Manchester City holds a seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League over rivals Manchester United, with Pep Guardiola’s side looking unstoppable.
Manchester City extended their lead at the top of the Premier League table to seven points over the weekend.
While Leicester City started the action with a 3-1 win over Liverpool, briefly leapfrogging Manchester United into second place, City’s win over Tottenham Hotspur moved them seven points clear with a game in hand after United could only muster a draw against West Bromwich Albion on Sunday.
Pep Guardiola’s side are now strong favorites to regain the Premier League title after losing out to Liverpool last season.
Meanwhile, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer conceded that things will be tough for his United team, though he said that they will continue to put pressure on their rivals.
Jurgen Klopp, on the other hand, considers Liverpool out of the title race as he now focuses on securing a top-four finish.
However, with 14 or 15 games remaining for many at the top of the table, there is still a long way to go and City are far from home just yet.
Here is how the next 10 fixtures will unfold for those fighting for the league title.
Man City fixtures
Feb 17: Everton (A)
Feb 21: Arsenal (A)
Feb 27: West Ham (H)
Mar 6: Man Utd (H)
Mar 13: Fulham (A)
Mar 20: Wolves (H) – Will be rearranged
Apr 3: Leicester City (A)
Apr 10: Leeds (H)
Apr 17: Aston Villa (A)
Apr 25: Southampton (H) – Will be rearranged
City already have a packed scheduled due to the previous postponement of their match against Everton. That match was cancelled due to a Covid-19 outbreak at the club. It has been rescheduled for this Wednesday with City facing Borussia Monchengladbach in the second week of Champions League fixtures.
However, while they will be even on games by the end of the week, City have two future fixtures that must be rearranged. The first is their March 20 home match against Wolverhampton Wanderers. City’s involvement in the FA Cup third round causes issues there.
The second is their April 25 match against Southampton. City will instead play the League Cup final on that weekend, meaning the Southampton match will have to be squeezed in elsewhere.
With midweek European games now coming thick and fast, it looks like a packed schedule for the league leaders. Should fatigue play a part in the final stages of the season, United and Leicester might have a fighting chance.
Man Utd fixtures
Feb 21: Newcastle (H)
Feb 28: Chelsea (A)
Mar 6: Man City (A)
Mar 13: West Ham (H)
Mar 20: Crystal Palace (A) – Will be rearranged
Apr 3: Brighton (H)
Apr 10: Spurs (A)
Apr 17: Burnley (H)
Apr 24: Leeds (A)
May 1: Liverpool (H)
United’s fixtures are not as hectic as their neighbours. They too play in the FA Cup quarter-final and will have their March 20 match against Crystal Palace rearranged as a result.
United also start in the Europa League knockout stages on Thursday. With an extra round of knockout matches in the Europa League, this adds two more games to United’s schedule.
In the Premier League, United have the tougher fixtures. Although City play just one of the bottom six over the next 10 matches, United face City and Liverpool, two of the other three teams in the top four.
They also travel to fifth-place Chelsea who look an entirely different proposition under Thomas Tuchel and face Spurs away. Jose Mourinho’s side beat United 6-1 earlier in the season.
United’s fixtures are not as hectic as their neighbours. They too play in the FA Cup quarter-final and will have their March 20 match against Crystal Palace rearranged as a result.
United also start in the Europa League knockout stages on Thursday. With an extra round of knockout matches in the Europa League, this adds two more games to United’s schedule.
In the Premier League, United have the tougher fixtures. Although City play just one of the bottom six over the next 10 matches, United face City and Liverpool, two of the other three teams in the top four.
They also travel to fifth-place Chelsea who look an entirely different proposition under Thomas Tuchel and face Spurs away. Jose Mourinho’s side beat United 6-1 earlier in the season.
Of the trio, Leicester unquestionably have the most favourable fixtures. They will be strong favourites in six of their 10 games with only one match looking like a really tough contest, and that is against City, offering a chance to steal points away from the league leaders.
United and City, on the other hand, face tougher runs. City’s fixture congestion will surely play a part as Guardiola is forced to rotate through his squad, while United’s trips to Chelsea, Spurs and Man City could be the end of their title challenge.
Throw in a home match against Liverpool for good measure and it will be difficult for the Reds to keep pace at the top of the league for the remainder of the season.