Liverpool face Man Utd , the current leaders of the Premier League, are poised to face Manchester United as they strive to draw closer to matching their bitter rivals’ record of 20 English titles.
In this captivating title race, both Arsenal and Manchester City anticipate any potential slip-ups from Liverpool, while the battle for the top four spots and the struggle against relegation also intensify.
AFP Sport highlights three key talking points ahead of this weekend’s matches:
No Vengeance Agenda for Liverpool –
Fresh from their recent FA Cup quarter-final disappointment against Manchester United, Alex Mac-Allister and his Liverpool teammates might have been tempted to view their upcoming fixture at Old Trafford as a quest for revenge.
Jurgen Klopp’s squad endured a painful 4-3 defeat, relinquishing their lead twice before Amad Diallo sealed United’s victory in the dying seconds of extra time.
While the memory of that loss still stings, Liverpool now have an opportunity to make amends against Erik ten Hag’s side as they aim to draw level with United’s historic 20 top-flight titles.
Mac-Allister, whose powerful strike contributed to Liverpool’s 3-1 triumph over Sheffield United, emphasized that the primary focus remains on winning games rather than seeking retribution.
“I don’t know if it’s about revenge, but certainly, it’s a significant game for us. If we aspire to win titles, we must win every match,” said Mac Allister, with Liverpool currently holding a two-point lead over Arsenal with eight games remaining.
While Arsenal travels to Brighton and Manchester City visits Crystal Palace, Liverpool’s clash with Manchester United promises to be a pivotal encounter in the title race.
Intensifying Battle for the Top Four –
According to manager Ange Postecoglou, Tottenham Hotspur is still a work in progress as they strive for a top-four finish and qualification for the Champions League.
Despite being held to a frustrating 1-1 draw against West Ham, Tottenham’s hopes received a boost as Aston Villa suffered a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Manchester City.
With Tottenham trailing fourth-placed Villa by just two points and holding a game in hand, their upcoming match against struggling Nottingham Forest presents an opportunity to gain ground in the race for the Champions League spots.
Meanwhile, Villa faces Brentford, and both sides are expected to secure victories to maintain their positions in the top four.
Battle for Survival –
Midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White exudes confidence in Nottingham Forest’s ability to withstand the pressure as they strive to avoid relegation from the Premier League.
Following their crucial 3-1 victory over Fulham, Forest are determined to build on this momentum and climb further up the table despite being docked four points for breaching financial rules.
In another crucial relegation clash, Everton, led by manager Sean Dyche, faces Burnley at Goodison Park, aiming to end their club-record winless streak in the Premier League.
With Luton hosting Bournemouth in another survival showdown, the fight against relegation promises to be fiercely contested in the coming weeks.
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