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If Arsenal win this weekend they can probably bank on being champions, if they don't then they'll hit the panic button.
Published Apr 16, 2026 • 6 minute read
Arsenal's William Saliba, right, grabs the shirt of Manchester City's Erling Haaland during the English League Cup final.
Arsenal's William Saliba, right, grabs the shirt of Manchester City's Erling Haaland during the English League Cup final. AP Photo
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This is it, the big weekend where we’ll get answers up and down the table with a slate full of massive matches.
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Let’s start at the top, where Arsenal’s wobbles have opened the door for Manchester City and this weekend will tell us whether they can blow it open or the Gunners slam it shut.
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Yes, Manchester City are six points back, but with the top two teams playing each other and City having a game in hand — which they play Wednesday against Burnley — the teams could be level on points by next weekend if City beats Arsenal at home on Sunday.
Arsenal once looked to have an unassailable lead at the top, but after losing to City in the Carabao Cup final, they were knocked out of the FA Cup by lower-league Southampton and last week lost at home to Bournemouth.
Yes, they progressed to the Champions League semifinals this week, but looked mediocre in doing so, getting a late goal in Portugal against Sporting, which they nursed through a tepid 0-0 draw.
A draw against City will be fine, but should they lose, you really wonder how their nerves will hold up the rest of the season.
City, by the way, are looking more like their old selves after blowing Chelsea away last week and they aren’t exclusively relying on Erling Haaland for goals, either. They look sparked and rejuvenated, especially with the emergence of Nico O’Reilly, who took Chelsea apart last week.
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This is the kind of game that appeals to anyone who likes the sport and is pure box office.
What about Chelsea?
Speaking of Chelsea, they’re desperate to get into the top five and compete in the Champions League next season. But the ease in which City took them to task and gave them their third loss in a row and fourth loss in their past five has to be concerning.
They have a massive game at home against Manchester United on Saturday. United had been on a roll since appointing interim manager Michael Carrick, but losing to Leeds on Monday on the heels of a draw with Bournemouth has them looking over their shoulder.
They still have a seven-point lead over Chelsea, but chopping that to just four will suddenly have United wondering if their recent run was a mirage and they’re back to the troubles of the past few seasons.
Perched in between is Liverpool, who themselves have a fascinating game this Sunday. On one hand, they looked much better last week beating Fulham thanks to the spectacular teenager, 17-year-old Rio Ngumoha, who scored a brilliant opener and set up Mo Salah for a second goal, with Salah looking the best he has in months.
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They were knocked out of the Champions League by Paris St. Germaine in midweek, losing both games 2-0, but honestly the PSG goals at Anfield came late in a game where Liverpool were dangerous and could easily have pulled ahead, which would have made the rest of the game wildly interesting.
Liverpool play heated city rivals Everton on Sunday, their first visit to the Toffees’ fancy new stadium on the Liverpool docks.
Everton had been charging up the table but a draw last week to Brentford has halted their momentum. The crowd will be massively up for it and the first goal in this one will be crucial.
You have to surmise Salah, who started against Fulham but was on the bench for both PSG games, will be an automatic start now for the Reds seeing as their new striker Hugo Ekitike suffered a first-half Achilles rupture against PSG and will be out for the rest of 2026 and likely well into 2027, too.
Liverpool are three points back of Aston Villa and Manchester United, and four points ahead of Chelsea on the outside of Champions League spots. A win against Everton and they’ll gain points on either Chelsea or United or both if those teams draw.
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What makes the race for fifth — and the $190-million entry into the tournament brings in extra revenue — so fascinating is all of these teams still play each other. Liverpool are still set to face Villa, Chelsea and United, as well as Everton and Brentford, who themselves are only five points out those top spots. It’s like a mini-league for UCL qualification.
At the other end of the table, it’s still not believable that a club as big as Tottenham are actually in the relegation spots with just six games left to play.
Spurs have a tough match against Brighton this weekend while the teams they’re now chasing look to have real form. Spurs are two points back of West Ham, who have only lost one of their past four and face Crystal Palace this weekend.
Three points ahead are Nottingham Forest, who have three draws and a win in their past four and have a home game against 19th-place Burnley. Leeds are now six ahead of Spurs thanks to that huge win against United and they play last place Wolves this weekend.
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It’s not inconceivable that Spurs could be five points from safety with five games to go after this weekend.
Stock up
Manchester City: Not only have they put pressure on Arsenal, they’ve passed them as the top scorers in the league and have whittled down the goal-difference — the first tie-breaker — to just three. If they beat Arsenal by two or more and then beat Burnley, they’ll be in first place going into next weekend. They’ve delivered in the biggest games too. Their last loss in the league was on January 17 against Manchester United and yes they dropped points in draws against Spurs, Nottingham Forest and West Ham. But when they’ve played the teams around the top of the table, Liverpool, Chelsea, they’ve won. Do so again this weekend and you wouldn’t want to bet against them.
Brighton: Owners of the league’s longest win streak, three in a row and four wins in their last five. They’re still only in 10th but are six points out of the Champions League spots and they still have Chelsea and Manchester United to play. Probable? Maybe not but certainly possible.
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Nottingham Forest: Looks like they finally got a managerial appointment right this season by bringing in Vitor Pereira. Three draws and a win have given them some breathing room from relegation and a win against Burnley this weekend will make them feel a lot better.
Stock down
Spurs: On their third manager of the season and they still can’t win. Their only points were two draws in their last nine games, oddly against Liverpool and Manchester City. Simply have to put up a fight against Brighton this weekend.
Chelsea: Have lost three in a row and have looked awful in the process. Have suspended midfield dynamo Enzo Fernandez for speaking publicly about wanting to play for Real Madrid and generally have looked dreadful defensively. Seems like the locker room is a mess as well as on the pitch. If there’s hope it has to start this weekend as they have games left against United and Liverpool which will be crucial must-wins.
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Manchester United: They’ve still looked much better than they have the last few seasons, but the loss to Leeds and draw with Bournemouth have halted momentum. Having to deal with a couple of player suspensions now too but at least their future is in their own hands.
Crisis club
Newcastle: They’re on a modest two-game losing streak but gave up a pair or late goals, including a 94th-minute penalty to lose to Palace last weekend. Now they sit in 14th spot and you sense the sports-washing owners in the Saudi royal family aren’t going to be happy with the direction they’re headed and this could be it for manager Eddie Howe.
This week’s EPL schedule
Saturday: Brentford vs Fulham; Leeds vs Wolves; Newcastle vs Bournemouth; Tottenham vs Brighton; Chelsea vs Manchester United.
Sunday: Aston Villa vs Sunderland; Everton vs Liverpool; Nottingham Forest vs Burnley; Manchester City vs Arsenal.
Monday: Crystal Palace vs West Ham.
Tuesday: Brighton vs Chelsea.
Wednesday: Bournemouth vs Leeds; Burnley vs Manchester City.
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