Liverpool could return to the top of the Premier League and pile the pressure on Manchester City and Arsenal in this season’s dramatic title race, if they win away to Everton on Wednesday night.
Jurgen Klopp’s side looked dead on their feet less than a week ago after losing a vital league game at home to Crystal Palace and then bowing tamely out of the Europa League in Italy.
They recovered to win 3-1 away to Fulham on Sunday to go level with Arsenal on 74 points at the top of the table, with a point more than Manchester City, who have played a game less. Arsenal were set to battle Chelsea on Tuesday night.
Liverpool now cross Stanley Park to face local rivals Everton, whose 2-0 win at home to Nottingham Forest on Sunday lifted them five points clear of the bottom three and with a game in hand over 18th-placed Luton Town.
In many ways, Wednesday’s game is a ‘free hit’ for Everton: nobody really expects them to beat their neighbours but a win would virtually end their relegation fears and give the fans the satisfaction of sinking Liverpool’s title hopes, after a season ruined by points deduction.
A Liverpool win would put them four points clear of Manchester City and increase the pressure on Pep Guardiola’s side, who travel to play Brighton on Thursday after qualifying for the FA Cup final on Sunday.
Manchester City will play local rivals Manchester United in the Cup final, but United’s progress to the final was arguably the most disappointing in history as they saw a 3-0 lead to Championship (second division) Coventry blown away in a matter of minutes and had to cling on for a draw before eventually qualifying on penalties.
Never before has an FA Cup semifinal win seemed so depressing and United will be expected to improve when they take on bottom of the table Sheffield United on Wednesday.
Sheffield’s 4-1 home defeat to Burnley left them on the verge of an immediate return to the Championship, and if they lose at Old Trafford and against Newcastle at the weekend, they will be mathematically relegated after a hugely depressing season.
Newcastle visit Crystal Palace on Wednesday night, looking for three points to keep them sixth and with a chance of playing in Europe next season.
Four wins and a draw have left Eddie Howe’s side in a strong position, thanks partly to the excellent form of striker Alexander Isak, but Palace have also improved since Oliver Glasner’s arrival as coach, with a win at Anfield and Sunday’s 5-2 thrashing of West Ham ending any lingering relegation doubts.
The last game is a mid-table affair between Wolves and Bournemouth, with Wolves coach Gary O’Neil no doubt keen to beat the club that harshly sacked him after leading them to safety last season.
O’Neil has done an excellent job at Wolves, while his successor Andoni Iraola has been one of the revelations of the season for the job he has done with Bournemouth.