Liverpool and Manchester City are currently engaged in a tense battle for the Premier League title, and the possibility of a title play-off between the two teams is becoming increasingly likely. However, one team that will not be involved in any extra games is Arsenal. Despite being in second place, Arsenal will not have the opportunity to compete for the title if the season ends with Liverpool and City tied at the top.
The latest round of matches confirmed just how close the title race is. Liverpool secured a hard-fought 2-1 comeback win over Brighton, leaving them two points clear at the top of the table. Meanwhile, City could only manage a goalless draw against Arsenal, leaving them three points adrift of Liverpool. With just one game remaining, it seems unlikely that two of the three title contenders would finish level on points. However, if such a scenario were to occur, a list of head-to-head criteria would come into play to determine the champion.
Interestingly, if Arsenal were one of the teams tied at the top, it would work in their favor. The Gunners have come out on top overall in their matches against both Liverpool and City this season. In contrast, Liverpool and City have drawn both of their Premier League encounters 1-1. Arsenal secured a late 1-0 win over City back in October and managed to hold them to a goalless draw in their recent meeting. Against Liverpool, Arsenal drew 1-1 at Anfield and then recorded a 3-1 victory over them at the Emirates in February.
If Liverpool and City were to finish level on points, the first deciding factor would be goal difference. If goal difference was also equal, the team with the most goals scored would take precedence. If the two clubs were still level, their head-to-head record in Premier League matches this season would be considered. In this case, Arsenal’s superior performance against both Liverpool and City would see them finish higher. However, if the head-to-head record was also equal, the club that scored the higher number of away goals in those two games would be declared the winner. If all these criteria were still unable to determine a clear champion, a dramatic play-off match would take place at a neutral ground. The specific details, such as the date and venue, would be decided by Premier League officials.
In conclusion, the possibility of a title play-off between Liverpool and Manchester City is an exciting prospect for football fans. However, Arsenal will not have the opportunity to join in this potential showdown. The head-to-head criteria would favor Arsenal if they were one of the teams tied at the top, but it remains to be seen whether such a scenario will actually unfold. With just one game remaining, the outcome of the Premier League title race is still uncertain, adding to the drama and excitement of the competition.