Six to go: How Liverpool & Man City did in corresponding fixtures last term
For the first time in a few years, the Premier League title race seems set to go down to the wire as Liverpool and Manchester City battle it out to decide who will end the season as champions.
The two sides have swapped positions on a number of occasions in recent weeks, although they have now played the same amount of fixtures after City won their game in hand against Cardiff on Wednesday night to return to the top of the table.
We’ve taken a look at both sides remaining fixtures and looked back at how they fared in the corresponding matches. For newly-promoted sides we’ve used the clubs which ended last season in the position they currently sit, i.e. we’ve compared 18th-placed Cardiff to Swansea and seventh-placed Wolves to Burnley.
Liverpool
Southampton (A): Won 2-0
Chelsea (H): Drew 1-1
Cardiff City (A): Lost 1-0 at Swansea City
Huddersfield Town (H): Won 3-0
Newcastle United (A): Drew 1-1
Wolves (H): Drew 1-1 with Burnley
Points: Nine
Goal difference: +4
Friday 👉 Liverpool lead
Sunday 👉 Man City lead
Monday 👉 Liverpool lead
Thursday 👉 Man City leadThe Premier League ladies and gentleman 🔴🔵 pic.twitter.com/l9d8Wl9HaA
— SuperSport (@SuperSportTV) April 4, 2019
Manchester City
Crystal Palace (A): Drew 0-0
Tottenham (H): Won 4-1
Manchester United (A): Won 2-1
Burnley (A): Drew 1-1
Leicester City (H): Won 5-1
Brighton (A): Won 2-0
Points: 14
Goal difference: +10
Verdict
If both clubs’ results were to follow the above pattern, Liverpool would finish the season on 88 points, but Manchester City would end comfortably clear on 94.
Given the way City steamrollered their way to the title last season, it’s not exactly a surprise to see their more favourable results from the remaining fixtures.
However, Liverpool are obviously much improved this term, and the Cardiff fixture’s comparison with Swansea is perhaps unfair as the Swans were in the midst of their best form of the campaign following the appointment of Carlos Carvalhal.
But there’s an argument that Wolves could provide a sterner test than Burnley due to their impressive record against the top six this season.