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The Premier League title race is heating up between Manchester City and Liverpool. The Citizens recently lost 3-2 to Tottenham Hotspur, blowing their title challenge open. The Anfield outfit are just three points behind City having won their game in hand against Leeds in resounding fashion - a 6-0 demolition.
The 2021/22 Premier League title race could come down to the wire
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Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp have been at each other's throats for the last four to five seasons. The 2018-19 season was a classic example of how the Etihad outfit pipped the Merseyside club to the league title by a single point. In fact, the Citizens were trailing that race and ended up winning it in the last three months. The Reds could now hand a similar shock to the reigning champions, who looked to be in cruise control a month ago. But each game shall be pivotal in the Premier League title race hereon in.
On that note, let's take a look at 5 games that could decide the Premier League title race between Manchester City and Liverpool this season. (2021-22)
#5 Arsenal vs Liverpool (16th March)
The Reds have been unassible in recent weeks and have had the better of Arsenal for quite a lot of years now. They recently beat them in the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup and also defeated them 4-0 at Anfield in the league in November.
To put things into perspective, Arsenal have only defeated Liverpool once in their last 10 league meetings. But it is important to note that the one victory Mikel Arteta did manage was at the Emirates. The Gunners shall host the Reds on the 17th of March and the Spanish manager shall be looking to recreate the heroics from two years ago. Moreover, since being defeated by Liverpool in November, they have won seven out of their last 11 games.
Arsenal took the game to Manchester City a month ago and albeit they lost, it showed their capabilities against the best of the best in England.
#4 Manchester City vs Manchester United (6th March)
The Manchester derby has always brought a lot of thrills to the Premier League. Regardless of who is in the ascendency of a particular campaign, few can predict the outcome of this one-off match.
Although Tottenham Hotspur are one of the teams that often stump Manchester City, Manchester United are next in line on that list. The Red Devils often turn on the after-burners against their city rivals and shock most fans with their performances. In the last 10 league meetings between them, both have won four times each with two draws. So there is really no separating them. The Old Trafford outfit also shocked the Etihad in the 2017-18 campaign after they came back from 2-0 down to delay Manchester City's title triumph.
Manchester United may be lacking in consistency and quality this season, but they sure know how to defeat the reigning champions in the derby.
#3 Liverpool vs Manchester United (20th March)
Liverpool thrashed Manchester United 5-0 in October, a result that began the downfall of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Old Trafford. But since the appointment of Ralf Rangnick, the Red Devils have only lost once in 11 games.
While few might agree with Rangnick's tactics, they could be the answer to defeating the Reds when they visit Anfield on the 20th of March. Manchester United have started to press from the front and are also starting to look the part since Paul Pogba's return from injury. The Frenchman provides a decent balance in midfield and the attack possesses some of the best players in the league. Moreover, the viciousness of the rivalry between the two clubs is more than enough for the Red Devils to step up and win the derby.
Jurgen Klopp often gets it wrong against the 13-time Premier League champions but his side could be jittery, given that the title race is on the line.
#2 Liverpool vs Tottenham Hotspur (7th May)
The 2-2 draw between Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur at the home of the latter was one of the best Premier League games of the current campaign. Since then, Spurs may not have fared well but did recently pick up a victory against Manchester City.
They could very well do the same against the Reds. This could arguably be one of the biggest games of the season, simply due to its timing. Jurgen Klopp & co will be playing their 36th game of the league campaign against Antonio Conte's side. If the Anfield outfit remain active in all competitions this season, fatigue might be an issue for them, not to mention injuries. Tottenham could also be pushing for a top four spot by then, thereby increasing the stakes for them as well. Hence, there are several potential sub-plots to this game.
The Merseyside club are always at their best in the big games but Tottenham have the quality to turn the tide against the best on their day.
#1 Manchester City vs Liverpool (9th April)
Manchester City and Liverpool have fought out some of the best games in the Premier League over the last five years. Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola are two outstanding managers and both have ousted each other in recent seasons.
But one thing that would be concerning for the German manager is that his side have not been able to defeat Manchester City since November 2019. However, the two teams had an absolute cracker in October that ended 2-2, with both managers sharing the spoils. The stakes will be higher this time around and depending on how the results pan out by then, one team will be pushing for victory. Both sides have extraordinary players as well as a cohesive system, courtesy of which a draw seems unlikely.
The 2021-22 Premier League title race could be decided on the last day but both teams will be looking to finish it off before that. For the neutral eye, it is going to be a brilliant end to yet another top-flight campaign in English football.
