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What was once billed as a potential Premier League title decider has been reduced to a mid-May formality, with Liverpool hosting Arsenal at Anfield on Sunday 11 May under vastly different circumstances than anticipated.

Arne Slot has already guided Liverpool to a record-equaling 20th top-flight title, securing the crown with four games to spare after a dominant 5-1 victory over Tottenham.

Earlier this season, this fixture loomed as a pivotal clash in a tightly contested title race.

Arsenal’s 2-2 with Liverpool in October 2024 only further solified expectations that the Gunners would be geniune title contenders this term.

Arsena faltered critically in March and April.

A run of draws against West Ham, Nottingham Forest, Manchester United, Everton, and Brentford-coupled with a shock 2-2 home draw to Crystal Palace-saw their 15-point deficit to Liverpool become insurmountable.

Mikel Arteta’s side now sit second with 67 points,with their season now becoming about a top four race rather than a Premier League title race.

Wednesday’s trip to Paris represents Arsenal’s last stand in a season that promised more.

Ousmane Dembélé’s fourth-minute strike in the first leg at the Emirates handed PSG a narrow advantage ahead of the clash this week.

Should they fail to overturn the deficit at the Parc des Princes, they will arrive at Anfield with their season pretty much over.

Nevertheless, even if they come to Anfield having been kicked out of a European semi-final, they are still expected to give Liverpool a guard of honour this Sunday.

This is according to the Daily Mail, who claim that Mikel Arteta’s side will follow Chelsea’s lead.

There is no requirement in the Premier League rulebook obligating other clubs to provide the champions with a guard of honour; it is entirely optional.

However, the London club believes that offering a guard of honour is a gesture of sportsmanship.

Meanwhile, Chelksea boss Enzo Maresca asserted that the Reds deserved the guard of honour from his side over the weekend, saying:

“It’s tradition.

They won the Premier League, so they deserve it,” the Italian said.

“In terms of the gap between us and Liverpool, it is there, you can see this clearly.”

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