Finally, two months on from Storm Darragh, Liverpool no longer have a game in hand on Arsenal. No more presumptions, no more ifs and buts, just a seven-point lead and 14 games to go.
Many feel it’s done. Liverpool are impressive and Arsenal are stuttering every now and again, striker-less and somewhat relying on massive centre backs to head in Declan Rice corners for their points.
But there are still 52 points to play for before the trophy has, for the first time in five years, its sky blue ribbons replaced with red. We just don’t know if it will be lifted in north London or on Merseyside.
After Liverpool’s draw with Everton, momentum, weirdly, is with Arsenal. Up until around 9:29pm, when Liverpool were 2-1 up, having come from behind, they were heading nine points clear. By 9:32pm, when a lengthy VAR check was over, the gap was seven, and the leaders had dropped points on enemy territory.
It’s a two-horse title race this time around. Arsenal versus Liverpool. One Premier League trophy between them. Arne Slot versus Mikel Arteta – zero between them.
Mail Sport take a look at the run-in for the two sides, predicting their results for the final 14 games and working out who we think will win the Premier League.
Liverpool currently have a seven-point lead over Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table
Either Arne Slot (left) of Mikel Arteta (right) will lead their sides to top flight success this term
The Gunners have come close to winning the league in the last two years but have fallen short
Gameweek 25
Arsenal, though down to the bare bones in terms of their attacking players, smell blood after Liverpool drop points and put on a show at the King Power in the Saturday lunchtime kick-off.
Ethan Nwaneri continues his fine run of form, netting a brace, while Gabriel, incredibly on brand, heads home the third in stoppage time before Arteta’s side do seven laps of honour in celebration.
Unfortunately for them, Liverpool log a nervy-but-expected 3-1 home win over Wolves, with no coaches on the touchline because they were all sent off at Goodison.
Days later, the Reds fail to take advantage of the extra game away to Aston Villa, brought forward due to the Carabao Cup final, as Ollie Watkins cancels out Virgil van Dijk’s header to put even more pressure on Arne Slot’s men.
Leicester 0-3 Arsenal
Liverpool 3-1 Wolves
Aston Villa 1-1 Liverpool
1. Liverpool – 61 points (GD 37)
2. Arsenal – 53 points (GD 30)
Ethan Nwaneri could be set for a run in the Arsenal team after injuries to Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz
Gameweek 26
Mikel Merino proves once again that Arsenal were right not to buy a forward in January as he bags a brace at home to West Ham and the Gunners come from behind in a London derby to again close the gap, this time to five points with a game in hand.
On the Sunday, though, Harry Bamforth has a ball on the Mail Sport live blog as a clash of titans at the Etihad sees Josko Gvardiol cancel out Alexis Mac Allister’s opener and Erling Haaland net from the spot on the hour mark as Liverpool’s season looks to be falling apart.
Darwin Nunez, though, comes off the bench before, you guessed it, Mohamed Salah slots past Stefan Ortega before celebrating with a nice sit down on the advertising boards.
Arsenal 2-1 West Ham
Man City 2-3 Liverpool
1. Liverpool 64 points (GD 38)
2. Arsenal 56 points (GD 31)
Reports have suggested that Mikel Merino could be set for a run in the team has a striker
Mohamed Salah, meanwhile, remains in fine form for Liverpool and it’s imperative he stays fit
Gameweek 27
A tough place to go, Nottingham Forest, who are, by this point, six points adrift of the Gunners and fighting for their Champions League dream. Still, you can always rely on Chris Wood, and the big man nets late to cancel out Rice’s strike – which comes directly from a corner – and leave the Gunners frustrated.
It’s mixed emotions for them later that night, however, as they learn Liverpool have lost at home to Newcastle. Salah scores the opener before Alexander Isak turns van Dijk inside out to equalise and Anthony Gordon finds the winner against his old rivals to blow the title race wide open.
A point gained, or opportunity missed? Arsenal trial by seven points with a game in hand.
Nottingham Forest 1-1 Arsenal
Liverpool 1-2 Newcastle
1. Liverpool 64 points (GD 37)
2. Arsenal 57 points (GD 31)
Arne Slot was sent off late against Everton, but could win the league in his first year in charge
Gameweek 28
Manchester United have their own issues after getting dragged into a relegation battle, with Ruben Amorim refusing to budge from his 3-4-3 despite captain Bruno Fernandes issuing a statement signed by all players (including Marcus Rashford) begging him to. Rasmus Hojlund touches the ball once as Nwaneri and Martin Odegaard secure a comfortable 2-0 win for the Gunners at Old Trafford.
