The 2016/17 Premier League season concludes on May 21… maybe.
While every club in the top flight is set to play their final league game on the second last Sunday of May, there is a possibility that Liverpool and Arsenal may have to play each other again.
You know that new-term coined in this depressing modern era of football known as ‘the race for fourth’? Yeah, that may very well go to an actual fourth-place play-off should certain results occur.
As things stand, Liverpool have 70 points from 36 games, which means the highest number of points they could finish on is 76. Whereas Arsenal have 66 points and a game in hand, meaning 75 points is their ceiling.
If Liverpool were to embody the spirit of Steven Gerrard and have a massive slip (apologies) either against West Ham or the mighty Middlesbrough, while Arsenal win against Stoke City, Everton and Sunderland, the Gunners will take fourth spot. However, they can conceivably finish level on points and level on goal difference.
Currently, Arsenal have scored 68 goals and have a goal difference of 26 while Liverpool have 71 goals for and a positive difference of 29. So, say they draw 1-1 to Stoke, hammer Sunderland 3-0 and beat Everton 2-1, they would finish on 73 points, 74 goals and a goal difference of 30.
At the time of writing, Liverpool have scored 71 goals and have a goal difference of 29. A 1-0 loss to West Ham 1-0 coupled with a 3-1 win over Middlesbrough would leave them on 73 points, 74 goals and a goal difference of 30.
That would mean in order to separate the two teams, a play-off at a neutral venue before the end of the season may be required.
Stranger things have happened.
