Arsenal will fall short in Premier League title race as Liverpool and Manchester City have ‘better fixtures’, claims Danny Murphy

Danny Murphy cannot see Arsenal winning the title (Picture: YouTube)

Danny Murphy cannot see Arsenal beating Liverpool and Manchester City to the Premier League title and has pinpointed three fixtures that could derail the Gunners.

Liverpool, Arsenal and Man City are separated by just three points after 29 games but ex-England midfielder Murphy believes Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola’s sides have considerably easier run-ins.

All three title contenders are in action in midweek, with current leaders Liverpool hosting Sheffield United, Arsenal facing Luton Town and Manchester City welcoming Aston Villa to the Etihad Stadium.

Murphy says the title race is turning into a ‘real ding dong’ but reckons the fixture list favours Liverpool – bidding to win the title in Jurgen Klopp’s final season at Anfield – and Man City, attempting to clinch a record fourth successive Premier League.

The 47-year-old pinpointed Arsenal’s away fixtures at Brighton, Manchester United and north London rivals Tottenham as potential banana skins for Mikel Arteta’s side.

‘This is what we want from a Premier League title race,’ Murphy said on talkSPORT. ‘Unless you’re a Man City fan you probably want someone else to win it. 

‘I wanted Arsenal to win it last year, for example. It’s not that I don’t admire Man City, of course I do, it’s a phenomenal team with a great manager. But we need that competition in the Premier League and this is turning into a real ding dong. 

Mikel Arteta’s side have mounted another title challenge (Picture: Getty)

‘I don’t think Arsenal will get over the line, just because of the fixtures. They’ve got to go to Tottenham, Old Trafford and Brighton 

‘They are three tough away games and they’ll have to be bang on it to win them all. I think Liverpool and Man City’s run-in is easier. 

‘I think Liverpool have a hell of a good run-in, it’s only that Tottenham game that would worry me for them. Man City have a pretty good one as well. 

‘I think the best thing that happened for Liverpool was getting knocked out of the FA Cup because that would have given them a right good kick up the bum. I don’t see Liverpool making that mistake again, they are too good for United.’ 

Come the end of the season, last Sunday’s events at Anfield and the Etihad may be seen as a crucial moment as Liverpool came from behind to beat Brighton and Arsenal held Man City to a goalless draw.

Two points clear at the top of the table, Liverpool may be viewed as favourites for the title but Klopp has played down the suggestion.

‘I’m pretty sure when we lost at Arsenal we were not favourites after that matchday,’ Klopp said at his pre-match press conference on Wednesday.

‘One of the most important things for getting through this period is just ignore the outside mess. As this goes up and down, and the emotion and these kinds of things, we have to be professional. We have to be emotional but in the right way.’

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