,Liverpool must lift themselves after being floored by a Lionel Messi masterclass in Barcelona if they are to take the Premier League title race against a relentless Manchester City into the final weekend of the season.
Jurgen Klopp’s men face atricky trip to Newcastle on Saturday, two days before Pep Guardiola’s City hostLeicester, with just one point separating the pair.
Below them, Tottenham,Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United remain in the hunt to secure theremaining two top-four places despite stuttering form.
And at the bottom of thetable, Cardiff’s Premier League future is hanging by a thread as they prepareto host Crystal Palace.
AFP Sports looks at thestate of play in the Premier League ahead of the penultimate weekend of thecompetition.
It is advantage City inarguably the greatest Premier League title race in history with neither sidehaving dropped points for two months.
Defending champions City,after 12 straight wins, are on 92 points, one clear of relentless Liverpool,who have lost just once in the league all season.
Defeat for Liverpool atNewcastle, managed by former Reds’ boss Rafael Benitez, would give City thechance to wrap up the title on Monday.
But a win would putLiverpool back on top for at least 48 hours and put the pressure back onGuardiola’s team, who take on a Leicester side chasing European football andfresh from thrashing Arsenal 3-0 last weekend.
The race for the remaining two slots in the Premier League top four,which gives entry to next season’s Champions League, is the one nobodyapparently wants to win.
None of the challengersmanaged a win last weekend, meaning Tottenham still lead the way on 70 points,two head of Chelsea.
Arsenal, who have lost their past three league games, are on 66 points,with Manchester United, still in the race despite a woeful run of form, afurther point behind. Agencies