Having trailed English Premier League leaders Manchester United by seven points as recently as January 18, Manchester City can cut the gap to just two points with victory at Queens Park Rangers on Tuesday.
United could restore their advantage by beating Southampton on Wednesday, but City’s trip to the league’s bottom club gives them an opportunity to inject tension into the title race.
City won 1-0 at Stoke City on Saturday to reach the fifth round of the FA Cup, but lost captain Vincent Kompany with a calf injury.
City overcame Stoke through an 85th-minute strike from right-back Pablo Zabaleta, whose thoughts quickly switched to making ground on United.
QPR’s season became more embarrassing on Saturday when they lost 4-2 at home to Milton Keynes Dons of third-tier League One to go out of the FA Cup.
The London club are five points adrift of safety with 15 games remaining and manager Harry Redknapp will recall his most important players after making nine changes against MK Dons.
United will watch Tuesday’s encounter at Loftus Road with interest, ahead of a series of matches that could define their season.
Alex Ferguson’s men swept past Fulham 4-1 in the FA Cup on Saturday and, with a Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid looming, thoughts are turning to a repeat of their 1998-99 treble.
Third-placed Chelsea will hope to put two damaging cup results behind them when they visit improving Reading on Wednesday.
The European champions went out of the League Cup after drawing 0-0 at Swansea City on Wednesday, before a late Fernando Torres equaliser was required to snatch a 2-2 draw at third-tier Brentford in the FA Cup on Sunday.
The setbacks have only served to increase the unpopularity of interim coach Rafael Benitez, but he said his side’s second-half reaction at Griffin Park augured well.
“In the second half, we showed our real level, like we did last week against Arsenal.”.
Another team smarting from FA Cup embarrassment are Liverpool, who belied a recent upturn in league form by losing 3-2 at third-tier Oldham Athletic in the fourth round on Sunday.
On Wednesday, they travel to Arsenal, one position above them on the table in sixth place, with both sides desperate to close the gap on Champions League places.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, whose side edged second-tier Brighton and Hove Albion 3-2 in the FA Cup on Saturday, says the fixture congestion means he has no choice but to rotate his side.
“We play against Liverpool on Wednesday, Stoke on Saturday and then the players go away for international games,” he said.
In Tuesday’s other games, Aston Villa host Newcastle, Stoke City are home to Wigan Athletic and Swansea City travel to Sunderland.
On Wednesday, Everton play West Bromwich Albion, Norwich City are up against Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham take on West Ham United.
