Liverpool’s march to the Premier League title is becoming increasingly inevitable, with the Reds now 13 points clear at the top of the table. Following their 2-0 win over Newcastle on Wednesday, Liverpool’s lead has grown to a seemingly insurmountable margin. No team in English top-flight history has ever been this far clear at this stage of the season and not gone on to win the title.
The Reds have only lost once in the league all season, and their latest win has left second-placed Arsenal facing an uphill battle to catch up. Arsenal have dropped points in each of their past two games, including a goalless draw with Nottingham Forest. Liverpool boss Arne Slot remains cautious, however, saying, “It is still a long way to go, 10 games.”
Former Liverpool winger Steve McManaman believes that Liverpool are “unstoppable” and “in cruise control.” He added, “Everyone else is falling away and helping them.” The Reds’ dominance has led to speculation about when they might seal the title. Statisticians Opta say it is 98.7% likely that Liverpool will win the title, with Arsenal’s chances standing at just 1.3%.
If Liverpool maintain their 13-point lead, they could wrap up the title with four games to spare on April 26 against Tottenham. Alternatively, if Arsenal win their game in hand and match Liverpool’s results, the Reds could seal the title the following weekend against Chelsea. In that scenario, their first game as champions would be a home match against Arsenal, who may be forced to give them a guard of honor.
Liverpool’s progress in the Champions League, Carabao Cup final, and international break mean that they only play one league game in March. The earliest that Liverpool could mathematically win the title would be in the first week of April. To achieve this, they would need to win their next three games, while Arsenal would have to lose their next four matches.
If Liverpool do go on to win the title, they could break several records in the process. They would need to extend their lead at the top by seven points to record the biggest margin of victory in a Premier League season. Manchester City currently hold the record, having finished 19 points clear of Manchester United in 2017-18.
