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Arsenal move back in front but, with a game in hand, goal difference is becoming a key factor.
Published Apr 30, 2026 • 5 minute read
Atletico Madrid's David Hancko fouls Arsenal's Viktor Gyokeres in the penalty box during a Champions League semifinal match.
Atletico Madrid's David Hancko fouls Arsenal's Viktor Gyokeres in the penalty box during a Champions League semifinal match. AP Photo
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The razor-thin margin at the top of the table continues to bring us tension-packed matches every weekend.
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Manchester City are back to being three points behind Arsenal with a game in hand after they missed their league match last weekend due to their FA Cup semifinal win over Southampton.
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Take care of business on Saturday against Fulham and Arsenal moves six points clear. City doesn’t play until Monday at Everton.
Both Fulham and Everton are capable of providing a twist here as Fulham have only lost once in their past five and sit in 10th place, but they are at Arsenal.
Everton have had a rough couple of weeks losing two in a row, but prior to those had only lost once in their previous five. And the game is at Everton’s fancy new stadium.
This is what makes the final few weeks so difficult to predict. Some factors will have you thinking City have the upper hand, but consider some of the other ingredients and you’d put your money on Arsenal. This title race has much more ebb and flow left in these last four weeks of the season.
Manchester City had the week off after playing last Saturday and don’t play until Monday, whereas Arsenal play on Saturday after playing the first leg of their Champions League semifinal in Madrid drawing 1-1 with Atletico on Wednesday. They also have their eye on the second leg next Tuesday.
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Arsenal can’t afford to be cautious with playing time with both of the biggest prizes in their realm within their grasp.
Does fatigue factor into it? Home or away? And then there’s goal difference. City are one behind but have a game in hand.
A chance to run up the score doesn’t seem likely in either match this weekend, Fulham have given up 46 goals this season while Everton have given up 44 — they’re both decently organized and know how to defend.
If Arsenal do drop any points to Fulham, you can only imagine Manchester City will take advantage on Monday night.
What else is at stake this weekend?
The other two battles to be decided in the last four games of the season, the Champions League places and the relegation fight — intertwine in a handful of big games this weekend.
Liverpool were neck-and-neck with Chelsea a month ago. But three wins in a row for the Reds while the Blues have lost five in a row have Liverpool 10 points ahead of Chelsea, who have slipped to eighth.
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Aston Villa’s loss last week means they’re now level with Liverpool in points, but behind them in goal difference. And Brighton are the team on the outside, but they’re still eight points back of that last spot.
Liverpool play third-place Manchester United this weekend and a win would vault Liverpool ahead of United on goal difference. Liverpool also still play Chelsea and Villa, so losses to those three could drag them back into the fight for that last spot.
Villa, who now may be getting nervous about losing a Champions League spot they’ve held onto all season in the last month for the second season in a row, host Tottenham.
Spurs, despite manager Roberto Di Zerbi’s first win last week, remain in the last relegation spot, two points behind West Ham, who also won. With Spurs and Villa both having so much on the line here, this will be a belter.
West Ham play Brentford, who are 10 points out of the Champions League spots, but will hope to still be able to qualify for the Europa League.
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Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest — who are still only five points clear of Tottenham in the last relegation spot, even though they haven’t lost in their past seven matches — face disintegrating Chelsea. The Blues fired Liam Rosenior after just nine matches in charge and take an interim manager into the fight to desperately claw back into the lucrative Champions League spots.
Yes, they made the FA Cup final beating Leeds last weekend, but the lack of Champions League cash will seriously curtail their ability to craft replacements in the summer.
So many matches have a bearing on something major this weekend it’s going to be a great watch.
Stock up
Liverpool: They’ve looked far more stable the last few weeks but you still get the feeling they’re one bad goal away from a mental collapse. Mo Salah joins Hugo Ekitike, Connor Bradley, Wataru Endo and Georgi Mamardashvilli on the injured list, but there’s a slight chance goalie Alisson Becker will be back this weekend. Manchester United vs. Liverpool always is a landmark match and with Liverpool within three points of their bitter rivals, this should be intense.
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Brighton: Walloped Chelsea 3-0 last week and haven’t lost in six matches. Still hoping to sneak into Europe, they get a sinking Newcastle this week and are finishing the season strong.
Nottingham Forest: Forest have dragged themselves out of the relegation conversation for now, one more win should help them breathe easy for the rest of the way. You keep expecting Chelsea to show their quality but it just hasn’t happened yet.
Stock Down
Newcastle: Eddie Howe’s departure seems written in the stars at this point. Four losses in a row and down in 14th place despite being one of the biggest spenders in the league this season. When you consider how Chelsea and Liverpool also have wobbled after spending big last summer, it’s an encouraging sign you can’t always buy your way into a title.
Everton: Were excited at the prospect of beating Liverpool two weeks ago and moving to within two spots of the Champions League spots, but now having dropped a pair that’s gone, they’re 11 points off the pace with only four games to go. Will they roll over for City or still show fight?
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Burnley: Relegated already and it shows. Just don’t look like they have the fight, having lost four in a row and manager Scott Parker left the team Thursday by “mutual consent.”
Read More
[Manchester City's Erling Haaland (bottom) celebrates after scoring his team's second goal against Arsenal.
Manchester City bathe in Oasis of hope after moving top of Premier League table](https://torontosun.com/sports/soccer/manchester-city-oasis-hope-top-premier-league-table)
2. [Arsenal's William Saliba, right, grabs the shirt of Manchester City's Erling Haaland during the English League Cup final.
Arsenal-Man City title tilt headlines a Premier League slate packed with high-stakes drama](https://torontosun.com/sports/soccer/arsenal-man-city-title-tilt-premier-league-drama)
Crisis club
Chelsea: They didn’t play in the league last week, but there’s still faint hope. Win this week and hope Liverpool lose, then beat Liverpool the following week then they finish with Spurs and Sunderland. Lose this week and it’s all over. Callum McFarlane is interim manager until the end of the season and this is his first league game in charge. We’ll see if the change lifts the players performance at all against Forest.
This weekend’s Premier League schedule
Friday: Leeds vs Burnley.
Saturday: Brentford vs West Ham; Newcastle vs Brighton; Wolves vs Sunderland; Arsenal vs Fulham.
Sunday: Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace; Manchester United vs Liverpool; Aston Villa vs Tottenham.
Monday: Chelsea vs Nottingham Forest; Everton vs Manchester City.
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