Premier League schedule as title, relegation, and Champions League . The probable title-decider between Manchester City and Arsenal on Wednesday is given due prominence in a critical set of Premier League games this midweek. Still, other games might make or break a club’s season in 90 minutes in the coming days.
Every significant problem, including the championship, Champions League qualifying, and relegation, is nearing a turning point. For specific teams involved, this week may be the moment.
While Leeds United supporters could legitimately contend that the stakes are even higher in their team’s matchup against Leicester City, who are currently ranked 16th and 17th, respectively, and on the verge of finishing in the bottom three, if Arsenal or City win at the Etihad, they will become overwhelming favorites to win the title. Relegation to the Championship looks more likely than ever if you lose.
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Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United, who play each other on Thursday in London, wish they were in the same situation as their nearby rivals Arsenal and City. If United wins, they will almost certainly secure a top-four spot, leaving Spurs to compete for a place in the Europa League or Europa Conference League. Conversely, a Spurs victory would widen the margin to three points, closing the door on the fourth.
Here are the Premier League games this week, from potential title deciders to struggling clubs and relegation battles.
The most notable matchup is Leeds vs. Leicester since Leicester’s 2-1 victory over Wolves at home on Saturday secured three points for the first time in over two months. Leicester had dropped nine of their previous ten league games, which cost manager Brendan Rodgers his job and resulted in the hiring of Dean Smith, a former manager of Aston Villa and Norwich, earlier this month.
Premier League schedule as title, relegation, and Champions League
With a win at Elland Road, Leicester would move above Leeds, struggling under Javi Gracia, and out of the bottom three, taking them ahead of third-bottom Everton on goal differential.
Under Gracia, Leeds has dropped five of its last nine league contests, including their last three, which included 5-1 and 6-1 home losses to Crystal Palace and Liverpool. Because they will then play Manchester City and Newcastle United, Tuesday’s match against Leicester and Sunday’s trip to Bournemouth are likely to be essential if Leeds is to stay in the division.
Wolves against. Palace is a crucial matchup. Although neither team is yet secure, both have recently pulled themselves out of danger of being demoted. The wolves (34 points) need one more victory to put a comfortable distance between themselves and the bottom three. In comparison, Palace (37 points) arguably only needs one more to be confident of escaping the drop.
If Unai Emery’s team wins, Fulham’s visit to Aston Villa might change into a match with Champions League ramifications. Two victories in the next two games for Villa, who have a trip to Old Trafford up next, would instantly put them in the running for a top-four finish and keep them ahead of seventh-place Liverpool, whom they play at Anfield one week after their home game against Spurs.
