The 11 days which could decide the Premier League title

By Gerard Brand

The previous Super Sunday may have seen all top-four sides playing each other, but there are plenty more vital weekends to come in the race for the Premier League title.

Position-wise, the weekend ended as it began, but Leicester's lead has now been cut to two points from Tottenham and Arsenal, while Manchester City remain six points off the lead in fourth place.

But what key games and match days could swing the battle in different directions? Here, we look at potential dates to mark in your diary for what looks to be a dramatic four-horse race for the Premier League crown.

Sunday, February 28

  • Manchester United v Arsenal - 2.05pm, live on Sky Sports 1 HD
  • Tottenham v Swansea - 2.05pm

Just five days after playing their home leg of the Champions League last 16 against Barcelona, Arsenal travel north to Old Trafford to face a Manchester United side who have lost just three times in their last 18 meetings.

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Image: Alexis Sanchez celebrates during Arsenal's 3-0 win over Manchester United

But Louis van Gaal will have October's 3-0 defeat at the Emirates fresh in his memory, and with fourth place looking less and less likely for his side, Arsenal could capitalise.

Meanwhile, Tottenham face a home clash against Swansea, their fourth game in 11 days and three days after their Europa League round-of-32 second-leg clash at home to Fiorentina. 

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Spurs have won two, drawn three and lost one of their six post-Europa League games in the top flight, but the latter stage could take its toll on Mauricio Pochettino's side.

Wednesday, March 2

  • Liverpool v Manchester City - 7.45pm
  • Arsenal v Swansea - 7.45pm
  • West Ham v Tottenham - 7.45pm

Leicester face West Brom at home on the Tuesday, before tricky trips for Manchester City and Tottenham. City travel to Anfield three days after their Capital One Cup meeting at Wembley, while Spurs go to West Ham, a London derby the Hammers will certainly be up for.

Image: Harry Kane scored twice as Tottenham beat West Ham 4-1 earlier in the season

Arsenal, meanwhile, host Swansea at the Emirates, having lost to the Welsh side four times in their last 11 meetings home and away.

Saturday, 5 March

  • Tottenham v Arsenal - 12.45pm
  • Manchester City v Aston Villa - 3pm
  • Watford v Leicester - 5.30pm, live on Sky Sports 1 HD

Three days later, White Hart Lane will be preparing itself for what could be the biggest north London derby in decades on Saturday lunchtime, while up north Manchester City will be hosting lowly Aston Villa at 3pm.

Current leaders Leicester go to Watford on Saturday Night Football, with the Hornets looking to avenge the 2-1 defeat at the King Power Stadium in November.

Image: Spurs and Arsenal played out a 1-1 draw in November's north London derby

Saturday, 19 March

  • Everton v Arsenal - 12.45pm
  • Crystal Palace v Leicester - 3pm
  • Tottenham v Bournemouth - 3pm

Three days after their Champions League last-16 second leg at the Nou Camp against Barcelona, Arsenal then travel to the ever-unpredictable Everton, where they have not won in their last three visits.

Spurs host Bournemouth having beaten them 5-0 earlier in the season, while Leicester go to Palace, who are currently on a nine-game winless streak. Will Alan Pardew's men be back on the up come March 19?

Sunday, 20 March

  • Manchester City v Manchester United - 4pm, live on Sky Sports 1 HD

Manchester City are yet to win against any of the current top five sides in the Premier League, but will have had a five-day break following their Champions League last-16 second-leg tie at Dynamo Kiev to prepare themselves.

United themselves may be low on energy at the Etihad if they make it through to the Europa League last 16, the second leg of which they would have played three days before. To add, United have not won at the Etihad since Sir Alex Ferguson left the club in 2013.

Image: United and City also played out a goalless draw in their return game this season

Weekend of April 2 (times TBC)

  • Arsenal v Watford
  • Leicester v Southampton
  • Liverpool v Tottenham
  • Bournemouth v Manchester City

Tottenham face the toughest test of the weekend with a trip to Liverpool, where they have not won in their last four meetings, while Leicester host Southampton at the King Power Stadium.

Arsenal are at home to Watford, while Manchester City go to the south coast to face Bournemouth - both sides won 3-0 and 5-1 respectively in their previous fixtures earlier in the season.

Weekend of April 9 (times TBC)

  • Tottenham v Manchester United
  • Manchester City v West Brom
  • West Ham v Arsenal
  • Sunderland v Leicester

Arsenal are the next to take the tricky trip across London to Upton Park for their last-ever meeting at the ground, and the Hammers at this stage have lost only two of their six games against the current top five.

Tottenham host Manchester United at White Hart Lane, which could come just days after a potential Europa League quarter-final first leg for both sides, while City host West Brom and Leicester go to relegation-threatened Sunderland.

Image: Current leaders Leicester have a tough run-in going into the final three games

Weekend of April 16 (times TBC)

  • Chelsea v Manchester City
  • Arsenal v Crystal Palace
  • Leicester v West Ham
  • Stoke v Tottenham

Current champions Chelsea will want to dent Manchester City's title bid at Stamford Bridge on the weekend of April 16, but City know what it is like to see off the Blues having put in a superb performance back in August at the Etihad to win 3-0.

Leicester and Spurs face tricky games, against West Ham (H) and Stoke (A) respectively, while Arsenal host Crystal Palace, a side they have not lost against since October 1994, 11 meetings ago. 

Weekend of April 30 (times TBC)

  • Manchester United v Leicester
  • Chelsea v Tottenham
  • Southampton v Manchester City
  • Arsenal v Norwich

Leicester start their tricky final three-game stint by travelling to Old Trafford, who could be firmly out of the top-four race by April 30, while Chelsea again have the opportunity to have their belated say on the title race as they host London rivals Spurs at the Bridge.

City go to Southampton, a side they have lost just once against in their last 10 meetings, and Arsenal have another favourable home game against Norwich, though the Canaries, currently sitting clear of the drop zone on goal difference, could be fighting for every point by the end of April.

Image: Tottenham and Chelsea drew 0-0 earlier in the season at White Hart Lane

Weekend of May 7 (times TBC)

  • Manchester City v Arsenal
  • Leicester v Everton
  • Tottenham v Southampton

The only two sides in the four-horse title race to have previously won a Premier League title go head-to-head in what should be a mammoth encounter at the Etihad Stadium. Arsenal got the better of City at the Emirates in December, winning 2-1 just before Christmas, and have now not lost in five against Manuel Pellegrini's men.

In the background, Leicester host Everton, where they won 3-2 earlier in the season, and Spurs host Pochettino's former side Southampton at the Lane.

May 16 (times TBC)

  • Chelsea v Leicester
  • Arsenal v Aston Villa
  • Newcastle v Tottenham
  • Swansea v Manchester City

The final day of the season sees Arsenal as the only side with home comforts, and against current bottom side Aston Villa to boot. Villa have won three times in their nine Premier League visits to the Emirates, but are odds-on to be mathematically relegated by the final day of the season.

Image: Leicester go to Chelsea on the final day of the season

Chelsea again get involved, hosting Leicester, the side who triggered the sacking of Jose Mourinho in December following their 2-1 win. 

Tottenham, looking for a first title since 1961, take the long trip to St James' Park to play Newcastle, who could well need something themselves to secure safety, and City take another long trip, this time to Swansea. City have lost just once against the Swans in their nine Premier League meetings, winning seven. 

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