The stage was set for Liverpool to take complete control of the Premier League title race after Arsenal and Chelsea dropped points away from home on Saturday.
The league leaders the Reds welcomed a Manchester United side on the back of four consecutive defeats at Anfield on Sunday afternoon, knowing victory would see them extend their lead at the top to eight points with a game in the hand
Former United captain Roy Keane predicted a rout before kick-off but the stern Irishman was quick to praise the level of competition shown by the Red Devils once Michael Oliver brought a The breathless Premier League battle is over.
Liverpool eventually escaped with a point thanks to Harry Maguire’s last-gasp miss, offering hope to their title rivals. The Reds remain in a commanding position, but they haven’t retired yet.
Here’s how Opta’s supercomputer projects the Premier League final table to watch for the weekend’s action.
|
position |
team |
Expected points |
|---|---|---|
|
1. |
Liverpool |
87.24 |
|
2. |
arsenal |
78.14 |
|
3. |
Man City |
69.53 |
|
4. |
Chelsea |
68.77 |
|
5. |
Newcastle |
63.10 |
|
6. |
Nottingham Forest |
60.79 |
|
7. |
Aston Villa |
57.82 |
|
8. |
Bournemouth |
56.98 |
|
9. |
Fulham |
53.39 |
|
10. |
Brighton |
52.65 |
|
11. |
Tottenham |
52.02 |
|
12. |
Man Utd |
50.58 |
|
13. |
Brentford |
48.72 |
|
14. |
West Ham |
46.12 |
|
15. |
Crystal Palace |
45.06 |
|
16. |
everton |
38.17 |
|
17. |
Wolves |
34.39 |
|
18. |
Ipswich |
31.36 |
|
19. |
Leicester |
29.94 |
|
20 |
Southampton |
7:00 p.m |
Opta don’t believe Liverpool will continue at their current pace, but they don’t foresee any major downside either. Liverpool would take 92 points on their current run, but the supercomputer predicts the Reds will lift second. Premier League title with a total of 87.
However, Opta has little hope for a competitive race to the top. Liverpool’s closest competitors are flawed or plagued by key injuries. As a result, arsenalwho have a 10.23% chance of winning the league, are predicted to finish just ten points adrift in second place. Manchester City, who signaled either side of New Year’s Day that they have rediscovered stability and composure after their prolonged malaise ruled them out of the title race, are now tipped to finish third.
City’s expected 69.53 points would comfortably be the lowest in the Pep Guardiola era. Still, they are backed to finish ahead Chelseawhose struggles over the festive period appear to have spilled over into 2025. The Blues are more likely to be battling rivals for a top-four finish rather than a league challenge, but Opta suggest they will feature a good cushion over fifth-placed Newcastle. when all is said and done.
Nottingham Forest’s remarkable season may be winding down for a bit, but a European place for 2025/26 is not out of their reach. His projected 60.79 points would be his best Premier League return.
Opta is not optimistic that Tottenham or Man Utd will resurrect their respective campaigns, with the latter set to endure their least productive season in the Premier League era. Spurs are also on course for their lowest points tally since 2008/09, a campaign bounced back by Harry Redknapp after starting the off-season bottom of the table with Juande Ramos.
The supercomputer only predicts wolves and potentially everton will be dragged into the relegation battle with Ipswich, but all three newly promoted clubs will eventually return to the Championship. Southampton’s projected total of 19 points would be the joint-fifth worst return in Premier League history.
Wolves will escape the drop by a three-point margin, with Kieran McKenna’s Tractor Boys succumbing to the second tier with an expected 31.36 points.
