Manchester City: the perfect opportunists. Just about a month ago, Manchester City could hardly have dreamed of their current position. At one point, the gap between them and league leaders Arsenal was 10 points.

However, their victory in the League Cup final at Wembley reignited manager Pep Guardiola’s side, giving them momentum and belief at a crucial time, at Arsenal’s expense. Yesterday’s 2-1 win at the Etihad Stadium narrowed the gap to three points and one goal difference unit, with Manchester City still having one game in hand.

April has consistently been Manchester City's most prolific month under Guardiola, both in terms of average points and win rate. This trend is repeating this season. If they defeat relegated-bound Burnley by two goals or more midweek, the Manchester club will claim the top spot.

Arsenal: letting a golden opportunity slip away? After the match at the Etihad, a banner from Manchester City fans read, "panic on the streets of London", a taunt aimed at their rivals. On the pitch, Erling Haaland, with his hair flowing, sang along to Flo Rida's "Good Feeling" amidst familiar celebrations.

Arsenal had led the league for 201 consecutive days, while Manchester City held that position for only seven days this season. However, this could all change if Manchester City beats Burnley by at least two goals in the early fixture of gameweek 34 on 22/4.

The current events echo the 2022-2023 season, when Arsenal led for 247 days but were ultimately overtaken by Manchester City in the decisive period. Back then, Haaland also contributed to crushing Mikel Arteta’s side’s hopes with a pivotal win in april. Although this time feels somewhat different, as Arsenal did not collapse like in their 1-4 defeat, but instead showed many positive aspects in their play. The title race, therefore, remains in its most intense phase.

Liverpool still relies on veterans. Cody Gakpo deserves praise for his assist that opened the scoring, while Dominik Szoboszlai contributed to the decisive goal in the 2-1 victory away at Everton. However, it was Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk who scored, with the winning goal coming in the 10th minute of stoppage time.

The aforementioned duo faced much criticism earlier in the season when Liverpool's performance was inconsistent. Despite this, in challenging times, they still know how to make a difference. The question remains: who will replace these key players when they no longer wear the Liverpool shirt?

Carrick's center-back gamble. Many were skeptical when manager Michael Carrick decided to deploy Noussair Mazraoui at center-back. The Moroccan defender lacked extensive experience in this role and was paired with 19-year-old teammate Ayden Heaven.

Before kickoff, moving Luke Shaw to the center was considered a more logical option. Even Manuel Ugarte was a plausible choice, having played in this position in a match against Leeds.

But Carrick chose Mazraoui, a truly versatile player. And that decision paid off. The 28-year-old defender played calmly on the ball and was not overly exploited in aerial duels, despite some shaky moments. Mazraoui has played in various defensive positions, even serving as a defensive midfielder, and was once tested as a number 10. But among those "stand-in" performances, this display at center-back was the most impressive.

Chelsea's alarming attack. The 0-1 loss to Manchester United left many negative repercussions for Chelsea. Their chances of securing a Champions League spot are increasingly slim, and the boos at Stamford Bridge were incessant.

Despite this, manager Liam Rosenior still believes his team deserved to win, emphasizing their dominance and the number of times they hit the woodwork. Throughout the match, Chelsea unleashed 21 shots, compared to just 4 from Manchester United.

However, this marks the fourth consecutive match "the blues" have failed to score, a dismal run not seen since 1912. It is not that they lack clear opportunities or only take speculative shots. Chelsea's expected goals (xG) reached 1,55. But their finishing remains an unsolved problem.

Tottenham's hopes fading. This is no longer the time for small signs of progress or a few encouraging indicators. Tottenham needs a turning point, and time is not on their side.

That moment seemed to arrive when Xavi Simons scored a beautiful curling shot, making it 2-1. His passionate celebration with the Spurs fans seemed to signal a turning point for the home team. But Georginio Rutter's equalizer in the final seconds extinguished it all. Tottenham players collapsed on the pitch when the final whistle blew.

In his first home match, manager Roberto De Zerbi could still point to positives. He was right to praise the crowd's support and urged his players not to dwell on a draw that felt like a loss. But the reality is unavoidable: Spurs' chances of survival are shrinking. They have not won any of their last five premier league matches despite opening the scoring. They also have not tasted victory in 2026. This is a team lacking the composure to close out games, despite all their efforts.

The fire has gone out at Newcastle. As the clock ticked towards stoppage time, a Sky Sports commentator predicted the stadium would erupt when nine minutes were announced. But the reality was the opposite—only a few faint murmurs remained as Newcastle fell 1-2.

The home fans understood there would be no comeback at St James' Park. Bournemouth was simply superior. This marks their fourth consecutive defeat across all competitions and their fifth loss in six recent home premier league matches.

What is happening to Newcastle? Under Eddie Howe, they were known for their energetic play and aggressive off-the-ball pressing, similar to current Bournemouth. But now, something is missing, and the English manager himself cannot explain it.

With only five rounds left in the season, Newcastle has dropped to 14th place and continues to decline. Even Leeds could catch up. More concerning is the impact on their long-term project. Will their ambition to compete with Europe's giants be sustained? Whatever the answer, Howe is under more pressure than ever.

Iraola could leave Bournemouth with a European cup ticket. In their first match after manager Andoni Iraola confirmed his departure from the club in the summer, Bournemouth defeated Newcastle 2-1 at St James' Park, extending their unbeaten streak to 13 matches. The dream of qualifying for a European cup next season is entirely plausible.

Bournemouth dominated the first half and did not falter after William Osula's equalizer, before securing the win thanks to Adrien Truffert's attacking run and goal. Their energetic play was both appealing and constantly unsettled opponents.

Iraola will undoubtedly receive many offers after the season, whether from premier league clubs or in his home country of Spain. But not many teams have a better foundation than Bournemouth currently. They have risen to eighth place. If they continue this form, their ascent into the top 6 and nearing a European cup spot for the first time would no longer be a surprise. This would also be a meaningful farewell gift from Iraola.

Hong Duy

Photos: Reuters, AP