Liverpool feel pressure to end 'crisis' run, Man City test Bournemouth limits
Liverpool will take on a strong Aston Villa team as the Premier League title holders try to stop their unexpected slide on Saturday, while Arsenal seek to pull even further ahead in the championship battle.
The Gunners enjoy a four-point advantage over Bournemouth, with the south coast club heading to Manchester City ahead of their journey to Burnley.
Tottenham, sitting third, trail the leaders by just five points, yet they hope to snap a three-match drought without a win at their home ground when entertaining London opponents Chelsea.
AFP Sports examines three standout matches across the weekend:
Slot feels the heat
Liverpool manager Arne Slot urgently requires his top performers to regain form following their midweek exit from the League Cup at the hands of Crystal Palace, adding to the woes for the reigning Premier League champions.
Slot outlined his focus by resting 10 players, allowing Palace to secure a comfortable 3-0 victory at Anfield over a young Liverpool lineup.
The head coach explained he could not afford further injuries to vital squad members, given the fast-approaching games versus Villa, then Real Madrid and Manchester City.
"I do not believe that dropping six of seven can bring additional strain," Slot remarked. "When experiencing such a sequence of outcomes, whether playing for or leading Liverpool, everyone understands the intensity involved."
Early in the Premier League season, just five rounds in, Liverpool held a 12-point edge over Villa. Now, after four more outings, they stand level on points, divided solely by goals scored.
Villa have rebounded from a tough beginning via four straight triumphs, featuring impressive victories over Tottenham and City, propelling them towards Champions League qualification spots.
Meanwhile, Liverpool's bid to retain their crown has fallen apart.
The Merseyside outfit have failed to secure a shutout in 10 outings, as Slot grapples with integrating a revamped team hit hard by major departures in the summer transfer period.
Liverpool invested a record-breaking sum close to £450 million, but saw more exits than arrivals, notably feeling the absence of Trent Alexander-Arnold and Luis Diaz.
"Observing the champions drop four straight league matches despite summer spending, I would say Liverpool are in a critical phase at present," commented ex-Liverpool centre-back Jamie Carragher.
Bournemouth unbeaten run on the line
The division's most extended streak without defeat encounters a tough challenge on Sunday as Bournemouth head to the Etihad, aiming to deliver yet another setback to City's pursuit of the title.
The Cherries remain undefeated since their season-opening loss at Liverpool, fuelling dreams of European qualification for the first time ever in the club's past.
City lag six points behind Arsenal following a narrow 1-0 reverse at Villa last weekend, which halted their nine-match unbeaten streak.
Pep Guardiola's concerns about over-dependence on Erling Haaland proved accurate.
Beyond the Norwegian, no other City player has netted more than once in the Premier League this term.
Omar Marmoush and Rayan Cherki sat out much of the early campaign due to knocks, yet both found the net in a 3-1 League Cup success against Swansea during the week, enhancing Guardiola's attacking options.
Spurs seek home comforts
Thomas Frank has begun well in addressing Tottenham's away struggles, but he has yet to build the "fortress" atmosphere he craves on home turf.
Out of Tottenham's 17 points across nine fixtures, 13 arrived on the road, courtesy of solid results at Manchester City, West Ham, Leeds and Everton.
However, Bournemouth and Villa claimed spoils in north London, bookended by a frustrating 1-1 stalemate with league cellar-dwellers Wolves.
"We want our home venue to feel like an impregnable stronghold," Frank stated. "It goes beyond just the squad or solely the supporters. Both elements must combine.
"We must energise one another. Hard work is essential, along with strong displays and a proactive approach."
A second league triumph against Chelsea since 2018 would swiftly silence any sceptics among the Tottenham faithful regarding the Dane.
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)
afp