S Poddar
As the Premier League season reaches its make-or-break phase, pressure is building, and nerves are starting to get the better of people. Liverpool’s hard-earned 2-1 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday was greeted with a collective sigh of relief at Anfield, as much as it was greeted with jubilation.
Even though they failed to take a single shot in the second half, the Reds did exactly enough to protect their seven-point advantage at the summit of the table.
“Everyone gets apprehensive,” acknowledged full-back Andy Robertson after the match. “The players become apprehensive, the supporters get apprehensive – that’s inevitable. But another game ticked off. This result is immense.”
With only 13 games remaining, the question is: can Liverpool be overtaken? And which teams have the most difficult road to travel?
Liverpool Finding Ways to Win, Even When Not at Their Best
Liverpool’s performance against Wolves wasn’t one to excite the neutral. The first half saw them dominate, with Luis Díaz opening the scoring before Mohamed Salah coolly converted a penalty to put them two goals ahead. However, after the break, it was Wolves who looked the better side.
Opta noted that it was the first instance since the measurement of shot statistics started in the 2003-04 campaign that Liverpool didn’t muster a shot during the second half of a home game in the Premier League. It was an out-of-character glimpse, yet not one to unsettled the mind of manager Arne Slot.
“We had to demonstrate a different mentality, which we did and got it over the line,” he said on BBC Match of the Day. “In a season such as this, we have played so many brilliant games, but to win a title, you also have to win the hard ones when you are not playing at your best.”.
“If you wish to do something, it’s not solely down to playing pretty football or Mo scoring,” it’s about defending and fighting out results as well.”
The math is on Liverpool’s side. Opta’s supercomputer forecasts that they will end the season with 87 points, seven ahead of Arsenal. The mathematical model provides the Reds with a 87.65% likelihood of winning the trophy, while Arsenal is afforded a 12.35% chance of ending their reign. All other clubs have been eliminated from contention.
What’s Next for Liverpool?
With their last league form checking out as WWWDW, Liverpool are set for a crazy few weeks now. League fixtures are coming rapidly thick and fast, with the Reds playing pretty much every third day until late February.
March, though, provides some relief. The sole Premier League match for the month has them welcoming bottom-of-the-table Southampton. But it won’t be a peaceful month, with them also featuring in the EFL Cup final against Newcastle on 16 March, as well as their Champions League last-16 match against one of Paris Saint-Germain, Benfica, Monaco, or Brest.
Liverpool’s penultimate home match of the campaign against Crystal Palace on 25 May may turn out to be their coronation day, subject to them not letting go of their hold over the title trail.
Liverpool’s remaining 13 matches:
19 February: Aston Villa (A)
23 February: Man City (A)
26 February: Newcastle (H)
8 March: Southampton (H)
2 April: Everton (H)
5 April: Fulham (A)
12 April: West Ham (H)
19 April: Leicester (A)
26 April: Tottenham (H)
3 May: Chelsea (A)
10 May: Arsenal (H)
18 May: Brighton (A)
25 May: Crystal Palace (H)
Arsenal’s Pursuit of Glory
Unbeaten in 15 league matches (W10 D5), Arsenal are in their longest run of form without a loss under Mikel Arteta. They have a one-game less league encounter than Liverpool in February but possess an extra one for March, which could be pivotal in maintaining the pressure on their competitors.
Arsenal supporters will be looking to the 10 May encounter at Anfield as a title winner. If the Gunners pick up a favorable result there, their next two games – a home game versus Newcastle and an away journey to Southampton – will become must-win games.
Arsenal’s remaining 13 games:
22 February: West Ham (H)
26 February: Nottingham Forest (A)
9 March: Man Utd (A)
16 March: Chelsea (H)
1 April: Fulham (H)
5 April: Everton (A)
12 April: Brentford (H)
19 April: Ipswich (A)
26 April: Crystal Palace (H)
3 May: Bournemouth (H)
10 May: Liverpool (A)
18 May: Newcastle (H)
25 May: Southampton (A)
Who Has the Tougher Run-In?
The victory against Wolves was a turning point for Liverpool, especially considering that there are two away performances coming up – Aston Villa and Manchester City. The Reds additionally have an at-home match against Arsenal in May, which might just prove to be a title-defining affair.
Arsenal, on the other hand, have 13 games left against six teams that are in the top half of the table. Their trips to Manchester United and Liverpool are likely to be stumbling blocks.
Historically, just once in the history of Premier League has a team been seven points clear with 25 matches played and never gone on to win the league. Liverpool will be keen not to be the second team to allow such an advantage to disappear.
As the season winds down, the pressure will only build. Both Arsenal and Liverpool have been resilient, but just one of them can win. The finish will be a thrilling ride.
