Rampant Arsenal hopes to edge farther ahead of Man City in this weekend's Premier League championship race, and Manchester United is ready to cause more damage to Liverpool at Anfield.

PHOTO | COURTESY Arsenal are 5 points clear on the table

At the Emirates, the Gunners are heavy favourites to upset Bournemouth. At the same time, City takes on a Newcastle team looking to get past the crushing heartbreak of their League Cup final loss.

Spurs must immediately recover from their FA Cup defeat to keep their lead over Liverpool and Newcastle in the battle for a top-four finish.

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AFP Sport examines major talking themes before the English top-flight action this weekend.

The Mission Of Vengeance For The United

Liverpool defeated United, a ferocious adversary, in both Premier League matches last season by a combined score of 9-0.

PHOTO | COURTESY Manchseter United to face Liverpool on Sunday
But during the past 12 months, both clubs' fortunes have drastically changed.

United's streak of one loss in 22 games, which began after they won the League Cup to break a six-year trophy drought, has maintained them in the running for a quadruple of trophies.

Yet with an 11-point deficit to league leaders Arsenal, Erik ten Hag's team's title challenge may be over if they fail to win at Anfield for the first time since 2016.

Liverpool needs the points to help them finish in the top four after their previous season's loss to United at Old Trafford.

Thanks to a run of 10 points from their last four league games, Jurgen Klopp's team has re-entered the race for a Champions League spot.

But in the middle of that run, a 5-2 Champions League loss to Real Madrid at home severely highlighted the Reds' flaws.

A Strong Arsenal -

Last month, when Arsenal only managed to earn one point from three games, including a 3-1 loss to City at home, it appeared their campaign for the first league championship in 19 years would be in jeopardy.

PHOTO | COURTESY Arsenal Looks forward to extending their win
Yet, Mikel Arteta's team has reacted magnificently, winning three straight games to establish a five-point lead at the top of the standings.

Arsenal's performance against a Bournemouth team in danger of being relegated will likely be more of the same.

Newcastle's visit to City presents a more demanding test on paper, but given the Magpies' recent form, the champions have little to fear.

After only having one Premier League victory in 2023, Newcastle has dropped out of the top four.

I'm Sorry To Interrupt Spurs' Big Week.

Tottenham's big week we got off to the worst possible start when they lost to Championship team Sheffield United in the FA fifth-round match.

PHOTO | COURTESY Tottenham Hotspurs have a lot to do in the weekend
When Spurs visit AC Milan in the Champions League last 16 the following week, they must overcome a 1-0 first-leg disadvantage as they have not won a trophy since 2008.

But first, they have a challenging trip to Molineux, where they will face a Wolves club that also needs a win to escape the relegation zone.

"The FA Cup is no longer. In place of Antonio Conte while he recovers from gallbladder surgery, Spurs deputy manager Cristian Stellini remarked, "We have other opportunities, other competitions, and other games.

It's football, folks. You must persevere and rekindle the same drive.

Fixtures

Saturday

Arsenal vs Bournemouth, Aston Villa vs Crystal Palace, Brighton vs West Ham, Chelsea vs Leeds, Wolves vs Tottenham (all at 6 pm), Manchester City vs Newcastle (3:30 pm), Southampton vs Leicester (8:30 pm)

Sunday

Liverpool vs Manchester United (1400), Nottingham Forest vs Everton (1630)

Monday 

Fulham at Brentford (2000)