Which Premier League teams are facing the toughest run-ins as we enter the crucial phase of the season?
With only 10 games remaining for each team (excluding the postponed Chelsea vs. Tottenham match), now is the perfect time to assess the challenges ahead for each side.Utilizing Opta’s power rankings, which compare teams globally on a scale from zero to 100, we can gauge the difficulty of each team’s remaining fixtures. By averaging the rankings of their upcoming opponents, we can determine which teams have the hardest and easiest schedules for the remainder of the season.Premier League fans are anticipating the final weeks of the season. The debate is raging over which of the three clubs – Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester City – will win the Premier League title. Fans can visit leading football sports betting sites to get the latest odds on the title race. For this analysis, we’ve excluded the postponed Chelsea vs. Tottenham match, treating it as a bonus opportunity for both teams rather than factoring it into the difficulty ratings.
Title Race
Arsenal, currently leading the table by goal difference, face a daunting run-in according to our model. Despite their impressive recent form, they have challenging fixtures against Manchester City, Tottenham, and Manchester United, among others. Their run-in ranks as the fifth most difficult in the league.
While Manchester City and Liverpool also face tough opponents, their schedules are relatively more favourable. City’s slightly tougher fixtures include a crucial home game against Arsenal and a visit to Tottenham. Meanwhile, Liverpool’s main challenges come from facing Everton and Manchester United.
Top-Four Race
The battle for a top-four finish is heating up, with Aston Villa, Tottenham, and Manchester United vying for the coveted spots. Villa, currently fourth, have the second most difficult run-in of all teams, facing tough away games against City, Arsenal, and West Ham, along with daunting home fixtures against Liverpool and Chelsea.Tottenham’s run-in is slightly less challenging but still ranks as the eighth most difficult. Their fate could be decided by a challenging end-of-season stretch against Newcastle, City, Arsenal, and Liverpool.Manchester United, trailing behind in the race, have a comparatively easier schedule. However, they face an uphill task to make up the points gap, with only Liverpool and Arsenal posing significant challenges among their remaining fixtures.
Relegation Battle
With Sheffield United and Burnley seemingly destined for relegation, attention turns to the remaining spot. Luton, Nottingham Forest, Everton, and Brentford are embroiled in the fight, with Crystal Palace likely safe despite a tough run-in.
Luton’s recent defeat highlights their precarious position, facing the sixth most difficult run-in in the league. Their survival hopes hinge on crucial matches against fellow strugglers, while Brentford, Forest, and Everton have relatively easier schedules, increasing the pressure on those pivotal encounters.Depending on Nottingham Forest’s profits and sustainability ruling, the relegation battle could see some changes. Everton are also awaiting a second ruling and a potential points deduction. These off-the-pitch issues could result in the clubs being deducted more points and adding to the drama at the bottom of the Premier League standings.