Going into this weekend’s round of Premier League games, Leicester City could seal the title, Tottenham Hotspur could cement their runners-up spot in the table, Manchester City could all but ensure their Champions League place for next season, as could Arsenal if results go their way. However, with this season going against the narrative, could there be another twist to come?
Leicester City are atop the Premier League table with 76 points from 35 games, just one win away from clinching the title against all odds. They travel to Old Trafford to face Manchester United on Sunday afternoon fully cognisant of the fact that a victory over the Red Devils would see them 10 points clear of second-placed Tottenham with only three games remaining, therefore, making them Premier League Champions.
However, United are one of the few sides not to have lost to Leicester this season, and having the home advantage would suggest that Louis van Gaal’s men play party poopers this weekend. With four victories from last five, United are in good form to threaten the roaring Foxes, and the fallen giants will be fired up not to endure the ignominy of another side winning the title in their backyard.
Leicester could lose and still win the league crown this weekend, however, given their seven-point lead. Tottenham Hotspur have to take advantage if they are given a week’s reprieve, but they have a tricky trip to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea on Monday. Spurs do boast a favorable record in their last two meetings, beating them 5-3 in January last year and drawing at White Hart Lane in November, so they stand a chance.
Tottenham could be four points adrift with two games to go ahead of Leicester with a favourable run of games to come. There’s also the matter of the third and fourth places which is looking like a three-horse race between Manchester City, Arsenal, and Manchester United. City and Arsenal are five points clear, but have played a game more than United, and the race for Europe could be blown wide open if results go awry.
An out-of-form Arsenal side host a relegation-threatened Norwich City fighting for survival in the Premier League, while a travel-sick Manchester City have a trip to face Southampton, who have beaten the likes of Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United, West Ham United, Liverpool and many more. As a result, City’s outing is far from a foregone conclusion, and if Manchester United win their game, it would see the Red Devils in with a great chance of securing Champions League football for 2016/17.
This Premier League season has thrown up more curveballs than any, and with how inconsistent the biggest clubs have been throughout the campaign, making early predictions could prove futile. Most pundits would suggest the top-four will now finish how it is, but there are some mouth-watering fixtures to come that could throw a spanner in the works.
Leicester could lose to Man Utd, Tottenham could beat Chelsea, and such a chain of events could set up a nervy finale. Manchester United could also yet catch Manchester City and Arsenal in the race for a top-four spot. The two sides will face each on the final day too so at least one side will be dropping points, making it possible for United to catch them if they win their game in hand.
So will the Premier League offer another twist this weekend?
