Premier League run-in : Each team’s remaining fixtures ranked on the scale of difficulty

It was always meant to go down to the wire in different races on the Premier League standing and the ranking of the difficulty of each teams’ remaining games just affirms that fact.

The Gunners’ fixtures is well-balanced. Five each of teams in either half of the table. Though City play more of this teams in their eleven games to go but having to play Liverpool, Chelsea, and even Arsenal at home is always better.

Not to forget Arsenal travel to Anfield, where they’ve not picked up a Premier League point since January 2016 and have not win a Premier League game since 2012, when a Robin van Persie double helped Arsène Wenger’s side come from behind to seal a huge win.

Mikel Arteta started and played 50 minutes of that match. But, it is fair to understand that Arsenal have broken some jinx to be here at this time of the season and despite Liverpool’s Anfield reputation, Arsenal can still burst their bubbles.

Starting from the win at Palace in the opening weekend. The Selhurst Park and Palace used to be a tough for the Gunners but walked over in two legs this season, 6-1 on aggregate.

They’ve completed the double over their North London rivals, Tottenham, their first since 2013/14, in the process winning their first game at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

They also beat Liverpool in the reverse fixture, something they had not done in the league since a scrappy 2-1 win at the Emirates against a Jürgen Klopp side who had already won the league title in 2020.

It’s a different Arsenal team from years before, and no positive result for them will be too shocking, whether a win in Anfield or even in Manchester City’s Ethiad. They’ve looked like they can pull it off as it stands.

Nonetheless, the thought that Arsenal still have the trip to Anfield will give Pep Guardiola a little security, moreso if themselves are able to beat The Reds this weekend.

With City having eleven games, one more than Arsenal, the more pressure on the Ethiad landlords because no Premier League game is worth three points until it is won.

The similarity in their fixture also makes it mouthwatering. And it will be interesting to see what happens to their positions after games in April with Arsenal now eight points ahead, while City have played a game less.

Crystal Palace have the easiest fixtures heading into the run-in as per the ranking. Of their ten games left, just two will come against teams in the top half of the table.

They are currently placed 12th on the log but on a horrible run. No win across all competitions since the turn of the year saw them part ways with French manager, Patrick Vieira on Saint Patrick day, just before their trip to the Emirates.

Losing this weekend could see them drop into the relegation zone depending on results elsewhere but they will hope that the reappointment of Roy Hodgson will help their cause to remain in the topflight next season.

Palace, without a win in 13 games, losing eight in that run, are also on a run of four consecutive defeats. The moral is as down as it could get in the Selhurst and having considerable easy games to come can be a good omen for Hodgson on his new but stale adventure.

Brentford have the toughest fixture in the run-in, they’ll need to be at their very best and consistently to stand any chance of achieving their European ambition.

The good news is, they haven’t fared too bad against these teams in the reverse fixture so they’ll want to continue the good run, which made them had the longest unbeaten run in the Premier League before the loss to Everton few games before the international break.

Their response to the defeat has been great as well, picking up four points from two games, so maintaining that momentum will be key for Thomas Frank and his Bees in the remaining games. If they can go on another good run, it’ll be massive for their chances but can they against the teams that are still to come their way ? We’ll see.

Aston Villa rank second on tough run-in but with eleven points separating them and the team next to them on the log (12th place Palace), it is safe to say the stake isn’t too high for them and they will not be expected to be in the relegation battle.

However, the appointment of Unai Emery must have increased the appetite of Villains and they’ll want to maintain a strong campaign, and maybe capitalize on any slip up to move into the top ten as they’re also level on points with tenth place Chelsea.

Danger for Nottingham Forest as they rank third for the hardest fixtures to come and could be able to return to the lower division, after years there before finally having promotion by winning the Championship playoff last season.

Arsenal, Brighton, Brentford, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United are all still to come for Steve Cooper’s side. Forest’s season had been long and could be about to get even longer.

Ranked fourth, the tough nature of Chelsea‘s run-in could mean their only route to Europe next season is winning the Champions League. Good luck doing that but they’ve been here before, and we are not uninformed of how they fared.

