Liverpool’s progress in the FA Cup has handed Manchester City an edge in what is becoming another tight Premier League title race. The Anfield outfit beat Norwich 2-1 to book a place in the quarter-finals on March 20, when the Blues are potential opponents - the draw takes place tonight.
But having played in the Carabao Cup final at the weekend, Liverpool are already one fixture behind the Blues in what is starting to look like a fixture pile-up, involving some tasty “double-headers”. City are chasing the Treble of Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup, while Liverpool are on course for a Quadruple, having already bagged the Carabao Cup by beating Chelsea.
The FA Cup quarter-finals take place on the weekend of March 20-21 which means Liverpool’s clash with old enemies Manchester United, scheduled for that weekend, will have to be shifted to a midweek spot, as will City’s home game with Brighton. United are still smarting from the 5-0 pounding handed out by Jurgen Klopp’s side at Old Trafford earlier in the season, and would love to derail their title charge by taking points off them at Anfield.
ALSO READ: How City have handed United the key to a derby upset
And on whichever date the two clubs decide to re-arrange the postponed game, it means Liverpool facing two difficult games in the space of a few days. With both teams still in the Champions League, there are only three midweek slots still available, and all three either follow or precede another huge game for the Scousers.
If they play it on the midweek of April 19-20, it falls between either an FA Cup semi–final or Aston Villa away - depending on whether Liverpool win their quarter-final - and the Merseyside derby against Everton. The alternatives are both in May, which would place even more focus on the meeting of English football’s two most successful clubs.
The first is on the midweek of May 10-11, falling between a tricky home game with Tottenham and either the FA Cup final or another difficult fixture at Southampton. The final option is the following week, which would mean following the FA Cup final or Southampton away, and just days before the final day of the season, when Liverpool face Wolves at home.
City’s fixture schedule is more straightforward. Their re-arranged game with Brighton will also have to take place on one of those three dates, but the way the fixtures have fallen gives pep Guardiola much greater leeway in terms of squad rotation to ease the burden on his players. If the first option is taken, the Brighton game will fall between either an FA Cup semi-final or Wolves away, and a home game with Watford.
If the second is taken, the Seagulls will visit the Etihad between another home game, against Newcastle, and either the FA Cup final or a tricky trip to West Ham. And the final option, between the FA Cup final and last day of the domestic season would mean a trip to either Wembley or the London Stadium beforehand, and a home game with Aston Villa afterwards.
City have a marginally easier run-in than Liverpool, with the average league position of the clubs they face in their remaining games being 11th, as opposed to Liverpool’s ninth. And Klopp’s men also face more games against teams with something big at stake.
Leaving aside the clash of the top two next month, Liverpool have to face five other clubs with top-four ambitions, taking on United, West Ham, Spurs and Wolves at home and Arsenal away. By contrast, City have just three fixtures left against teams with serious Champions League ambition - United at home on Sunday plus trips to Wolves and West Ham.
The Blues will also have a big say in the relegation fight, as they clash with Burnley, Watford, Leeds and Newcastle in their remaining games, while Liverpool take on Watford, Everton and Newcastle.
Sign up to our City newsletter so you never miss an update from the Etihad Stadium this season.
Catch up on all the latest Blues headlines in our Man City section
