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Manchester Metropolis and Liverpool’s Premier League title race is about to go all the way down to the wire – however simply how shut are we to seeing a playoff for the title?

It has by no means occurred earlier than, however with simply two video games to go and three factors separating Metropolis and Liverpool, it stays potential this season’s title race could possibly be determined by a one-off match following the conclusion of the league season. What a prospect.

There may be additionally a state of affairs which may see Arsenal and Tottenham having their very own playoff to resolve who qualifies for subsequent season’s Champions League.

Earlier than we get into the precise outcomes wanted for this to occur, listed below are the Premier League guidelines for figuring out desk place:

• If two groups are stage on factors, aim distinction could be the deciding issue.
• If the aim distinction was equal, objectives scored would decide which aspect finishes larger.
• If the golf equipment nonetheless can’t be separated, the workforce with the least factors in head-to-head matches within the Premier League season would end decrease.
• If the document is identical, the membership scoring the upper variety of objectives because the away workforce in head-to-head matches would end larger.
• If none of those standards can separate the groups, there could be a playoff at a impartial floor – the format, the timing and venue of which might be decided by the Premier League Board.

What must occur for a PL title playoff?

As Metropolis and Liverpool drew each of their head-to-head encounters 2-2 this season – in maybe two of essentially the most enthralling contests of the Premier League marketing campaign – they can’t be separated in that regard, which leaves us with the virtually inconceivable chance of a playoff for the title.

A last, because it have been, to resolve the champions of England. Heady stuff.

It could, after all, take a quite exact string of outcomes to succeed in such an finish aim.

However, with Liverpool dealing with a Southampton aspect that has shipped 4 objectives or extra on three events because the begin of March, and Metropolis’s centre-back accidents piling up forward of Sunday’s journey to West Ham, you by no means know.

Here’s a state of affairs which might see the groups end utterly stage:

• Metropolis are crushed 2-0 at West Ham on Sunday, with Liverpool thrashing Southampton 4-0 on the next Tuesday.
• Earlier than on the ultimate day, Metropolis edge previous Steven Gerrard’s Aston Villa with a 2-1 win, whereas Liverpool beat Wolves 2-0.

The place wouldn’t it be held?

One would assume such a recreation would happen at Wembley, the house of soccer. However the Premier League handbook fails to enter that element. Maybe as a result of nobody anticipated we’d ever get to the purpose whereby, after 38 league video games throughout an entire season, two groups couldn’t be separated.

The choice over impartial location, as stipulated by the rulebook, could be decided by the Premier League Board.

That leaves the chance – a daunting one for Manchester United followers – {that a} Premier League title playoff between Metropolis and Liverpool may happen at Previous Trafford, with each groups based mostly within the North West.

When wouldn’t it occur?

The primary out there weekend following the Premier League’s conclusion is Could 28/29, however Liverpool are unavailable on these days as they’re enjoying Actual Madrid within the Champions League last.

That would go away the primary weekend of June as the perfect possibility for the golf equipment, however it could additionally rely on the out there dates of the specified impartial venue.

What a couple of fourth-place playoff?

Thursday’s north London derby between Tottenham and Arsenal – stay on Sky Sports activities – is already being billed as a decider for who earns the fitting to play Champions League soccer subsequent season.

However there’s a distant chance we may see one other one-off decider for fourth earlier than the marketing campaign is over.

It does, nonetheless, rely completely on the end result of Thursday’s derby.

Because the head-to-head document of the 2 groups is likely one of the deciding components, Thursday’s match on the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium must finish in a 3-1 house win. Simply because it did on the Emirates in September.

That end result, although, would go away Tottenham nonetheless a degree behind Arsenal, however with a aim distinction superior to that of their rivals by 10, having scored six extra objectives – making it virtually an impossibility for the 2 groups to complete equal on factors, aim distinction and objectives scored.

For example, if Spurs have been to win 3-1 on Thursday, that is an instance of the outcomes it could take to succeed in a playoff state of affairs:

• Arsenal lose 4-3 to Newcastle, whereas Spurs are held to a stalemate by Burnley.
• And on the ultimate day, Arsenal would want to thrash Everton 5-0, with Tottenham shedding 8-2 to relegated Norwich.