Premier League: How the run-in is shaping up – title, Champions League and relegation

The good news for Arsenal fans is that statistically the most dominant team in terms of expected goal difference per game excluding penalties has won the Premier League in three of the last four seasons.

The exception was Manchester City beating Arsenal to the title two years ago.

While fifth place is likely to qualify again for the Champions League, Manchester United, Aston Villa, Chelsea and Liverpool are just three points away from entering the top five, and one of these sides looks set to miss out.

Some might say Aston Villa had the easiest encounter of the four. After a difficult trip to Old Trafford this weekend, they face four of the last six games in their next six games, but it is debatable whether there is an advantage in playing sides fighting for survival at this stage.

Liverpool is currently the team outside the top five. They have the chance to build momentum against mid-table teams before embarking on a daunting series of matches in May, playing three of their Champions League-chasing rivals back-to-back.