It’s repeat, meanwhile, for Liverpool, who again beat Southampton 4-1. Cody Gakpo and a Salah hat-trick.
Man United 0-2 Arsenal
Liverpool 4-1 Southampton
1. Liverpool 67 points (GD 40)
2. Arsenal 60 points (GD 33)
Salah is currently the top scorer in the league but is still out of contract at the end of the season
Gameweek 29
Arne Slot ensures he picks up a trophy in his first season either way as the Reds beat Newcastle 2-0 in the Carabao Cup final. Local lads Curtis Jones – free from suspension – and Trent Alexander-Arnold on the scoresheet.
In the league, though, Arsenal take advantage. Leandro Trossard gives the Gunners the lead against Chelsea within 30 seconds, before Cole Palmer does what Cole Palmer does and squares things up.
Arteta’s side look to be running out of ideas, but cometh the hour, cometh the man – Bukayo Saka returns from injury off the bench to score a 95th-minute winner. The gap down to four points, nine games left each.
Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea
1. Liverpool 67 points (GD 40)
2. Arsenal 63 points (GD 34)
Bukayo Saka is currently out injured for Arsenal but is close to returning to full fitness
Gameweek 30
Bukayo Saka scores a hat-trick in Thomas Tuchel’s first England game as the Three Lions beat Albania 4-0, but, unfortunately for Liverpool, Salah picks up a hamstring tweak while with Egypt and misses out the derby.
The Reds are still livid from a month prior but get revenge this time. In a hostile Anfield atmosphere, the visitors go 1-0 up thanks to a James Tarkowski screamer but Luis Diaz nets a scrappy equaliser. Late on, Jones scores the winner in poetic fashion – and shakes hands with Abdoulaye Doucoure at the end of the match.
Arsenal, meanwhile, pick up a hard-fought win over Fulham to keep the gap to four points. Odegaard and Saka on the scoresheet.
Arsenal 2-0 Fulham
Liverpool 2-1 Everton
1. Liverpool 70 points (GD 41)
2. Arsenal 66 points (GD 36)
There were heated scenes at full-time of Liverpool’s clash with Everton – the two teams still need to play each other again this season
Gameweek 31
The fixtures are reversed this week, with the Goodison Park faithful celebrating the same way the did on Wednesday night when Gabriel heads in Arsenal’s opening goal – anything to stop Liverpool winning the league.
William Saliba heads a second and everyone shakes hands. In London, meanwhile, Liverpool find it hard to break down Fulham but score three late goals after Alex Iwobi’s opener to maintain their four-point lead.
Everton 0-2 Arsenal
Fulham 1-3 Liverpool
1. Liverpool 73 points (GD 43)
2. Arsenal 69 points (GD 38)
Arsenal have had great success from set pieces this season – often taken by Declan Rice (left) and scored by Gabriel (right)
Gameweek 32
Two routine wins for the title-chasers in gameweek 32, with Arsenal putting four past Brentford without reply and Liverpool three past West Ham.
Two simple home wins, but Arsenal are closing the gap in the goal difference column. Their defence remains solid, while they have found their goalscoring boots again and Saka, Nwaneri, Gabriel Martinelli and free agent signing Yaya Sanogo find the back of the net.
For Liverpool, it’s another Salah hat-trick. Van Dijk has signed a new deal at this point, while news of Alexander-Arnold’s move to Real Madrid has been broken by Mail Sport’s Simon Jones, but the club are staying silent.
There is concern over Salah’s future, with the forward still claiming no offer has been made and posting five photos of himself and Trent a day on social media.
Arsenal 4-0 Brentford
Liverpool 3-0 West Ham
1. Liverpool 76 points (GD 46)
2. Arsenal 72 points (GD 42)
Virgil van Dijk is also out of contract with the Reds in the summer, but could lift the Premier League title before he leaves
Gameweek 33
Both sides easily get the better of newly-promoted teams, who are both well adrift by now and set to join Southampton in the Championship again next season.
But the thing to keep an eye on is goal difference. Saka scores twice, Rice gets one and Odegaard also scores twice as the Gunners thrash Ipswich. Liverpool can only beat Leicester 3-1 thanks to Salah, Ibrahima Konate and Diaz, meaning Arsenal are now within one of them in what could be an important factor come the end of the season.
Ipswich 0-5 Arsenal
Leicester 1-3 Liverpool
1. Liverpool 79 points (GD 48)
2. Arsenal 75 points (GD 47)
Arsenal have missed the threat of Saka as their forwards continue to struggle with injuries
Gameweek 34
A blip. Where have the goals gone for Arsenal?
