Why Tottenham and Fulham could hold key to Liverpool’s title race revival vs Man City

So dominant have Manchester City traditionally been during this final run-in of the season that their two-point lead at the top of the Premier League is being depicted as unassailable.

The champions have not suffered a league defeat since December 6, some 17 fixtures ago, and have conceded two goals in a game just once in the past 12 top-flight outings. The same statistic can be applied to Liverpool, but they have picked up just eight points in their last five matches, which is three fewer than City.

But as the dust settles on a weekend that also saw Arsenal succumb to Aston Villa as well as Liverpool's loss to Crystal Palace, the realisation will hit home that there is still a lot of time for things to change. With six fixtures to go, plus FA Cup and Champions League involvement, City have many plates to spin.

READ MORE: Liverpool are giving Jurgen Klopp and his replacement big problems in two areas

READ MORE: Jurgen Klopp gives blunt Premier League title verdict after Liverpool defeat

Of course, Pep Guardiola is well-versed in this having won the Treble last season but to suggest the title is his right now is premature. Their next Premier League game away at Brighton may be seen by many as a banana skin.

However, the Seagulls have only won two of their last five home games and look like their Europa League campaign has taken the steam out of their season. Nottingham Forest away three days later is perhaps the bigger banana skin given the club's fight against relegation.

Should Man City get past Real Madrid in the Champions League, the last remaining month of the season gets intense. Three days after the visit to Forest on April 28 comes the first leg of their potential European semi-final.

Wolves at home then follows on May 4 before the semi-final second leg - possibly away in Germany or against Arsenal - takes place the subsequent midweek, probably on May 8. Then come the final three Premier League fixtures of the season.

Of course, City will be favourites against Fulham away on May 11 but the Cottagers have produced a number of significant results this season. Marco Silva has masterminded wins over Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham, having also recorded two 5-0 wins at home.

They could head into the fixture high on confidence too with Crystal Palace and Brentford the two preceding fixtures for a rested squad.

Then comes perhaps the last chance of Liverpool hoping for a City slip-up, and Guardiola will be mindful of the visit to Tottenham on May 14, the penultimate league game ahead of the final day clash at home to West Ham.

He said earlier this season that his goal for this year is to “beat Spurs away”, having failed to do so in the league since April 2021. City have won just one of their past five meetings with Tottenham and drew 3-3 with them in December's clash.

Add in the fact that the holders will have made the trip to Fulham a few days earlier with possible FA Cup and Champions League finals on the mind, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium could be the bane of their league campaign.

All this said, Liverpool themselves need to do the business and Arsenal will also be required to have another blip given their superior goal difference essentially acts as another half-point. The Gunners - also in the Champions League quarter-finals - arguably have the hardest run-in with Chelsea, Tottenham and Man United still to play.

Liverpool have an away Merseyside derby to contest against strugglers Everton, as well as West Ham, Aston Villa and Tottenham themselves, against whom a result could be pivotal.

Jurgen Klopp could still yet get a final hurrah with so much time left on the clock but Liverpool may need to go unblemished for the rest of the season.