Arsenal and Man City hold top spots as Liverpool draw level with Chelsea in top-four race

Matchday 17 kept the title battle steady at the top of the Premier League table, but Liverpool’s gritty win over nine-man Spurs has pulled Arne Slot’s side level on points with fourth-placed Chelsea and tightened the race for Champions League places.

Arsenal and Manchester City preserved the existing order at the top of the Premier League after a pivotal weekend of fixtures, while Liverpool moved closer to the top four with a hard-fought away win in North London.

On Saturday, Arsenal ground out a 1-0 victory away to Everton, extending their lead at the summit to 39 points from 17 matches. Manchester City stayed just two points behind on 37 after a convincing 3-0 home win against West Ham United, with Erling Haaland scoring twice as Pep Guardiola’s side continued to boast the league’s most prolific attack (41 goals).

Aston Villa reinforced their surprise title credentials with a 2-1 win over Manchester United on Sunday, a result powered by a brace from Morgan Rogers. Villa now sit third on 36 points, completing a tightly packed top three separated by only three points and putting additional pressure on the traditional “big six” chasing from behind.

The biggest movement in the Champions League race came from Liverpool. Arne Slot’s side edged Tottenham 2-1 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium thanks to second-half goals from Alexander Isak and Hugo Ekitike, before Richarlison pulled one back for Spurs in a frantic finale that saw the hosts finish with nine men. The result lifted Liverpool to fifth in the table.

According to the latest standings, the current top five after Matchday 17 are Arsenal (39 points), Manchester City (37), Aston Villa (36), Chelsea (29) and Liverpool (29). Chelsea remain fourth thanks to a superior goal difference (+12) compared to Liverpool’s +3, meaning the “status quo” at the very top is intact, but the pressure on the London side has intensified with Liverpool now level on points and in strong form after three straight league wins.

With just over half of the season still to play, the title race remains a three-way contest led by Arsenal and City, while the battle for the final Champions League spot is wide open. Liverpool’s momentum is tempered by concern over Isak’s suspected leg injury — but if Slot’s team can sustain their current run despite fitness setbacks, the top four picture could change quickly in the coming weeks.