When can Liverpool win the Premier League title? Man City v Arsenal postponement pushes date back
Klopp’s leaders must wait until at least Monday’s Merseyside derby
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Your support makes all the difference.Liverpool will have to wait until at least Monday’s Merseyside derby at Goodison Park to win the Premier League title due to the postponement of Manchester City's meeting with Arsenal.
The postponement of Wednesday's match at the Etihad due to fears over the coronavirus outbreak has pushed any potential title win further back for Jurgen Klopp’s side.
Liverpool are currently 25 points clear at the top and could have been crowned champions without kicking a ball had second-place City lost to Arsenal and then at home to Burnley on Saturday.
But the postponement means that the earliest they can end their 30-year-wait for a domestic title is Monday, if City lose to Burnley and the leaders then beat Everton in the 236th Merseyside derby.
City’s Wednesday night fixture was postponed after Arsenal identified that a number of their players had met Evangelos Marinakis, the Olympiakos owner, who has contracted Covid-19.
Marinakis visited the Emirates when Arsenal hosted Olympiakos in the Europa League 13 days ago and met with several players and staff members of the north London club.
Arsenal said that, according to medical advice, the risk of those who met Marinakis contracting the coronavirus was “extremely low”.
But government guidelines recommend that those who come into close contact with someone who has the virus must self-isolate at home for 14 days from the time of contact.
The players in question and four members of staff will now complete the one remaining day of their self-isolation period, making them unavailable to take part against City.
Arsenal, City and Premier League officials held discussions throughout Tuesday and duly announced the postponement of their Etihad meeting in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Remaining fixtures
16/03 Everton (A)
21/03 Crystal Palace (H)
05/04 Manchester City (A)
12/04 Aston Villa (H)
20/04 Brighton (A)
25/04 Burnley (H)
02/05 Arsenal (A)
09/05 Chelsea (H)
17/05 Newcastle (A)
It is the first top-flight game in English football to be affected by the coronavirus outbreak, as organisers continue to allow matches to be played in front of crowds as normal.
The Premier League said that there are currently no plans to postpone further fixtures, with a full complement of games scheduled for this weekend.
Liverpool require only two wins to secure their first top-flight domestic title since 1990, though face the possibility of doing so behind closed doors due to the virus outbreak.
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