Manchester City and Liverpool kept up their Premier League title charge over the weekend to ensure the race will go straight down to the wire.
But nearly just as intense and exciting is the hunt for the remaining two places in the top four, with Tottenham, Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United separated by just three points and all still in with a shout of claiming a Champions League spot.
However, it appears that none of them can hold their nerve, with Spurs, Arsenal and United all losing this weekend and Chelsea dropping points.
Here, Sportsmail takes a look at the Premier League standings and how the tightest top-four race in memory has got to this stage…
Sportsmail’s graphic shows the ups and downs of the Premier League’s race for the top four
Tottenham are embroiled in a top-four race with Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United
Arsenal fell to a surprising 3-2 defeat by Crystal Palace at the Emirates on Sunday afternoon
Throughout the season, City and Liverpool appeared to be in an enthralling two-horse race for the Premier League title.
Could Liverpool topple City and hold their nerve to win their first Premier League title?
But one team were quietly going under the radar. And that team was Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham side.
TOTTENHAM ON THE CHARGE
FEBURARY 2-4
Tottenham got to within four points of leaders Liverpool thanks to a late victory, with Heung-min Son striking the all-important goal in a 1-0 win over Newcastle at Wembley in Saturday’s early kick-off on February 2.
They momentarily moved up to second but City and Liverpool were still to play. Pep Guardiola’s men overcame Arsenal 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium to go above Spurs again on the Sunday.
But Liverpool stumbled as their nerves grew in the title race on the Monday. They were held to a 1-1 draw at West Ham – their second consecutive stalemate.
Tottenham were looking up, rather than below them, as they were only five points off the title lead.
It was Arsenal, Chelsea and United embroiled in the top-four race.
The Gunners fell into sixth following their loss at City, while Chelsea and United both won to keep up their charge.
MATCHWEEK 25 STANDINGS
TEAM
LIVERPOOL
MANCHESTER CITY
TOTTENHAM
CHELSEA
MANCHESTER UNITED
ARSENAL
At the beginning of February, Tottenham got to within four points of leaders Liverpool
ARSENAL, UNITED AND CHELSEA BATTLE FOR TOP-FOUR SPOTS
FEBRUARY 9-10
Tottenham continued their fine form, overcoming Leicester 3-1 to maintain their title hopes. Goals from Davinson Sanchez, Christian Eriksen and Son sealed the deal for Spurs on February 10.
City had won their game in hand away at Everton in midweek, before humiliating Chelsea 6-0 at the Etihad. Meanwhile, Liverpool bounced back with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Bournemouth to ensure Tottenham couldn’t make up any ground.
Arsenal beat Huddersfield and United eased to a 3-0 victory to ensure they kept up their hunt for the top four.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side were now in fourth place ahead of Arsenal and Chelsea, but a whole nine points behind Tottenham in third.
MATCHWEEK 26 STANDINGS
TEAM
LIVERPOOL
MANCHESTER CITY
TOTTENHAM
MANCHESTER UNITED
ARSENAL
CHELSEA
In round 26, United jumped past Chelsea and into fourth place after beating Fulham
SPURS COME UNDONE
FEBRUARY 23-24
This week saw Tottenham’s title hopes start to implode. After talking up his side’s chances, Pochettino saw his men came unstuck 2-1 at Turf Moor against Burnley on February 23.
Liverpool had the chance to extend their lead at the top, with City not playing on the weekend. But they were held to a goalless draw against arch-rivals United. Jurgen Klopp’s side now sat six points above Spurs, but just one above City.
Arsenal overcame Southampton 2-0 at the Emirates on the Sunday. The race was hotting up for that vital fourth spot and the Gunners were now seven points behind third-place Tottenham.
MATCHWEEK 27 STANDINGS
TEAM
LIVERPOOL
MANCHESTER CITY
TOTTENHAM
CHELSEA
ARSENAL
MANCHESTER UNITED
Spurs boss Mauricio Pochettino argues with the official after his title dreams go up in smoke
SPURS’ TITLE HOPES OVER
FEBRUARY 26-27
Tottenham fell to back-to-back defeats after going down 2-0 at Stamford Bridge, with Kieran Trippier scoring a ridiculous own-goal on February 27.
Any chances of winning the title were over, as City beat West Ham and Liverpool saw off Watford with ease to pull further clear. Spurs were nine points off and now looking over their shoulders.
Arsenal thrashed Bournemouth at home, while a rejuvenated United side kept up their momentum thanks to a 3-1 away win at Crystal Palace.
It was all set up for an eagerly-anticipated north London derby at Wembley. Victory for the Gunners would move them just one point behind Tottenham.
MATCHWEEK 28 STANDINGS
TEAM
LIVERPOOL
MANCHESTER CITY
TOTTENHAM
ARSENAL
CHELSEA
MANCHESTER UNITED
More woe befell Spurs after Chelsea beat them 2-0 at Stamford Bridge at the end of February
AUBAMEYANG FAILS TO CAPITALISE
MARCH 2-3
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang missed an injury-time penalty which would have given Arsenal all three points in an enthralling derby on March 2.
Hugo Lloris’ save ensured Spurs remained four points ahead of their rivals. Top four remained fully in their hands.
Chelsea beat west London neighbours Fulham 2-1, while United won 3-2 at the death against Southampton at Old Trafford.
