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Manchester City could go back to the top of the Premier League table today with a victory at Crystal Palace, but could lose the lead two and a half hours later.
Liverpool face Chelsea in the late kick-off today in a match the Reds cannot afford to lose if they finally want to give their fans a Premier League title.
Jürgen Klopp’s side sits on 82 points – two more than their rivals, City. However, the Citizens have a game in hand and know that the league is theirs to lose.
The maths are simple – win every game and City become the first champions since Manchester United in the 2008/09 season to win back-to-back titles. But drop points and it is all open again.
And that, of course, is what Liverpool fans are hoping for.
City’s match against Crystal Palace is not a foregone conclusion, even though the Eagles are not in danger of relegation and can no longer qualify for Europe.
A midweek loss in the Champions League showed that City are not infallible and the constant talk of them making history by winning the quadruple (FA Cup, League Cup, league and Champions League) could be adding to the pressure the players already face.
Liverpool, on the other hand, will go into their clash against Chelsea with some confidence, having seen off Porto 2-0 in the Champions League.
The Liverpool players are well aware of their historic quest, but are looking forward to the challenge, with defender Trent Alexander-Arnold describing it as “exciting and fun”.
“[We’ve got] Five games leftnow and just a month left. It’s exciting to think that no one knows how it’s going to end up and it’s all going to be done in a month’s time,” he said.
“Obviously, me and the lads will give everything to try to make it as successful and good a day as possible on the 12th [final match day].
“[It’s] a massive game on the weekend; it’s one that everyone is looking forward to.”
Liverpool’s opponents at Anfield, Chelsea, need the points as they are desperate to play Champions League football next season.
They won 1-0 at Slavia Prague on Thursday, taking a giant step towards the semifinals of the Europa League – the winner of which qualifies for the Champions League.
One of the clubs challenging Chelsea for the Europa League title is Arsenal, who beat Serie A club Napoli 2-0 midweek.
The Gunners, who have dropped out of the Champions League places, are away to Watford, knowing that they cannot afford to lose points if they want to play in the lucrative European competition next season – having last done so two seasons ago.
Unai Emery and his team make the short trip to Watford for Monday’s game.
Watford, of course, are riding on a high having come from two goals down against Wolves to make it to only their second FA Cup final.
That gives the players plenty to play for as they chase their dream of making it into the squad for the final at Wembley.
