In order to prevent Arsenal from winning the Premier League for a third straight season while also keeping an eye on Manchester City’s pursuit of their first Champions League trophy, Pep Guardiola must perform a delicate balancing act.
Sunday’s match between City and struggling Everton at Goodison Park could be a crucial Premier League game for both teams.
With four games left, Guardiola’s team trails Arsenal by just a point, despite having a game in hand, and the Spanish coach has little room to rest players because the Gunners won’t give up.
Everton is one spot and two points above the danger zone.
City is on track to win the Premier League, Champions League, and FA Cup in the same season, matching their local rivals Manchester United, who did it in 1999. They have gone unbeaten in 21 games in all competitions and have won 10 straight games in the Premier League.
Guardiola, one of the most successful coaches in the league, may be on course for one of his best seasons ever.
Although he has guided City to four Premier League titles, despite winning the Champions League twice with Barcelona, he has never had Champions League success with the club.
After drawing 1-1 in the first leg of their semi-final, City will face Real Madrid, winners of five of the past nine Champions League championships, in an exciting second leg on Wednesday.
He has recently stated numerous times that his players have the mental strength to stay the course at season’s end when there is so much on the line. He is certain that City will not crumble under the weight of chasing three trophies.
On Sunday, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal will play home to Brighton & Hove Albion, a team that has seen a huge swing in results after defeating Wolverhampton Wanderers 6-0 before falling to Everton 5-1. Which Brighton team will play against Arsenal is anyone’s guess.
Fifth-placed With one game remaining, Liverpool is making a late push for the top four spots and a lucrative Champions League position in Europe. They are only one point behind Manchester United in this race.
To take on a Foxes team in a last-ditch effort to stay in the league, Juergen Klopp’s team travels to Leicester City. Two points behind Everton in 18th place is they.
Newcastle and Manchester United are two points apart with four games remaining, the Magpies in third place with 63 points and United in first with 65.
The Southampton team, led by Ruben Selles, is in last place and in danger of being relegated.
If Southampton loses to Fulham at home on Saturday, which has long appeared likely given their terrible season in which they fired two managers, they would be relegated. They are currently eight points below Everton in 17th place, six points behind Leicester City, and Leeds United.
After Nathan Jones was fired on February 24, Selles was hired as the club’s temporary manager. However, with just one victory in his first 12 Premier League matches, Selles has been unable to turn around the Saints’ ailing season.
The following games for Leeds and Leicester City are both at home. On Saturday, Leeds will play Newcastle at Elland Road, and on Monday, Leicester City will host Liverpool.