MATCHWEEK 29 STANDINGS
TEAM
MANCHESTER CITY
LIVERPOOL
TOTTENHAM
CHELSEA
MANCHESTER UNITED
ARSENAL
Tottenham drew with Arsenal after Hugo Lloris’s penalty save and Spurs kept hold of fourth
ARSENAL CLOSING IN ON SPURS
MARCH 9-10
Things were going from bad to worse for Pochettino and his Spurs side. They couldn’t stop their slide and fell to a 2-1 defeat at Southampton after taking the lead through Harry Kane.
Arsenal took on United a day later on March 10 and claimed the three points in their must-win clash at the Emirates thanks to goals from Granit Xhaka and an Aubameyang penalty – successfully converted this time.
Chelsea were frustrated at home – drawing with Wolves. It was Unai Emery’s Gunners who enjoyed a finest of weekends this time.
Arsenal finished the weekend in fourth, just one point behind Spurs and two ahead of United with eight matches remaining.
MATCHWEEK 30 STANDINGS
TEAM
MANCHESTER CITY
LIVERPOOL
TOTTENHAM
ARSENAL
CHELSEA
MANCHESTER UNITED
March 10: Arsenal beat United thanks to Granit Xhaka and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang goals
CHELSEA FAIL TO SEIZE THE INITIATIVE
MARCH 16-17
Chelsea missed a golden opportunity to seize the initiative on FA Cup weekend. With United and Spurs in FA Cup action and Arsenal not playing, the Blues could have moved three points clear of the Gunners.
However, Richarlison and Gylfi Sigurdsson strikes consigned Chelsea to defeat at Goodison Park, keeping them in fifth.
At the top, Liverpool thrashed Burnley 4-2 thanks to a couple of braces from Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino to move them two points clear of City.
MATCHWEEK 31 STANDINGS
TEAM
LIVERPOOL
MANCHESTER CITY
TOTTENHAM
ARSENAL
CHELSEA
MANCHESTER UNITED
Chelsea succumbed to a 2-0 defeat at Everton, missing an opportunity on FA Cup weekend
ARSENAL LEAPFROG TOTTENHAM
MARCH 30-31
It was another great moment for Arsenal as they moved ahead of Tottenham in the race for the top four. The Gunners beat Newcastle 2-0 at home to close the gap to just one point on their bitter rivals in third on April 1.
Spurs lost their fourth game in five, going down 2-1 due to an injury-time own goal from Toby Alderweireld at Anfield against Liverpool.
United and Chelsea both ran out narrow 2-1 winners. All of a sudden, there were two Champions League spots wide open and available.
Tottenham were in serious danger of letting their top four spot get away from them after being in such a dominant position.
MATCHWEEK 32 STANDINGS
TEAM
LIVERPOOL
MANCHESTER CITY
TOTTENHAM
ARSENAL
CHELSEA
MANCHESTER UNITED
Spurs were in freefall, they lost their fourth game in five, to Liverpool, and Arsenal capitalised
CHELSEA MAKE THEIR MOVE
APRIL 2-8
Arsenal missed a huge opportunity to seize authority in the race for those Champions League places after putting in another abject away performance, this time to Everton as they lost 1-0 through an early Phil Jagielka goal.
With Spurs and United not playing over the weekend, Arsenal had a great chance to consolidate their position.
Chelsea beat West Ham 2-0 at home on April 8 following their comfortable midweek victory over Brighton to head into third.
Spurs’ victory over Palace in their first game at their new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium during the week before had them in fourth.
It was soon becoming dubbed the top four race no one wants to win.
MATCHWEEK 33 STANDINGS
TEAM
LIVERPOOL
MANCHESTER CITY
CHELSEA
TOTTENHAM
ARSENAL
MANCHESTER UNITED
Chelsea bagged two crucial wins in five days to push the Blues up to third from fifth
TOTTENHAM BACK IN THIRD
APRIL 13-15
Tottenham grabbed control of their own destiny again with a routine 4-0 victory over already-relegated Huddersfield, thanks to a hat-trick from Lucas Moura on April 13.
United then hit back with a 2-1 win against West Ham, with Paul Pogba scoring twice from the penalty spot.
Chelsea missed their chance as they fell to 2-0 defeat at Anfield against Klopp’s title-chasing outfit.
Meanwhile, Arsenal kept their first clean sheet away in the Premier League to overcome 10-man Watford 1-0.
Arsenal were fourth, with Tottenham third. The race for top four remained as tight as ever.
MATCHWEEK 34 STANDINGS
TEAM
LIVERPOOL
MANCHESTER CITY
TOTTENHAM
ARSENAL
CHELSEA
MANCHESTER UNITED
Spurs won 4-0 over Huddersfied thanks to a Lucas Moura treble, moving them back into third
SPURS, UNITED AND ARSENAL ALL LOSE… BUT CHELSEA CAN’T CAPITALISE
APRIL 20-22
City took revenge on Tottenham, winning 1-0 at the Etihad in Saturday’s early kick-off on April 20.
Arsenal had the chance to leapfrog Tottenham into third again but they blew it, uncharacteristically losing 3-2 at home against Palace on Sunday.
Meanwhile, United were thrashed 4-0 at Goodison Park against Everton, leaving their top four hopes very much in doubt.
But Chelsea once again missed their chance. Having wrestled back the lead from Burnley on Tuesday night, Ashley Barnes netted to earn Burnley a draw.
The result moved them one above Arsenal, who have a game in hand over the Blues.
The race goes on…
MATCHWEEK 35 STANDINGS
TEAM
LIVERPOOL
MANCHESTER CITY
TOTTENHAM
CHELSEA
ARSENAL
MANCHESTER UNITED
Maurizio Sarri’s side drew to Burnley on Tuesday, meaning they went a point above Arsenal