Arsenal and
Liverpool are not just battling
Manchester City in the title race - they’re battling history. Seven-time
Premier League winners City have not lost a title race in the years since Sheikh Mansour bought the club in 2008. They won in 2012, 2014, 2019 and 2022 on the final day and overhauled Arsenal’s eight-point lead to win by five points last season. They won by a massive 19 points in 2018 to lift their first title under
Pep Guardiola when they garnered a record 100 points. City also walked the title three years later in 2021 when they finished 12 points clear of second-placed
Manchester United. The other seasons since 2012 when City did not win the title - 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2020 - they were not in contention. So City are the last team anyone wants to see in their rear-view mirror as they attempt to win a title race. Watch the Premier League title race with the best Sky Sports deals Liverpool to make Trent Alexander-Arnold move once they confirm Jurgen Klopp replacement They can hold off teams, like they did to Liverpool in 2022, despite dropping points and can win from behind as they did in 2012, 2014, 2019 and 2023. The weight of history weighs even heavier on
Arsenal and Liverpool and none of the Gunners’ three titles under Arsene Wenger were won on the final day. The record books show Arsenal only won by a point from United in 1998, but they sealed the title against Everton with two games to spare. They won by seven points in 2002 and the Invincibles by 11 points in 2004 as they finished the campaign unbeaten. Liverpool have to look deep into their history to find their last final-day success and that was in 1986 when Kenny Dalglish’s side won at
Chelsea to pip Everton to the old First Division title. Their 1988, 1990 and 2020 triumphs were much more comfortable and were sealed long before the final day. Instead Liverpool can only reflect on disappointments and they collapsed to finish third in a two-horse race in 1997 and were second to Arsenal in 2002. Pep Guardiola knows how to win the Premier League title ( Image: Getty Images) Their 2009 campaign was painful and they were ahead in January, when manager Rafa Benitez delivered his famous “facts” rant at United, only to lose to their most-bitter rivals by four points. There was more misery for the Merseysiders and they lost on the final day to City in 2014, 2019 and 2022. Each of those losses was painful and the Reds lost by two points in 2014, after Steven Gerrard slipped and they were defeated at home to Chelsea with three games remaining, and by a point in 2019 when they finished with a ridiculous 97 points. Liverpool’s loss in 2022 was almost cruel and they were heading for the title as City trailed Aston Villa 2-0 with just 14 minutes remaining, before the Blues scored three late goals to win the game and the title. This - and not just City - is what Arsenal and Liverpool are up against in this most-exciting of title races. Join our new
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