WITH three English Premier League clubs slugging it out in the Champions League Quarterfinals, the race to the Premiership trophy has become as interesting as well.
League leaders Liverpool, close second Manchester City and sixth-placer Manchester United all have a decent chance of advancing to Europe.
Tomorrow, City can avenge its 1-0 loss to Tottenham at home to advance, while Liverpool travels to Portugal to wrap up the quarterfinals where it leads 2-0 against Porto.
Also, we’ll find out by now if United pulled off an upset at Camp Nou against Catalan giants FC Barcelona, which led 1-0 prior to the second leg earlier this morning.
Of the three English clubs, United is caught in a most unenviable position. If it lost the quarterfinal to Barca, it will have to fight tooth and nail to land in the top four and secure its appearance in Europe next season.
Standing in the way for that coveted place in Europe next season are Tottenham, Chelsea and Arsenal. Anything can still happen between the three four-way battle royale for the third and fourth qualifying slots.
The same is true for the fight for the Premiership trophy between Liverpool and City, which is too close to call. The race will most likely go down the wire.
Though it has a game on hand, City has a tougher road ahead with two massive games waiting on the wings: against Tottenham this Saturday and then against United next Thursday.
Burnley, Leicester, Brighton and Watford follow next.
City should not lose any of these matches, as Liverpool seems to have an easier road to the Premiership title against Cardiff, Huddersfield, Newcastle and Wolves.
And yet none of these teams should be taken lightly, especially the cellar dwellers as they are either fighting for survival or now just out to salvage some pride.
For them, scalping the heads of either Liverpool and City would be a fantastic way to end the season, wouldn’t it?