City can stretch EPL lead to 11 points

Manchester City can stretch their lead to 11 points by beating Arsenal in the first English Premier League (EPL) match of 2022 today. City have won their last 10 league games to seize the initiative in the title race. Arsenal have also been in good form, winning their last four league games to climb to fourth place before seeing a match against Wolverhampton on Tuesday get postponed.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta won’t be at Emirates Stadium for the game because he has contracted COVID-19 for the second time and will be isolating. Tottenham and West Ham are just behind Arsenal in the race for Champions League qualification and face away games at Watford and Crystal Palace, respectively. Last-place Norwich have been hit by coronavirus cases and their trip to Leicester has been postponed. Meanwhile, a continuing coronavirus outbreak at Newcastle has led to tomorrow’s game at Southampton being postponed, the Premier League said yesterday. Newcastle’s previous game against Everton scheduled for Thursday had also been called off.

The Premier League said a combination of COVID-19 cases and injuries meant 19th-place Newcastle do not have the required 13 outfield players and one goalkeeper available to face Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium.

The league said in a statement that it “was able to make its decision in advance of the fixture to give clarity to the affected clubs and their fans”.

It brings the total to 18 Premier League games postponed in the past three weeks, including last-place Norwich’s trip to Leicester on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Liverpool coach Juergen Klopp said yesterday that three of his players have tested positive ahead of tomorrow’s game at title rivals Chelsea.

He did not name the trio and remains hopeful the game in London will go ahead.

AP