Up to date, they’ve not really been convincing under Graham Potter and currently tenth, finishing in the top seven could become farfetched for the pride of London as they are famously known.

Newcastle United have enjoyed a remarkable season, as far as the club is concerned in more than two decades, but to finish with a flourish, they will have to dig deep, maybe deeper than they have season the restart from the World Cup break.

Eddie Howe’s side fixtures are ranked fifth toughest, and with Champions League qualification in sight, if they are to achieve it in the end, they might as well be considered as one of the best teams in Europe.

And it won’t be too surprising if they in the end do it because they’ve been nothing short of phenomenon in the league this season.

Their three defeats have come against Liverpool (twice) and Manchester City but they still have to play Arsenal, Man United, Brentford and Chelsea in the coming games. It is never easy in the Premier League, is it ?

As desperate as they get every matchday, this might finally be the season Everton are relegated from the Premier League. They’ve narrowly escaped last season but so far, they haven’t really help themselves avoiding a deja vu.

Really tough fixtures coming along sees their run-in ranked sixth most difficult and with only two points above the dropzone, they might be left bidding topflight farewell come the end of their final day meeting with Bournemouth, at the Goodison Park.

Such scene, Liverpool fans will love it and having struggled themselves this campaign, seeing their local rivals go down will be something they’ll think they deserve. We’ll be here to see how that ends.

It’s hilarious enough to think this Everton side nicked points off Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and even Man City this season but are struggling to get out of the dropzone, which is proving too tough a task.

Wolves, Southampton, West Ham and Leeds United find themselves in the same shoes as Everton. A season of struggles and from there struggles. All the teams from 13th to 20th have continually exchange positions, and none has really had a good run to break what has now become a routine.

For West Ham United, it is unfamiliar territory. They were close to earning a top six finish last season and even in the season before, were close to earning a Champions League place but did season, they’ve been underwhelming in domestic competitions.

Who would have thought David Moyes’ side will be in the dropzone at this stage of the season whereas they’ve been impressive in Europe. Despite their ninth place in the ranking, they’ll be sweating to survive the season.

Manchester clubs, Arsenal, Liverpool, Newcastle United, Brentford and Fulham, all teams who have been better than themselves so far still on their schedule. If in the end they succumb to the fate of relegation, would it be worth their European commitment ?

Liverpool, Brighton and Tottenham Hotspur all fighting for the cause, which is reaching the Champions League next season. While it is good omen for Brighton and maybe Tottenham given the context of their season. But not for Liverpool, who will be disappointed after coming close to winning the league last season.

With only a spot for all three and Newcastle United to fight for, it will be interesting to see how that finish because it is highly unlikely that Man United will be dragged into the battle, given how considerably easy Erik Ten Hag’s side is, with only Fulham and Palace having easier fixtures in the run-in.

Liverpool and Brighton will be decisive in the battle for the league title, with City hosting Jürgen Klopp’s men this weekend, and Arsenal traveling to Anfield earlier in the month. The results will be crucial in the title race.

Brighton at some stage will also take the trip to the Emirates. Though they lost the reverse fixture to Mikel Arteta’s side at the AMEX but Arsenal away is a fixture they’ve found joy in recent times, winning three of their last four trip.

Fulham! O how their season can get even better with the games to come. If things go as viewed in the ranking, they could seal a top seven finish in the least but this is only on papers.

However, it is still achievable given how far they’ve come to be here at this stage of the campaign. Keeping focus and taking the games as they come can go a long way.

This will be nothing less than deserved for Marco Silva, Fulham hierarchy and the players, who have all done their part to play the London club away from anxiety, having endured horrible spell in their previous seasons in the topflight.

This is the Premier League run-in and without a doubt, an interesting finale is set at every point of the table.

Two way battle for the league. Five to six teams battling for two Champions League spots. The battle to finish in the top half and that of survival. What more could be there that isn’t ?

This is the Premier League and that is why it remains the most prophesied League in the world. We’ll be here to see what happens after the end of games on the 28th of May.

Author : Kehinde Hassan Afolabi