Who will be top at the end of February? City the favorite, but we shall wait!
Liverpool and Arsenal each have three games to play, with four expected to take place for Manchester City, between now and the end of February. Do you wonder who will be first? The Citizens are favourites, Jürgen Klopp's team is second, Mikel Arteta's team has a tougher schedule!
By DIMITRIS MANAKOS
And just like that, we have all the facts in front of us after the final 23rd round of the Premier League. The game that ended that round of the league was Manchester City's game against Brentford at the Community.
The Citizens won 3-1 in an upset and Phil Foden is the main reason why at this point in time, the title race is balanced on a tightrope. He scored the hat-trick to give Pep Guardiola's side the win, with the Blues moving back up to 2nd place, -2 from Liverpool and level with Arsenal, but with one game to spare.
Of the aforementioned, Manchester City are the only team that will play four games in February at Premier League level, as they will also play the postponed fixture. Three straight games at the Etihad follow, against Everton, Chelsea and Brentford, while the month will end at the Vitality against Bournemouth.
What does this mean? That if Pep's side win on all fronts, by the end of February they will be top of the table and +1 from the Reds.
In order for the difference to be that one point with Liverpool, of course, Jürgen Klopp's team will also have to make the "absolute". Get back to winning ways against Burnley next weekend, do a double against Brentford and complete the 3x3 against Luton at Anfield.
As for Arsenal, they seem to have the toughest schedule of the three, right up to the end of the month. They will go to play West Ham at London's Olympic Stadium for the third time this season, having lost the previous two, then they will go to Turf Moore, and finally they will host the team that forced them to their first defeat of the season and the team they did not beat last year at Emirates: Newcastle United.
So where does that leave us? With the most likely scenario that Manchester City will finish the month on top. It’s the most tight tight race in nearly 10 seasons as it was 2013-14 the last time with five teams so close between them at the top after 23 games.
In detail, Liverpool's schedule until the end of the month:
(10/02) Liverpool v Burnley
(17/02) Brentford v Liverpool
(21/02) Liverpool - Luton
In detail, Manchester City's schedule until the end of the month:
(10/02) Manchester City vs Everton
(17/02) Manchester City vs Chelsea
(20/02) Manchester City vs Brentford
(24/02) Bournemouth v Manchester City
In detail, Arsenal's schedule until the end of the month:
(11/02) West Ham vs Arsenal
(17/02) Burnley vs Arsenal
(24/02) Arsenal - Newcastle
