'More a procession than a title race' - when could Liverpool seal title? - Voice of Asia

Liverpool's lead in the Premier League has extended to 13 points, making the title seem almost inevitable. Since the 1888-89 season, no team in the history of the English top flight has ever failed to win the title after leading by so much at this stage of the season. This historical precedent strongly favors Liverpool's chances.

"This is no longer a title race, it's more of a procession," commented Gary Lineker, host of BBC's "Match of the Day." Liverpool has only lost one league game this season and defeated Newcastle 2-0 on Wednesday. Their consistent performance highlights their dominance in the league.

Second-placed Arsenal has failed to win either of their last two games, including a 0-0 draw with Nottingham Forest. Forest legend Martin O'Neill, watching the game on TNT Sports, said: "I think that's it tonight, it's over (the title race). I cannot see Arsenal catching Liverpool at all." O'Neill's assessment reflects the growing sentiment that Liverpool's lead is insurmountable.

Liverpool manager Arne Slot stated: "There's still a long way to go, there are 10 games to go. We only play one Premier League game in March, so we won't focus on the long term. Now the players can rest for a few days, and then we will focus more on Paris Saint-Germain (Champions League opponent) than the Premier League table." Slot's cautious approach emphasizes the importance of focusing on each game rather than prematurely celebrating.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta may already be aware of the dire situation but stated before the game against Forest that he would "fight to the death" to defend their title hopes. After the game, he told the BBC: "It's the same as it was a week ago, two weeks ago, three months ago. The only thing we can do is win our games and see how many points we can get." Meanwhile, former Liverpool winger Steve McManaman said Liverpool are "unstoppable" and are "in cruise control." He added: "Everyone else is falling away, and that's helping them too." McManaman's analysis underscores Liverpool's strong position and the struggles of their rivals.

Currently, Forest are third, six points behind Arsenal, while Man City, who have won the title in the past four seasons, are one point behind Arsenal. Only one team in Premier League history has led by 13 points but failed to win the title – Arsenal beat Manchester United to the title in 1997-98 – but that was earlier in the season. BBC Sport is tracking when Liverpool could secure their second Premier League title. The historical context suggests that Liverpool is in a much stronger position to maintain their lead.

It is fair to say that the Anfield club are now overwhelming favourites for the title, so the question is now when, not if, they will win it. Statistics agency Opta says Liverpool have a 98.7% chance of winning the title (Arsenal 1.3%). Liverpool are 13 points ahead of Arsenal with 10 games to go, while the Gunners have 11 games left. If the Reds maintain their 13-point lead, they will win the title with four games to spare – in their game against Tottenham Hotspur on 26 April. The statistical probabilities strongly favor Liverpool's triumph.

But if the Gunners win their game in hand and both sides get the same results in other games, Liverpool would clinch the title the following weekend against Chelsea. If that happened, their first game as champions would be at home to Arsenal, who might end up giving them a guard of honour. Due to their progress in the Champions League, a League Cup final against Newcastle, and international breaks, Liverpool only play one league game in March. The schedule presents both challenges and opportunities for Liverpool to secure the title early.

Liverpool could mathematically win the title in the first week of April at the earliest. If the Reds win their next three games and Arsenal lose their next four (and teams below them also drop some points), it would all be over on 5 April. Liverpool's final Premier League games (dates subject to change): 8 March: Southampton (H), 2 April: Everton (H), 5 April: Fulham (A), 12 April: West Ham (H), 19 April: Leicester City (A), 26 April: Tottenham Hotspur (H), 3 May: Chelsea (A), 10 May: Arsenal (H), 18 May: Brighton (A), 25 May: Crystal Palace (H). The upcoming fixtures will be crucial in determining the timing of Liverpool's potential title win.

Liverpool need everything to go their way to match their record of winning the title with seven games to spare in 2019-20. Matching Manchester United (2000-01) and Manchester City (2017-18) with five games to go is more achievable. Manchester United (1999-2000 and 2012-13) and Arsenal (2003-04) both did it with four games to spare. The historical benchmarks provide a context for assessing Liverpool's potential to secure an early title victory.

The earliest date the title has been won is 14 April 2001, when Manchester United were crowned champions. If Liverpool are to break that record, they need to significantly increase their lead over Arsenal. The Reds know that if they win the title, it will come earlier than their only other Premier League title – which was on 25 June 2020 in a Covid-affected season. Arne Slot's side must increase their lead at the top by seven points to set a record for the biggest Premier League season victory margin. Manchester City won the Premier League with a record 100 points in 2017-18, finishing 19 points ahead of Manchester United. The Reds can get a maximum of 97 points. Liverpool's pursuit of records adds another layer of excitement to their title campaign.