After weeks of struggling in front of goal over the Christmas period, Merino has been reborn as a striker, finding a new position, and scores the opener here but, after Eberechi Eze’s equaliser on the half-hour mark, the Gunners can’t score again and think their title hopes are fading.
Lucky for them, Liverpool blow a 3-0 lead at home to Tottenham as new Spurs boss Andoni Iraola makes some inspired changes and Dominic Solanke’s late equaliser against his old side sees Slot sent off again.
Spurs fans are fuming that they have helped Arsenal in the title race. Ange Postecoglou goes on the High Performance podcast and slams the fans. But, in the race to win the league, there’s no ground lost, none gained and there are four games left.
Arsenal 1-1 Crystal Palace
Liverpool 3-3 Tottenham
1. Liverpool 80 points (GD 48)
2. Arsenal 76 points (GD 47)
Andoni Iraola is enjoying a successful season with Bournemouth and will be a man in demand
Dominic Solanke, meanwhile, will be hoping to haunt his old side when Tottenham take on Liverpool in the run-in
Gameweek 35
Hello, title race. Bournemouth, having reappointed Scott Parker following Iraola’s exit for Tottenham, stumble in their bid for Europe and this is the third of what will become six loses in a row.
For Arsenal, however, it’s job done with Saka, Odegaard and Martinelli on the scoresheet before the Super Sunday clash at Stamford Bridge.
Liverpool think they are edging towards the title after Mac Allister’s opener, but Palmer pops up after 70 minutes. Salah misses a late penalty, and the gap is now just two points with three games to go – and Arsenal have a better goal difference.
Arsenal 3-1 Bournemouth
Chelsea 1-1 Liverpool
1. Liverpool 81 points (GD 48)
2. Arsenal 79 points (GD 49)
Liverpool face a series of tough matches in the final few weeks of the season, including a visit to Chelsea
Gameweek 36
An absolute mega-clash at Anfield sees the spoils shared, just as they were at the Emirates late last year, with Liverpool managing to put their Champions League defeat by Real Madrid behind them.
It’s hostile. It’s gritty. It’s not a great game. There’s lots of argy bargy on the touchline, with Nicolas Jover sent off for squaring up to John Heitinga.
On the field, Saka scores the opener and Liverpool finally break down a resilient Gunners defence with 10 minutes to go through Nunez. No one finds a winner, though, and Liverpool stay top.
Liverpool 1-1 Arsenal
1. Liverpool 82 points (GD 48)
2. Arsenal 80 points (GD 49)
Who lifts the title could depend on the clash between Liverpool and Arsenal in the third-to-last game of the season
Set piece coach Nicolas Joever has had a huge influence on the Gunners’ success this season
Gameweek 37
Liverpool go into the penultimate game knowing they can win the league that weekend, but can only draw at Brighton as cracks start to show. Salah nets the opener, before James Milner returns to cost his old side, running the length of the pitch to celebrate in front of the away fans, Emmanuel Adebayor style.
Reds fans flood to Sports Direct to buy their Newcastle tops and scarves, with Anfield a sell-out for a live screening of the game in the stadium and looking like the Gallowgate End.
The champagne is ready as an Isak brace puts Newcastle 2-0 up, but the Gunners fight back and Trossard and Saka score late to make sure the title race goes down to the final day.
Arsenal 2-2 Newcastle
Brighton 1-1 Liverpool
1. Liverpool 83 points (GD 48)
2. Arsenal 81 points (GD 49)
Slot has enjoyed success greater than he could have dreamed of in his first year in charge
The Reds will host Crystal Palace in the final game, while Arsenal will travel to Southampton
Gameweek 38
Liverpool’s nemeses. Where their run came undone after Steven Gerrard’s ‘do not slip’ monologue in 2014.
Arsenal are comfortable at Southampton. It’s a matter of how many, with their goal difference by far the better thanks to Gabriel, Saliba, Saka, Odegaard and, in poetic fashion, Takehiro Tomiyasu.
The game finishes early at St Mary’s. The Saints are celebrating, finishing one point above Derby’s fewest points record. Arsenal wait anxiously.
Liverpool need a goal, drawing 1-1 with Palace having gone behind early. A Marc Guehi own goal squared it up, but there are just moments left and they’re about to miss out on the title on goal difference.
Up steps Salah. The Egyptian nets the winner with what is his final-ever Liverpool goal before heading to the Saudi Pro League. He puts his final stamp on one of the greatest individual seasons of all time. This writer wins Fantasy Premier League. Liverpool win the title by two points.
At least Arsenal have the Champions League final to focus on.
Southampton 0-5 Arsenal
Liverpool 2-1 Crystal Palace
1. Liverpool 86 points (GD 49)
2. Arsenal 84 points (GD 54)
