Manchester City fixtures: Premier League title race run in schedule as champions battle with Liverpool

Pep Guardiola’s side are neck-a-neck with Liverpool in one of the tightest league campaigns in history

Manchester City and Liverpool are contesting one of the tightest title races of recent years this season.

Pep Guardiola’s side won their third Premier League trophy at a canter last season, finishing 19 points above Manchester United to claim their fifth league title overall.

However, they have met stern resistance this season from Liverpool, who, having invested in the likes of Virgil van Dijk last season, have found the balance to support their relentless trident of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino.

Jurgen Klopp’s men have gone almost 30 years without lifting a league title but their scintillating start to the season saw them go unbeaten in their first 20 top-flight games, including a draw at Anfield against Guardiola’s side.

That run came to an end when they were beaten by City in January, but the sides are now embroiled in a much more fruitful battle at the top end of the Premier League.

Match 27: Chelsea (H) – Sunday February 10, 4pm – Live on Sky Sports

City’s penultimate home game against a top-six side, Maurizio Sarri’s side handed the champions their first Premier League defeat of the season at Stamford Bridge in December.

Match 28: West Ham United (H) – Wednesday February 27, 8pm – Live on BT Sport 1

Guardiola’s side comfortable swept West Ham aside at the London Stadium in November with a 4-0 win, and they will be looking for a repeat performance here.

Match 29: Bournemouth (A) – Saturday March 2, 3pm

It took a goal in the seventh minute of injury time from Raheem Sterling to secure the points for City at the Vitality Stadium last season, so the champions will be looking for an outing similar to their 3-1 win over the Cherries in December.

Match 30: Watford (H) – Saturday March 9, 5:30pm

City have managed 11 goals in their last three matches against Javi Gracia’s men, but it took two goals in 11 minutes in December to secure victory at Vicarage Road.

Match 31: Manchester United (A) – Saturday March 16, 12:30pm

Arguably City’s toughest fixture of the run-in against a rejuvenated Manchester United under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Guardiola will hope his team assert similar dominance that saw them run out 3-1 winners against the Red Devils in November at the Etihad.

Match 32: Fulham (A) – Saturday 30 March, 12:30pm

Fulham conceded four on City’s last visit to Craven Cottage and Pep Guardiola will hope to see his side run rampant against one of the league’s relegation candidates.

Match 33: Cardiff City (H) – Saturday April 6, 3pm

Handing out a 5-0 drubbing to the Bluebirds at the Cardiff City Stadium in September, Guardiola will be confident of completing a double over the visitors.

Match 34: Crystal Palace (A) – Saturday April 13, 3pm

Guardiola will no doubt be wary of Roy Hodgson’s men after they shocked City with a 3-2 win at the Etihad during the festive period, a game which will be remembered for Andros Townsend’s stunning volley.

Match 35: Tottenham Hotspur (H) – Saturday April 20, 3pm

City have an excellent recent record against Spurs, winning all three of their previous league meetings, but the visitors hold a persistent threat and did take all three points at the Etihad on Valentine’s Day in 2016.

Match 36: Burnley (A) – Saturday April 27, 3pm

An 82nd minute equaliser from Johann Gudmundsson denied City all three points at Turf Moor last season, but Burnley’s inconsistent form at home this season could result in a more comfortable afternoon in Lancashire for City.

Match 37: Leicester City (H) – Saturday May 4, 3pm

A side City have so far failed to beat in 90 minutes this season in two meetings, Claude Puel’s men were knocked out on penalties by the champions in the EFL Cup quarter-finals but avenged their defeat a week later by beating City 2-1 in the league on Boxing Day.

Match 38: Brighton & Hove Albion (A) – Saturday May 12, 3pm

City will attempt to lift back-to-back titles for the first time in their history when they make the trip to the south coast to a ground where they triumphed last season thanks to two goals in the final twenty minutes.