Premier League title race: who has the best fixtures in the run-in – Manchester City or Liverpool?

After initially appearing to be done and dusted by Christmas, it now seems as though there may be a Premier League title race after all.

Manchester City have hardly put a foot wrong since the start of the season, dropping points in just three games since the end of October, but Liverpool are right up behind them.

After a difficult winter, Jurgen Klopp’s side have dragged themselves to within one point of the defending champions with a run of 10 consecutive league wins.

Both have their destiny in their own hands. Both have eight games remaining too, including Sunday’s crucial meeting at the Etihad.

If there’s a winner, they will likely be the favourites going forward. But even then, there will still be a lot of football left to play and a lot of matches that could decide the race.

By calculating the home and away points-per-game of each club’s remaining opponents, The Independent has analysed City and Liverpool’s run-ins to assess where the title could be won and lost beyond this weekend.

Points: 73

Opponents’ average points per game: 1.35

Run-in difficulty: ââ½

One of the first things you will notice about City’s run-in is that – other than Liverpool – there are no meetings with their fellow members of the so-called “big six”. All those are out of the way now, with 19 points taken from a possible 27 in those encounters.

Instead, Pep Guardiola’s side are left to face several sides embroiled in a relegation scrap at the wrong end of the table, a run that started with the trip to Burnley after the international break.

Brighton and Watford visit the Etihad to complete a run of three consecutive home games, which is followed by a trip to Elland Road.

City thrashed Leeds 7-0 in the reverse fixture before Christmas, though