Watch free highlights on the Sky Sports website and app right after full time of every Premier League game this midweek.
The major talking topics from every midweek game are broken down by the football journalists of Sky Sports.
Goal difference a major boost for Arsenal – can they keep it up?
Arsenal has the numerical advantage over Manchester City and Liverpool, but they still own the expertise. The Gunners have the greatest goal differential in the league thanks to having the strongest defense and attack in the league, which might be important come May 19.
At this point, all Arsenal needs to do to win the title is to outperform Liverpool and Man City’s run-in by one win, provided they maintain their healthy lead over their two title challengers.
The Gunners also appear to have favorable omens. Arsenal has defeated the newly promoted teams five times this season, scoring three goals or more in each of those five victories, while Luton has given up two goals or more in six of their last eight league away games.
Because of the goal differential, winning looks less important now; what matters is how you win. Arsenal cannot allow the tense crawling across the line they have shown in recent weeks against Brentford, Porto, and Man City to become a regular occurrence.
New hope of a turnaround springs for Brentford?
Brentford is only five points above the relegation zone with only two wins in their last eighteen games. For them, April will be a pivotal month.
The west London squad outperformed Manchester United on Saturday, hitting the woodwork four times, but they were unable to take advantage of their chances. It’s the tale of Brentford’s season, which has consistently been hampered by setbacks and injuries.
Despite all of the praise Thomas Frank has received, terrible luck can only go so far. He will need that luck to change if he is to win the crucial games against Luton and Everton in April.
Roberto De Zerbi, a fellow Liverpool managing candidate, will put his Brighton team to the test in the opening game to see if Brentford’s showing was a portent of a spring revival or just a mirror of United’s problems.
Man City face another huge test in their title race run-in
Man City vs Aston Villa – Wednesday, kick-off 8.15pm
Manchester City needs to perform flawlessly right now. After their scoreless draw with Arsenal on Sunday, Pep Guardiola’s team is now third on both the goal differential and points sheet. All they can do now is hope for the best and hope for a flawless finish to their season.
It is not as simple as it seems. The Citizens’ toughest test of the remaining games will come from Aston Villa, who defeated them at Villa Park in December. That time, Leon Bailey proved to be the difference as City were unable to score.
The approaching possibility of qualifying for the Champions League will energize Villa this time around, as the reigning champions failed to convert several opportunities on Sunday. In the battle for fourth place, Tottenham is closing in on them, so they are also aiming for their own flawless run-in.
When it counts, City always manages to turn it on, but Sunday might be a sign that their title ambitions are faltering along with their late-season excellence.
Liverpool must maintain focus as title race excitement heats up
Liverpool vs Sheffield United – Thursday, kick-off 7.30pm
Liverpool is now firmly in the driver’s seat in the Premier League title chase after Manchester City and Arsenal drew 0-0 at the Etihad on Sunday. Keeping themselves from making needless mistakes now appears to be their biggest obstacle.
Sheffield United appear to be a non-threatening opponent at first glance. With 11 goals given up in their last three games, the matchup seems more like a chance to improve goal differential than a danger to Liverpool’s title chances.
League leaders can’t afford to take their success for granted. They proved they are not perfect on Sunday after giving up early against Brighton. Liverpool needs to stay on top of things in order to make sure there are no mistakes made in their upcoming match against Manchester United at Old Trafford this coming weekend.
Curtis Jones’s impending return will raise optimism for the league leaders, but the Blades will still have to contend with a long injury list.
Mount targets momentum on Stamford Bridge return
Chelsea vs Man Utd – Thursday, kick-off 8.15pm
Mason Mount may not have expected his Chelsea comeback to take the form of a mid-table struggle, but he will go to Stamford Bridge determined to stand by the choice he made.
On Saturday, for a total of three minutes, Mount seemed to be finally living up to his reputation as Manchester United’s hero. That is, until a well-earned equalizer in the 99th minute by Kristoffer Ajer put an end to the festivities.
It was just another lackluster performance by United in a season that has been equally lackluster for the Englishman. After being sidelined due to injury since November, Mount made a brief reappearance during the FA Cup match against Liverpool, which was expected to spark Erik Ten Hag’s team’s lackluster start to the season.
Although United’s anticipated surge has not materialized, Mount may be settling in. He scored his first goal of the year against Brentford, and he might score more against his old team, who have given up two goals in their last five games.
