As things stand, Liverpool looks likely to finish in third place in this season's Premier League, with both Manchester City and Arsenal establishing a firm advantage. It seems that for a second year running, Mikel Arteta's side might be the one thwarted by a flawless Etihad run-in.

But Jürgen Klopp can certainly sympathize. Just a couple of different results would have meant he was leaving Liverpool with three Premier League titles, not one, with Manchester City a juggernaut over that period.

Going for an unprecedented fourth title in a row, it would have been eight had it not been for Klopp's Liverpool, the runaway winners in 2019/20. It's unbelievably cruel that this was the season where a global pandemic curtailed celebrations, but that's a story for another time.

Well done Guardiola, and all that, but Premier League CEO Richard Masters now looks likely to once again hand over the trophy to a side facing 115 charges. They will determine whether Manchester City's current success was built on industrial-scale cheating in the years prior.

Manchester City denies all of the charges. For perennial challengers Liverpool (and now Arsenal), there's a clear interest in a verdict being reached soon, with the competitive legitimacy of the league in limbo in the meantime. And indeed there should be a desire at the Etihad for a resolution as well, with an undeniably brilliant football team constantly having to accept many onlookers putting an asterisk by its name.

CEO Masters has given an update, suggesting that an outcome is now on the horizon. He confirmed, at least, that a date "in the near future" has been set for the hearing, where an independent panel will consider the 115 charges (Metro).

"We can’t comment on the case, the date is set," Masters said. "The case will resolve itself at some point in the near future."

Once the hearing is concluded and a verdict has been reached, both Manchester City and the Premier League will have the right to appeal the outcome. That would require an entirely new panel to be convened.

Liverpool.com says: It's good news that the hearing is apparently close, but Liverpool won't be confident of a speedy resolution from that point onwards. With so many charges and such high stakes for multiple parties, it's inevitable that the process is taking far longer than the cases against Everton and Nottingham Forest, but it's undeniably frustrating.

No doubt Masters is as keen as anyone to get this settled, with it hardly being a great look for the Premier League's brand. That's especially the case if Manchester City wins the title once again, as now looks likely.