In the Premier League title race, dropping points now could be very bad for Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester City. This weekend’s games might be tricky for them.
At first glance, the matches don’t seem too tough. Arsenal, currently leading by goal difference, faces Aston Villa at home. Villa is in fifth place but hasn’t been doing well lately. Liverpool, in second place, hosts Crystal Palace, who have only won once since January.
And Manchester City, in third place, plays against Luton, who are near the bottom of the table.
But it’s risky because these games come right between two important matches in the Champions League and Europa League. Arsenal, Liverpool, and City all have tough European games.
Arsenal might be in the most trouble. They’re balancing both domestic and European games for the first time. Their coach, Mikel Arteta, might rest some players against Villa on Sunday.
This game is between two matches against Bayern Munich in the Champions League. The first leg ended 2-2, so it was a close one. Will players like Bukayo Saka, who’s dealing with fitness issues, get a break? And what about Martin Odegaard, who’s played every game this year and even for Norway in recent international matches?
Last season, Arsenal struggled at this time of year in the title race, even without playing in Europe.
Although Villa hasn’t been in great form lately, they’re still aiming for Champions League qualification and can be dangerous on the counterattack, especially with players like Ollie Watkins, Leon Bailey, and Moussa Diaby.
But Villa also has European games to worry about. They’re facing Lille in the Europa Conference League quarterfinals.
City is also in the Champions League, but they’re used to managing their energy well in the busy final months of the season. They have a tough match against Real Madrid, tied 3-3, before the second leg in Manchester. Guardiola will likely make changes to the team, especially with an injury-hit Luton as their next opponent. City beat Luton 6-2 in the FA Cup in February.
Rodri has already mentioned needing a break, and players like John Stones, recovering from an injury with England, and Phil Foden, who got hurt in the game against Real Madrid, might sit out. Kevin De Bruyne missed the Madrid game because he was sick, so they’ll check on his health.
At this time of the season, having a strong squad is very important. City has always had a powerful squad, and this season, Arsenal has improved a lot by signing players like Declan Rice and Kai Havertz. They also play more strategically to save energy, similar to how City does under Guardiola.
Liverpool’s manager Jürgen Klopp also has a deep squad. This season, many young players have joined the first team and helped the club win the English League Cup, even when dealing with injuries.
Liverpool has a game against Palace between two Europa League matches against Atalanta. Since it’s the quarterfinals, Klopp might choose to play a strong team in Europe, which could affect their performance in the Premier League.
Another busy period will be at the start of May if Arsenal, City, and Liverpool advance to the semifinals in Europe.
The league games on May 4-5 are between the two legs of the semifinals. Arsenal and City might have an advantage in their fixtures since they play at home against Bournemouth and Wolverhampton. Liverpool plays against Tottenham, who are competing for a Champions League spot.
