This weekend, as Manchester City attempts to increase pressure on Mikel Arteta's team by defeating Crystal Palace, Arsenal travels to Fulham in the next test of the Gunners' Premier League title prospects.
After their historic 7-0 hammering of Manchester United last weekend, Liverpool is the team to beat in the battle for a top-four finish heading into their trip to Bournemouth.
Nine clubs at the bottom of the table are only six points apart. These include Leicester and West Ham, and Brendan Rodgers and David Moyes may need victories at home this weekend to retain their jobs. Hold off their careers.
Before the English top-flight action this weekend, here are some significant talking themes.
Did you read this?
Euro's Impact On The Championship Race
In recent weeks, Arsenal has maintained a five-point lead over City in the title race thanks to thrilling comeback victories over Bournemouth and Aston Villa.
The Gunners' Sunday trip to Craven Cottage comes with the added difficulty of being positioned between two rounds of 16 Europa League games versus Sporting Lisbon.
Despite being able to rotate his team during the group stages heavily, Arteta selected a potent starting lineup for Thursday's 2-2 first-leg draw in the capital of Portugal.
With the draw between City and RB Leipzig in the Champions League last 16 still evenly poised at 1-1, the team's rare midweek break may also influence Pep Guardiola's team selection.
- Liverpool's Momentum -
Manchester United was humiliated by Liverpool, putting Jurgen Klopp's team back in contention for a top-four finish.
If the Reds maintain their recent upward trend away at Bournemouth in Saturday's early kickoff, they will at least temporarily move into the Champions League spots.
Yet, their most recent encounter with the Cherries reminds them that one outstanding performance does not often turn around a season.
After destroying Bournemouth 9-0 at Anfield in August, Liverpool only managed to win one of their following four league contests.
Liverpool is putting their act together in time and must be eligible for the Champions League seventh straight season after a season of disappointment.
The foundation of a run of 13 points from a possible 15 in the Premier League has been five clean sheets.
When all three of the new-look front three—Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez, and Cody Gakpo—scored twice versus United, they spectacularly stole the show.
Tottenham, currently in fourth place, has lost their last three games without scoring and was knocked out from the FA Cup and the Champions League after a 1-0 loss at Wolves.
Tottenham needs a response when they face Nottingham Forest, and Newcastle hopes to snap a five-game Premier League losing streak when Wolves come to St. James' Park.
- Rodgers And Moyes Are Under Fire
After bringing Leicester and West Ham onto the European stage in recent seasons, Rodgers and Moyes received nominations for manager of the year awards.
Due to the fact that all four of the clubs in the table below, the Foxes and Hammers, have already fired their managers at least once this year, they have remained in command until now.
Leicester turned the corner with four-goal victories over Villa and Tottenham last month. However, Rodgers has come under fire again after four straight losses, including an FA Cup elimination to lower-league Blackburn.
On Saturday, his team will play a revitalized Chelsea, who just qualified for the quarterfinals of the Champions League.
According to reports, Moyes has twice kept his job by winning at home against Everton and Nottingham Forest. Still, a 4-0 thumping by Brighton has the former Manchester United manager on the verge of losing his job again.
The axe might eventually fall if Villa loses at the London Stadium with less than three points.
Fixtures
Saturday
3:30 p.m.: Bournemouth vs. Liverpool; 6 p.m.: Tottenham vs. Nottingham Forest; Everton vs. Brentford; Leeds vs. Brighton; Leicester vs. Chelsea; Leicester vs. Tottenham; Crystal Palace vs. Manchester City (8:30pm)
Sunday
Manchester United vs Southampton, Fulham vs Arsenal, West Ham vs Aston Villa (both at 5 pm), and Newcastle vs Wolves (7:30 pm)
-1732263645.jpeg)
