It was an extremely important and very consequential Sunday in the Premier League, especially so for every single team in the top six. We start with the weekend’s headliner fixture, which saw Chelsea beat Liverpool 1-0 at home. This result clinches runner-up status for Manchester United, and it took Chelsea’s near terminal hopes for a top four finish, and instead made them very much alive.
For Liverpool, they could have clinched a top four slot, but will now have to sweat it out a little bit.
For Manchester City, today brought their first opportunity to touch and celebrate with the Premier League trophy.
For Arsenal, Arsene Wenger said his final goodbyes to his home fans, in a match that was overflowing with a bundle of mixed emotions. For the Citizens, Gunners and Red Devils, Sunday brought a sense of closure and mission accomplished.
For the other half of the big six, today saw their race for a top four slot reshaped. Here’s how the top four race now shapes out.
Liverpool are still currently in third place, just one point ahead of fourth place Tottenham, and three ahead of fifth place Chelsea. However, both Spurs and the Blues have a game in hand on the Reds, and the run in looks like this.
Chelsea (two points out of a top four finish) host Huddersfield Town Wednesday night and head to Newcastle United Sunday.
Tottenham (holding down the last top four position by two points) host Newcastle Wednesday and head to Leicester City Sunday.
Liverpool (up one on Spurs, three on Chelsea) host Brighton & Hove Albion Sunday.
It should be a really fun and exciting run-in, with many plot twists and turns to come.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging community Chicago Now.
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