Premier League title race: Who has the best fixtures – Manchester City, Arsenal or Liverpool?

The Premier League is heading for a classic title race, with Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal set for a three-way battle as the season enters the run-in.

And what a weekend we’ve just had, as both Liverpool and Arsenal slipped up at home to leave champions City leading the way with six games to go. Pep Guardiola’s side are aiming to win a fourth league title in a row – a feat that has never been achieved in the history of English football, and the title is now in their hands.

That’s after Arsenal and Liverpool lost their advantage on dramatic afternoon. Liverpool, who stood eight games away from the title, suffered a shock defeat to Crystal Palace at Anfield, before Arsenal, who were chasing a first title in 20 years, were stunned by Aston Villa at the Emirates.

Even as they trailed, City were lurking dangerously, and now they have a favourable run ahead of them after hitting the front.

But it’s not over yet, so, with six games to go, which team has the best fixtures and who has the hardest run of games to end the season? Here’s where the title could be won and lost…

Manchester City

Points: 73

GD: +44

Avg. opponents PpG: 1.43

Difficulty: ★★★

You could just imagine Pep Guardiola, sitting on an armchair, waiting for the Masters to start, as Liverpool and Arsenal slipped to home defeats on the same afternoon to leave the champions in control of the title race.

Guardiola’s side were unable to beat either Liverpool or Arsenal in their two title showdowns either side of the international break, but the title race has flipped on its head as their rivals have faltered and the champions have returned to goalscoring form.

And now, the double treble is on. City, after all, have been here before and their fixtures are looking favourable now those games against Liverpool and Arsenal are out of the equation. It leaves a trip to Tottenham, where City have never won in the Premier League under Guardiola, as their toughest fixture of the run-in. The Gunners could do with a favour from their north London rivals, there.

That fixture will now be played in the final week of the season after City reached the FA Cup semi-finals. It could be a must-win match for Ange Postecoglou’s side, too, as Spurs aim to secure Champions League qualification. Tottenham will now what they need by then, too, after already facing Arsenal and Liverpool.

Still involved in three competitions, City have the busiest schedule of the Premier League title contenders, although Luton at home in between a Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid. City will host Madrid on Wednesday after a thrilling 3-3 draw at the Bernabeu.

Arsenal

Points: 71

GD: +49

Avg. opponents PpG: 1.62

Difficulty: ★★★★

Arsenal were seven games from the title, but a 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa was a devastating blow and could be the moment the Premier League slips from their grasp.

Arsenal had been in brilliant form since the turn of the year and now have to pick themselves up to avoid the mistakes of last season. The Gunners won just three of their final nine Premier League games last year, which included a four-game winless run, as they fell away in the title race.

Mikel Arteta’s side have already proved they are made of stronger stuff than they were this time last year, but the Gunners still have tough tests to come, including Wolves, Tottenham and Manchester United away from home.

Meanwhile, participation in the latter stages of the Champions League will also make this season’s title race a different challenge. Arsenal will face travel to Bayern Munich on Wednesday after playing out a thrilling 2-2 draw at the Emirates.

In the Premier League, however, they now need City to drop points.

Liverpool

Points: 71

GD: +41

Avg. opponents PpG: 1.50

Difficulty: ★★★★

Liverpool stood eight wins from the title and with the Premier League in their hands, but they now require favours from elsewhere after a damaging week. A 2-2 draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford was a blow, but a shock 1-0 defeat at home to Crystal Palace could prove fatal to Liverpool’s title chances.

The Reds have lost their advantage and are now behind both Arsenal and Manchester City in the title race. On current form, their run-in looks even harder now as well, with away games against Fulham and a trip to Goodison Park and a midweek Merseyside Derby no longer the formalities than they may have once appeared in early April.

Liverpool have the trickiest final-three, too, and the other key clashes to look out for are those against sides chasing Champions League football. Liverpool face Tottenham at Anfield before a trip to Aston Villa on Monday night in the final week of the season, giving Liverpool a tough final trio of games in May when Wolves at home on the final day is also considered.

Having already won the Carabao Cup, the Reds were favourites to reach the Europa League final and the Dublin showpiece on 22 May. But a shock 3-0 defeat to Atalanta at Anfield means that is now looking unlikely, which could leave Klopp just the Premier League to fight for in his final few weeks in charge.