Arsenal and Manchester City must pass crucial tests this weekend if they don’t want the Premier League to turn into a two-horse race.
Recent poor form has dropped Arsenal and City 11 and 12 points respectively behind surprise leaders Leicester City, who are five clear of Tottenham.
Arsenal’s sinking ship heads to Everton on Saturday following their exit from both the FA Cup and Champions League this week.
The Gunners have won just three of 10 in the league but manager Arsene Wenger isn’t conceding anything.
“I think yes,” he said when asked if Arsenal were still in the title hunt. “The Premier League is more open than people think.”
After securing their first-ever Champions League quarter-final place, Manchester City host rivals United in the Manchester derby on Sunday.
While City’s play in Europe has been fine, they’ve won just four of 10 in the league.
“Every time you drop points it can be more difficult, but that will not change my mind,” manager Manuel Pellegrini said.
“If you mathematically have a chance to do it, you must always think you can do it.
“If you ask me before the first game of the season what we must do, we must try to win all the games and we continue with the same mentality.
“And at the end of the season we’ll see how many points we can have and in which position we’ll be.”
Leicester continue to chase an improbable title at Crystal Palace.
The teams are heading in opposite directions with Leicester losing once in 12 league games and Palace winless during that span.
Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri has been taking a game-by-game approach and isn’t about to change.
“I don’t look at the table, just the next match against Crystal Palace,” he said. “It is another tough match.”
“There are eight matches to go and we continue.”  
Tottenham, winners of seven of nine, will try to keep pace when they host Bournemouth.
At the other end of the table, fierce rivals Newcastle host Sunderland in one of the most important Tyne-Wear derbies in recent times.
Both are fighting for their Premier League lives with Sunderland just above the relegation places in 17th, one point ahead of Newcastle in the drop zone.
Sunderland will be looking for their seventh straight win in the derby, while Newcastle play at home for the first time under new manager Rafael Benitez.
“It’s a massive game and the lads will be ready for it,” Sunderland’s Jermain Defoe said.
“You can be more relaxed (away from home) and there is a lot of pressure on them.
“They’re playing in front of their home fans, the stadium is going to be electric, they’ve got to impress their new manager and we’ve won the last six.
“I think it’s the biggest derby because it’s not only about the bragging rights - it’s about staying in the Premier League.”
In the weekend’s other games, Chelsea host West Ham, Stoke visit Watford, West Bromwich Albion are home to Norwich, Aston Villa are at Swansea and Southampton face Liverpool.