Manchester City travel to Aston Villa on Saturday, desperate to arrest their alarming slump, while Chelsea have a chance to briefly top the Premier League table.
Current leaders Liverpool face a challenging trip to Tottenham after recent stumbles, while Manchester United hope to secure back-to-back league wins for the first time this season.
Pep Faces a Crucial Test
Manchester City’s last defeat to Aston Villa, a 1-0 loss in December, was their final setback before storming to a fourth consecutive Premier League title.
However, this season has been far less forgiving. City head to Birmingham in poor form, with eight losses in their past 11 matches across all competitions.
After last week’s 2-1 derby defeat to Manchester United, Pep Guardiola admitted he wasn’t “good enough,” though Phil Foden expressed continued faith in his manager.
Now fifth in the table, City are nine points adrift of Liverpool, having played a game more. Injury issues and confidence woes have derailed their campaign, leaving their title hopes in tatters.
Liverpool’s Slot Faces Stern Test
Arne Slot has made a smooth start as Liverpool manager, but cracks are beginning to show. The Reds, who once held a nine-point lead, have drawn their last two league games.
They face Tottenham on Sunday, potentially starting behind Chelsea if the Blues extend their winning streak at struggling Everton earlier in the day.
While Liverpool remain title favourites, Chelsea, led by Enzo Maresca, are building momentum. Tottenham, unpredictable with seven wins and seven losses, promise an open game, boasting the league’s second-highest goals tally.
Wolves Hope for Pereira Impact
Wolves, now under new manager Vitor Pereira, face Leicester in a vital clash on Sunday. The Midlands side are second from bottom after four straight defeats and urgently need points to climb out of the relegation zone.
Chairman Jeff Shi expressed gratitude to Pereira for accepting the challenge, but time is running out. Wolves face tough fixtures against Manchester United, Tottenham, and Nottingham Forest after Leicester.
Leicester, led by Ruud van Nistelrooy, also face pressure following a heavy 4-0 defeat at Newcastle. Both sides are fighting to avoid sinking deeper into relegation danger.
Weekend Fixtures
Saturday (15:00 GMT unless stated):
Aston Villa v Manchester City (12:30), Brentford v Nottingham Forest, Ipswich v Newcastle, West Ham v Brighton, Crystal Palace v Arsenal (17:30).
Sunday (14:00 unless stated):
Everton v Chelsea, Fulham v Southampton, Leicester v Wolves, Manchester United v Bournemouth, Tottenham v Liverpool (16:30).