Final countdown as English Premier League resumes after two-week break

The English Premier League returns after a two-week break, and barring a collapse, Liverpool will equal Manchester United’s record of 20 top-flight titles. Arsenal is likely to finish runner-up for the third consecutive season. Liverpool leads with 70 points, 12 ahead of Arsenal, with nine games remaining. Unfancied Nottingham Forest sits third with 54 points, followed by Chelsea (49) and Manchester City (48). Newcastle and Brighton occupy the final European spots on 47 points.

However, football is unpredictable. If Arsenal beats Fulham tomorrow (2.45am) and Everton stuns Liverpool at Anfield the next day (3am), the lead could shrink to nine points, with Arsenal still to visit Anfield in May.

Liverpool suffered back-to-back defeats before the break – falling to Paris St-Germain on penalties in the Champions League and losing to Newcastle in the League Cup final. Derbies can go either way, and Everton’s James Tarkowski salvaged a 2-2 draw in February the last time these teams met.

Since David Moyes returned in January, Everton has collected 17 points from 10 games – the same as Sean Dyche managed in 19 matches. Their only injury concern is left-back Vitalii Mykolenko, meaning 39-year-old Ashley Young could be tasked with stopping Mohamed Salah.

Liverpool has four confirmed absentees: Joe Gomez (hamstring), Trent Alexander-Arnold (ankle), Conor Bradley (hamstring), and Tyler Morton (midfielder). Alisson Becker is a doubt after suffering a concussion with Brazil, while Ryan Gravenberch (midfielder) and Ibrahima Konaté (defender) left their international camps early.

Reports suggest vice-captain Alexander-Arnold has agreed to join Real Madrid this summer. The futures of Salah and captain Virgil van Dijk also remain uncertain.

Fixtures (Malaysian time):

April 2 Wolves vs West Ham (2.45am) Arsenal vs Fulham (2.45am) Nottingham Forest vs Manchester United (3am)

April 3 Southampton vs Crystal Palace (2.45am) Bournemouth vs Ipswich (2.45am) Brighton vs Aston Villa (2.45am) Newcastle vs Brentford (2.45am) Manchester City vs Leicester (2.45am) Liverpool vs Everton (3am)

April 4 Chelsea vs Tottenham (3am)