Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool are locked in a thrilling three-way battle for the Premier League title with just six games to go.

Pep Guardiola’s reigning champions sit two points clear at the top after their rivals slipped up at the weekend, with Mikel Arteta’s Gunners and Jurgen Klopp’s Reds separated only by goal difference.

Here, the PA news agency looks at the top-flight run-in and what promises to be a dramatic finale.

Manchester City (First, played 32, points 73, goal difference 44)

Run-in: Brighton (a), Nottingham Forest (a), Wolves (h), Fulham (a), Tottenham (a), West Ham (h).

In-form City are seeking to become champions for the fourth year in a row and chasing back-to-back trebles. A perfect weekend for Guardiola’s side, which included a 5-1 thrashing of Luton, put those quests back on track. City are unbeaten since December, dropping just eight points from a possible 51 during that time. Star striker Erling Haaland may not have hit the heights of his debut season but is still the division’s leading scorer, while Kevin De Bruyne’s return to fitness following an injury-hit spell has provided a timely boost. City, who are preparing for Wednesday’s Champions League quarter-final second leg against Real Madrid, are now odds-on favourites for title glory and, according to Guardiola, thriving under the pressure.

Arsenal (Second, played 32, points 71, goal difference 49)

Run-in: Wolves (a), Chelsea (h), Tottenham (a), Bournemouth (h), Manchester United (a), Everton (h).

Arsenal are at risk of experiencing deja vu. The Gunners topped the table for much of last season before falling away in the final weeks. Arteta’s men were unbeaten in 2024 – winning 10 of 11 league fixtures – before Sunday’s damaging 2-0 home defeat to Aston Villa saw them surrender first place. Arsenal face arguably the toughest run-in of the three contenders. After playing their Champions League quarter-final second leg away to Bayern Munich on Wednesday, they still have to face London rivals Chelsea and Tottenham and take on Manchester United at Old Trafford. Manager Arteta is fortunate to have few injury issues and will be desperate to prevent a campaign which promised so much fizzling out.

Liverpool (Third, played 32, points 71, goal difference 41)

Run-in: Fulham (a), Everton (a), West Ham (a), Tottenham (h), Aston Villa (a), Wolves (h).

Reds boss Klopp is reliant on favours from elsewhere to enjoy a fairytale end to his nine-year Anfield reign following a shock home defeat to Crystal Palace. Aside from game week 28, Liverpool led the division for more than three months between Boxing Day and early April before losing momentum. The 19-time English champions, who this week travel to Italy seeking to overturn a 3-0 aggregate deficit against Atalanta in the last eight of the Europa League, have three successive away matches coming up, including a Merseyside derby at Goodison Park. Klopp knows his side can afford few, if any, further wobbles if he is to add to the top-flight title won in 2020 before moving on in the summer.

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Man Utd legend 'in talks' over Arsenal coaching role
Mikel Arteta may bring a former Man Utd star into his coaching team
Talks are said to have begun with former Red Devils defender Gabriel Heinze
Arteta has previously welcomed the talent of Nicolas Jover and Inaki Cana to his coaching department

By Katie Catherall
Apr 15, 2024
Arteta may bring Heinze into his coaching team
Arteta may bring Heinze into his coaching team / Andrew Redington/GettyImages
Mikel Arteta could welcome a former Manchester United defender to his backroom staff as Gabriel Heinze is reportedly in talks with Arsenal's coaching department.

The Gunners boss has previously welcomed set-piece coach Nicolas Jover from Manchester City and goalkeeper coach Inaki Cana from Brentford to bolster his backroom staff. With success showing on the pitch from these appointments, Arsenal could soon offer a position to Heinze, who enjoyed successful spells at United and Real Madrid.

Despite being just 45-years-old, Heinze has already managed five different clubs, with his most recent appointment being with Newell's Old Boys for 50 games.

ESPN Argentina report that Arteta and Heinze were seen at a youth match in Madrid together, and since have both travelled to London.

Heinze is said to be weighing up the chance to join Arsenal's coaching staff or continue his own managerial career in his native Argentina.

Gabriel Heinze
Heinze most recently managed Newell's Old Boys / Marcelo Endelli/GettyImages
Several of Arsenal's current coaches have been linked with a move away this summer, with the squad impressing in both the Premier and Champions League.

Arteta currently relies on Albert Stuivenberg and Carlos Cuesta as two of his main assistants at the Emirates. Stuivenberg is expected to depart and become a manager himself, with links to the Ajax job on the cards, whereas Cuesta has been linked to Norwich City.

The Spanish boss will now be on the lookout for someone to fill the vacant backroom seats and is believed to favour former Paris Saint-Germain teammate Heinze. The pair played together during the 2001/02 season and are said to have maintained a strong relationship since.

Reports also state that Heinze has a number of positions on offer, including taking over Argentinian top flight side San Lorenzo as manager.

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Titles, promotions and relegations on the line in Tuesday’s EFL action

Portsmouth have another chance to clinch promotion, with two league titles and two relegations also at stake in Tuesday’s EFL action.

Here, the PA news agency looks at the issues that could be decided in the bottom two tiers.

League One

Portsmouth need only a point to rubber-stamp their promotion and can also clinch the title by beating Barnsley.

Should the Tykes win, they would be secure in the play-offs – as would Peterborough with at least a point.

Posh play Fleetwood, who will be relegated if they fail to match Burton’s result. The Brewers take on fellow strugglers Cheltenham, whose game in hand will extend their fight until at least Saturday regardless of Tuesday’s outcome.

League Two

Stockport sealed promotion on Saturday and will be crowned champions if they win on Tuesday at Notts County.

Mansfield will clinch the remaining automatic promotion place if they beat Accrington. A draw would leave them six points clear of MK Dons with only six to play for and a goal difference superior by 28.

Victory for Colchester, one place above the drop zone, over Grimsby would see Forest Green relegated from the EFL without playing. Any other result would seal Grimsby’s survival and leave the bottom three – completed by Sutton – fighting to avoid the two relegation places.