Liverpool will take on Aston Villa on Saturday as the reigning Premier League champions look to halt their alarming slump, while Arsenal seek to strengthen their grip on the title race.
The Gunners currently sit four points clear of Bournemouth, who face Manchester City before Arsenal’s visit to Burnley.
Meanwhile, third-placed Tottenham remain five points adrift of the top and will look to snap a three-match winless streak at home when they welcome London rivals Chelsea.
– Slot under pressure –
Liverpool manager Arne Slot is facing mounting pressure as he looks to rally his top players following a 3-0 League Cup defeat to Crystal Palace on Wednesday, deepening the Premier League champions’ troubling form.
Slot’s decision to rest most of his regular starters — making ten changes to the lineup — backfired, as Palace comfortably triumphed over a youthful Liverpool side at Anfield.
The Dutch coach explained that he could not afford further injuries to key players, with crucial fixtures against Aston Villa, Real Madrid, and Manchester City looming.
“I don’t think there can be more pressure when you’ve lost six of seven,” Slot admitted. “At Liverpool, as a player or a manager, you know what comes with a run like this.”
Just five games into the Premier League season, Liverpool were 12 points ahead of Villa. Now, only goal difference separates the two sides.
Aston Villa have bounced back impressively from their shaky start, stringing together four straight victories including standout wins over Tottenham and Manchester City to thrust themselves back into the race for a Champions League spot.
Meanwhile, Liverpool’s title defence has collapsed spectacularly.
The Reds have failed to keep a clean sheet in their last 10 matches, as manager Arne Slot continues to struggle with a team unsettled by major changes during the transfer window.
Despite spending a Premier League record of nearly £450 million, Liverpool saw more departures than arrivals, with the absences of key players like Trent Alexander-Arnold and Luis Díaz felt particularly strongly.
“To see the champions lose four games in a row in the Premier League with the expenditure in the summer, I think we’re in crisis time for Liverpool right now,” said former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher.
– Bournemouth’s unbeaten streak faces major test –
Bournemouth’s impressive unbeaten run will be put to the test on Sunday as they travel to the Etihad, aiming to deal another setback to Manchester City’s title hopes.
The Cherries haven’t lost since their opening-day defeat to Liverpool, fueling dreams of a historic first-ever European qualification.
City, meanwhile, sit six points behind leaders Arsenal after their 1-0 loss to Aston Villa last weekend ended a nine-match unbeaten streak.
Pep Guardiola’s concerns about his team’s heavy dependence on Erling Haaland have proven accurate — no other City player has scored more than once in the Premier League this season.
However, there’s a boost for the champions: Omar Marmoush and Rayan Cherki, both recently back from injury, found the net in a 3-1 League Cup win over Swansea, adding much-needed attacking depth for Guardiola.
– Spurs aim to reclaim home strength –
Thomas Frank has made a strong start in addressing Tottenham’s struggles on the road, but the Spurs boss is still seeking the “fortress” atmosphere he desires at home.
Of Tottenham’s 17 points from nine games, 13 have come away, including impressive victories over Manchester City, West Ham, Leeds, and Everton.
However, Bournemouth and Villa have both claimed wins in north London, with a disappointing 1-1 draw against bottom-placed Wolves sandwiched in between.
“We would like our home to be a fortress,” Frank said. “It cannot only be the team, it cannot only be the fans. It needs to be both. We need to bring energy to each other, work unbelievably hard, perform well, and stay positive.”
A second league win over Chelsea since 2018 would go a long way in silencing any doubts among Spurs supporters.
Fixtures
Saturday (all times GMT)
Brighton v Leeds, Burnley v Arsenal, Crystal Palace v Brentford, Fulham v Wolves, Nottingham Forest v Man Utd (all 1500), Tottenham v Chelsea (1730), Liverpool v Aston Villa (2000)
Sunday
West Ham v Newcastle (1400), Man City v Bournemouth (1630)
Monday
Sunderland v Everton (2000)