Gunners firing on all cylinders

Gunners firing on all cylinders

A R32-million TAB Soccer 13 pool is up for grabs tomorrow where Arsenal look to be one of the banker bets after their midweek success against Everton to restore their five-point lead atop the Premier League.

By Mark Gleeson

Arsenal and Manchester City both successfully navigated midweek matches and now continue their tussle at the top of the Premier League.

After last weekend’s matches, Arsenal were two points ahead but with a game in hand, which they won comfortably against Everton on Wednesday and now have a five-point lead again over defending champions City.

Both clubs have played 25 matches, leaving 13 each until the end of the season, certainly enough for there to be some twists and turns before the prize is settled.

Home games tomorrow for both means the order is unlikely to change although Manchester City will be more wary of Newcastle United than the Gunners will be of out-of-form Bournemouth.

So, for the moment, the focus is more on the top four positions in the Premier League and the battle for Champions League football as Liverpool seek a resurgence, Tottenham must overcome a surprise cup setback and Manchester United still hold on to hopes of a late title tilt.

It has been some week for the Red Devils with last Sunday’s League Cup triumph at Wembley, followed by Wednesday’s win in the FA Cup over West Ham United.

But if Erik ten Hag’s side are to mount any late challenge and hunt down both Arsenal and Manchester City, they must win against Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.

This is, however, easier said than done. Manchester United have not had much success on their previous trips to Anfield and with so much pride at stake in this classic fixture, they are going to have to produce something really special.

Liverpool’s woes are well documented and manager Jurgen Klopp has already written off this season in terms of any success for his team. Champions League elimination, at the hands of Real Madrid, is imminent but Liverpool can still ensure a top-four league finish so that they can play in the Champions League again next season.

Chelsea host struggling Leeds United tomorrow in a match that would ordinarily be viewed as a banker game. But the Blues are in crisis and Graham Potter on the brink of being the second Chelsea manager to be fired this season.

Bottom-placed Southampton were the last visitors to Stamford Bridge and pulled off a surprise victory. Leeds, with the potential ‘bounce back’ that a new manager brings, must fancy their chances of a similar upset.