The Premier League is enjoying it's closest title battle in years, as Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City tussle to win this season's championship.
Right now, it's the Gunners who lead the way, ahead of Jurgen Klopp's side on goal difference, with Manchester City a point behind in third.
With very little splitting the trio, thoughts have turned to what would happen if there really was nothing separating the three contenders - with a tiny chance that it all could go down to a mouth-watering play-off game.
But how could it come to that?
Firstly, if all three teams finish the game on the same points, then it would go down to goal difference. This has happened previously, most notably in 2012 when Sergio Aguero won the Premier League for City with the last kick of the season.
Currently Mikel Arteta's have a big advantage of their rivals, with them having scored nine more goals than the Reds and eleven in front of City. Meaning there would need to be a big swing in the final seven games for it to end up level.
Assuming that that does happen, the next stage would be to try and separate the sides through goals scored, which is a little closer.
Arsenal have scored four more goals than Pep Guardiola's team, and three ahead of second-placed Liverpool.
If though, somehow the three teams drew level on that front, then the head-to-head record comes into play - and once again it's advantage North London.
In the games played between the trio this season, Arsenal have taken eight points off the other teams, having not lost to either Liverpool or Manchester City this season.
With no further games left to play against each other, the Gunners be crowned champions if it went down to this tie breaker, but only IF they were still in the race.
However, if the race went down to a two-horse race and both Liverpool and Manchester City were tied on all aforementioned measures, than it would firstly go down to away goals scored in matches against each.
Yet, once again, that wouldn't be able to separate the the rivals after John Stones scored at Anfield, while Trent Alexander-Arnold netted in the reverse fixture.
Therefore, if all the above was level, then it would finally come down to an unprecedented one-off play-off game for the Premier League title.
This would have to be organised at a neutral venue and squeezed into a date at the end of the season, in what would be the biggest game in the league's history.
It's an exciting if yet, highly unlikely prospect, but one for neutrals to root for in the final weeks of the season.
zokbdotyz
496
It's an exciting if yet, highly unlikely prospect, but one for neutrals to root for in the final weeks of the season. I really don't know why you guys hate Arsenal so much. these outcomes I know are there but very unlikely to happen but since, Arsenal is the one in the driving seat, hence these nonsense probabilities are all what you could think of. I bet, had it been Liverpool or Man City topping at the moment, you won't have even thought of this not to mention writing it. this is another insult to not only Arsenal as a club but also to the fans as well but I don't blame AF at all but rather the players for all their past doings.
ElenduEmmanuel
348
Arsenal just need to keep being excellent but it's still only God that can help us
JasonChun
303
VARsenal are gonna drop points against Chelsea, Tottenham and Man Utd! Mark my words!