How Liverpool's next five fixtures compare to Arsenal's after statement Man City victory | OneFootball

This was surely the weekend which dashed any hope of a proper Premier League title race emerging down the stretch.

After Liverpool were held at Aston Villa in midweek, a sense of giddiness started to prevail in north London over the gap at the top potentially being reduced - at least temporarily- to just five points.

Arsenal, however, inexplicably succumbed at home to West Ham United, ensuring the gap remained at eight. Then, to complete a lousy weekend for Gunners supporters, Liverpool won 2-0 at the home of the perennial champions with a mightily efficient display.

The Reds' lead has crept up to double digits, and the title feels as good as sealed with three months of the season remaining. If Arsenal are to get back into the race, they require an immediate recovery and an unlikely Liverpool collapse.

Here's how both teams' upcoming Premier League fixtures compare.

Liverpool's next five Premier League fixtures

Liverpool next welcome Newcastle to Anfield / Justin Setterfield/GettyImages

Liverpool have a pair of Champions League last 16 fixtures to consider against the red hot Paris Saint-Germain to consider amid their upcoming domestic run, while Arsenal take on PSV Eindhoven.

The Reds travel to Paris for the first leg the week after hosting Newcastle United under the lights at Anfield. The Magpies stole a 3-3 draw late on at St. James' Park in December, but are a considerably tamer unit away from home. They haven't won a league game at Anfield since 1994 and are winless in any competition against Liverpool since 2015.

Slot's side will benefit from hosting bottom-of-the-table Southampton in between their last 16 clash before they face Newcastle again in the Carabao Cup final. Liverpool will hope to maintain their sizeable advantage at the division's summit by the time the international break rolls around, with Everton making the short trip across Stanley Park at the start of April.

Expect fireworks at Anfield given what went down at Goodison Park last month. The Toffees will be desperate to hinder their bitterest rivals' title tilt.

Liverpool then travel to Fulham a few days later which could be a banana skin fixture given the Cottagers' success against superior outfits. West Ham also proved at the Emirates that they won't be a pushover when they visit Anfield the following week.

Arsenal's next five Premier League fixtures

Arsenal face Manchester United at the Theatre of Dreams next month / Alex Pantling/GettyImages

Arsenal require a swift recovery off the back of Saturday's defeat on home soil, but they have a daunting away trip in midweek with Nottingham Forest awaiting the Gunners.

Mikel Arteta's side eased home in the reverse fixture although Forest were without talisman Morgan Gibbs-White and a half-fit Chris Wood. Wednesday will be a different challenge entirely. Nuno Espirito Santo's side are still well-positioned to claim a Champions League spot for 2025/26.

Manchester United are far from an imperious force, but Arsenal rarely enjoy success at Old Trafford. Last season's 1-0 win at the Theatre of Dreams was their first Premier League victory in front of a crowd at United since 2006.

Arteta's men are back in action at the Emirates before the March international break, facing off against a slumping Chelsea outfit. Enzo Maresca's Blues are in disarray and will be striker-less for their trip to north London with Nicolas Jackson likely out until April. They've lost three of their previous four, and many of the players have ghastly memories of recent visits to the Emirates.

Fulham remain an awkward opponent for the Premier League's better teams, holding Arsenal to a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture, but their inconsistency against sides in and around them in the table has so far prevented them from climbing into the European spots. They visit north London at the start of April, aiming to continue their impressive recent record against the Gunners.

Everton offered Arsenal optimism by pegging their Merseyside rivals back in the final derby at Goodison, and the Gunners visit the iconic ground one last time on 5 April.