Liverpool prepare for English Premier League title party

LONDON – Liverpool have one hand on the English Premier League trophy, as they seek the solitary point they need against struggling Tottenham Hotspur on April 27 to guarantee a record-equalling 20th league title.

A draw at an expectant Anfield would take Arne Slot’s men 13 points clear of second-place Arsenal with just four games remaining, meaning they cannot be caught.

Below them, Chelsea and Newcastle United have the chance to press their case for Champions League qualification, with Manchester City, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa all involved in the FA Cup semi-finals.

At the bottom of the table, Ipswich Town’s fate could be sealed.

Here is a look at three talking points ahead of this weekend’s action.

Bet on Anfield celebration

It is tough to see Tottenham delaying Liverpool’s title party at Anfield.

After Arsenal’s 2-2 home draw against Crystal Palace in midweek, Slot’s side need just a draw to seal the deal and pull level with bitter rivals Manchester United on 20 top-flight English titles.

Out-of-form Spurs are 16th in the table and have a miserable record at Anfield – not winning there since 2011.

Liverpool won the reverse fixture this season 6-3 and were 4-1 winners on aggregate in their two-legged League Cup semi-final clash.

Captain Virgil van Dijk said it had been an “outstanding season” but that there was still work to do after Liverpool’s 1-0 victory at Leicester City last week.

“Now we have the chance to finish it off on the weekend against a very good Tottenham Hotspur, in my opinion,” he said. “We played three times already against them this season and every game was very intense.

“To be in this position now, it’s a good position but we’re not there yet. We all have to realise that and we will. We’ll make sure of that. It’s a good week of preparation and then we have to be ready.”

Champions League shoot-out

Just four points separate third-placed City from Villa in seventh in the race for Champions League spots next season.

The Premier League’s top five will all qualify for Europe’s top club competition, due to strong performances in continental competition this term.

Liverpool are already guaranteed a spot and Arsenal, 10 points clear of Chelsea in sixth, are practically there, leaving three places open.

City stole a march this week in the mini-league with a last-gasp 2-1 win against Villa after Forest, now fourth, beat Tottenham 2-1 on April 21.

Villa play Crystal Palace in the FA Cup semi-finals on April 26, with Forest taking on City the following day at Wembley.

It means Newcastle, who will have manager Eddie Howe back on the touchline after a bout of pneumonia, would leapfrog City if they beat lowly Ipswich.

Chelsea badly need to beat Everton at home with a tough run of games to come against Liverpool, Newcastle, United and Forest.

Southampton playing for pride, Ipswich on the brink

Southampton’s 1-1 draw at West Ham United last week meant they drew level with Derby County’s record-low points tally of 11 from the 2007-08 season, with five games to go to better the Rams’ total.

But it will be of limited comfort after a miserable season for the Saints, who were relegated earlier in April.

Leicester are already down and Ipswich appear certain to follow them barring a miracle – a draw for West Ham at Brighton & Hove Albion on April 26 would seal their fate.

It would be the second straight season in which all three promoted clubs have been relegated straight back to the Championship.

Before the 2023-24 campaign, this had last occurred in 1997-98.

All the evidence points to a worrying and widening chasm between English football’s top two tiers as the season nears its end. AFP