Manchester City are set for a critical test against Brighton, as they aim to stay in the hunt for a top-four finish in the Premier League. Arsenal’s faint hopes of winning the title will be all but extinguished if they lose to Chelsea, while Wolves have a chance to move closer to survival.
Ruben Dias has urged Manchester City to make a final push to secure Champions League qualification after a disappointing season. With City sitting in fifth, two points behind fourth-placed Chelsea and just one ahead of seventh-placed Brighton, Dias knows the importance of their upcoming games, starting with Brighton’s visit to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
“We have got to push and do our best,” said Dias, acknowledging the challenges ahead. City’s failure to finish in the top four would end their run of 14 consecutive Champions League appearances.
Meanwhile, Arsenal’s slim chances of winning the Premier League will almost certainly disappear if they fail to beat Chelsea on Sunday. After three straight league defeats, the Gunners have seen Liverpool extend their lead at the top, making it increasingly likely that Arsenal will miss out on the title. However, Arsenal’s Champions League campaign remains alive with a quarter-final clash against Real Madrid on the horizon.
Boss Mikel Arteta remains focused on keeping their title challenge alive, though the likelihood of catching Liverpool grows slimmer. A win against Chelsea would bring them within 12 points of the leaders.
Also, Wolves manager Vitor Pereira is confident his side can extend their Premier League stay, as they aim for a crucial win over bottom club Southampton on Saturday. With Wolves sitting six points above the relegation zone, a victory at St Mary’s would provide a massive boost in their fight for survival. Pereira expressed confidence in his team’s spirit and quality ahead of their survival showdown.
Fixtures:
Saturday (1500 GMT unless stated)
Everton v West Ham
Ipswich v Nottingham Forest
Manchester City v Brighton
Southampton v Wolves
Bournemouth v Brentford (1730)
Sunday (1330 GMT unless stated)
Arsenal v Chelsea
Fulham v Tottenham
Leicester v Manchester United (1900)
