Liverpool are closing in on another Premier League crown, leading the table with 73 points and holding an 11-point cushion over Arsenal with seven games left.
So, can we call them champions-elect now?
There is a lot of noise from various angles that this Liverpool side are not made of champions material. They have been brilliant in a number of games but failed to impress in a lot of others. They topped the Champions League table, but then went limp against Paris Saint-Germain, exiting the knockout stages at the very entrance. They lost remarkably against Fulham on Sunday, Rodrigo Muniz bullying Virgil van Dijk as the Lilywhites came from a goal down to win 3-2 at Craven Cottage.
They have only one goal scorer. If they are 11 points ahead of the pack, it is because they have been favoured by refereeing decisions and had few injuries.
And so on, and so forth.
You may already suspect who exactly is behind this dastardly talk. But with so much still to play for, it does beg the question: can Liverpool still bottle it?
Technically, yes – but it would take quite the screw up, hard to see in Arne Slot’s disciplined side. The Reds need just 11 more points from a possible 21 to be mathematically out of reach, assuming closest rivals Arsenal win all of their remaining matches.
The coronation day could come in early May. If Liverpool win all four of their next matches (against West Ham, Leicester, Spurs and Chelsea), they could receive a guard of honour from Arsenal as champions at Anfield on 11 may.
That is, of course, presuming the Gunners also keep pace. Mikel Arteta’s side dropped points against Everton on Saturday, and have a crucial double tie against Real Madrid in the Champions League, a fixture that should surely distract them from the domestic campaign.
It means that Liverpool could also win the title as early as 20 April, when they visit Leicester City – provided they beat West Ham on 13 April and Arsenal drop points to Brentford or Ipswich, who they play in their next two games.
Final Premier League fixtures for Liverpool
West Ham (H)
Leicester (A)
Spurs (H)
Chelsea (A)
Arsenal (H)
Brighton (A)
Crystal Palace (H)
Final Premier League fixtures for Arsenal
Brentford (H)
Ipswich (A)
Crystal Palace (H)
Bournemouth (H)
Liverpool (A)
Newcastle (H)
Southampton (A)
