchester City (TBC)
This fixture will be played later in the season due to the champions’ involvement in the FA Cup semi-finals.
Predicted Premier League table:
Pos Team Played GD Points
Liverpool 33 +49 77
Man City 32 +47 75
Arsenal 33 +47 72
Matchday 34
Tue, April 23:
Arsenal vs Chelsea 20:00
Fixture chaos caused by the FA Cup quarter-finals resulted in this game being placed between tricky trips to Wolves and Spurs – but we can still see the Gunners beating Blues’ “billion-pound bottle-jobs” on home soil.
Prediction: 2-0
Wed, April 24:
Everton vs Liverpool 20:00
A rescheduled midweek derby at Goodison, where Klopp has struggled to win games, is far from ideal for the Reds, particularly as it arrives at a time when the Toffees are fighting for their lives.
Prediction: 0-0
Brighton vs Manchester City
We know that Roberto De Zerbi’s side won’t fear the champions and the Europa League distraction has been removed from the equation, but the champions should eek out a crucial win.
Prediction: 1-2
Predicted Premier League table:
Pos Team Played GD Points
Liverpool 34 +49 78
Man City 33 +48 78
Arsenal 34 +49 75
Matchday 35
Sat, April 27:
West Ham vs Liverpool (12:30)
The Reds’ resilience is on show again as they battle their way to victory at the London Stadium.
Prediction: 1-2
Sun, April 28:
Tottenham vs Arsenal (14:00)
A fired-up Spurs take enormous pleasure out of dealing a devastating blow to their north London rivals’ title hopes.
Prediction: 2-2
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City (16:30)
A facile win at the City Ground puts Guardiola’s troops on top of the table on goal difference – but with a game in hand.
Prediction: 0-3
Predicted Premier League table:
Pos Team Played GD Points
Man City 34 +51 81
Liverpool 35 +50 81
Arsenal 35 +49 76
Matchday 36
Weekend of May 4:
Liverpool vs Tottenham (TBC)
The Reds just about keep their title bid on track by edging another thriller with Spurs at Anfield.
Prediction: 3-2
Manchester City vs Wolves (TBC)
The unrelenting champions see off Gary O’Neil’s side with the minimum of fuss.
Prediction: 3-0
Arsenal vs Bournemouth (TBC)
The Gunners do what they need to do against The Cherries to keep their hopes alive, mathematically, but their race is effectively run.
Prediction: 3-1
Predicted Premier League table:
Pos Team Played GD Points
Man City 35 +54 84
Liverpool 36 +51 84
Arsenal 36 +51 79
Matchday 37
Weekend of May 11:
Fulham vs Man City (TBC)
The champions take a huge step towards the title with victory at Craven Cottage.
Prediction: 1-3
Aston Villa vs Liverpool (TBC)
The Reds suffer a hammer blow by being held in Birmingham to leave themselves needing a miracle.
Prediction: 2-2
Manchester United vs Arsenal (TBC)
The Gunners claim a creditable, hard-fought win at Old Trafford but it’s too little, too late for Arteta and his players.
Prediction: 1-2
Predicted Premier League table:
Pos Team Played GD Points
Man City 36 +56 87
Liverpool 37 +51 85
Arsenal 37 +52 82
Rearranged Fixture
With City expected to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League, this game is likely to be played during the final week of the season.
Tottenham vs Manchester City (TBC)
Spurs once again raise their game to take points off Guardiola’s side but the draw effectively seals a fourth consecutive title for the visitors, given their goal difference.
Prediction: 1-1
Predicted Premier League table:
Pos Team Played GD Points
Man City 37 +56 88
Liverpool 37 +51 85
Arsenal 37 +52 82
Matchday 38
May 19:
Liverpool vs Wolves (TBC)
The Reds wrap up a remarkable campaign with a home victory but Klopp exits the Premier League having been once again forced to settle for second place behind Man City.
Prediction: 2-0
Arsenal vs Everton (TBC)
The Gunners finish in style but are once again left lamenting a lack of experience and depth.
Prediction: 3-0
Manchester City vs West Ham (TBC)
Guardiola’s men make history by becoming the first team to win four consecutive Premier League titles.
Prediction: 2-0
Predicted Premier League table:
Pos Team Played GD Points
Man City 38 +58 91
Liverpool 38 +53 88
Arsenal 38 +55 85
