Liverpool and Manchester City's titanic battle could yet see them play each other in an unprecedented Premier League play-off scenario.
The two teams have set an extremely high bar once more and are streaks ahead of the chasing pack. They are now battling to the finish line, with Liverpool level on points having played a game more following their win over Aston Villa on Tuesday night.
City have the chance to respond when they face Wolves at Molineux on Wednesday, aiming to reestablish their three-point cushion at the top. Liverpool are reliant on their rivals losing a game in their final three outings if they are to claw back the deficit.
Pep Guardiola's side hold the advantage, both in points and goal difference, helped by their 5-0 win over Newcastle on Sunday. However, come the evening of May 22, if the two teams are level on points, goal difference, goals scored and in the head-to-head results between them, then a play-off will be needed.
City and Liverpool played out two highly entertaining 2-2 draws this term, highlighting how finely matched they are. Such a predicament would leave Premier League chiefs planning for another game, which has never before been the case. There has not yet been any formal planning, but it is believed that the most likely provisional date for any contest is May 25.
That date is earmarked because the two teams would need at least 48 hours following their matches on the Sunday. That would seriously disrupt Liverpool's preparation for the Champions League, which takes place on the Saturday. They face Real Madrid in Paris eyeing a second European triumph in four years.
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However with the football calendar so stacked there are few other dates that work. City's Oleksandr Zinchenko is needed by Ukraine for their World Cup play-off semi with Scotland on June 1 and, should they win that, the potential final against Wales four days later.
It means any game in the week following the Champions League final would be out of the question. Other international calls would then interfere, with games being played across the world from June 5 onwards. City and Liverpool were previously involved in a mammoth title race back in 2018/19.
On that occasion Guardiola's side, who registered 98 points, edged out Liverpool by a point following a final day win at Brighton and Hove Albion. City's final three games see them face Wolves, West Ham and Aston Villa. The Reds meanwhile face Southampton and Wolves.
