Manchester City Tackles Anfield Curse as Arsenal Targets Premier League Title
Arsenal might make a significant move towards winning the Premier League title by beating Sunderland on Saturday, prior to Manchester Citys challenging visit to Liverpool.
The Gunners hold a six point advantage at the summit of the standings as they approach their first championship since the 2003/04 campaign.
Aston Villa continues to lead the pack outside the leading duo, yet a recent slump in performance for Unai Emerys team has enabled Manchester United, Chelsea, and Liverpool to close in on the competition for qualification to next years Champions League.
AFP Sports examines three key discussion points before the weekends matches:
Citys struggles on the road
The recent second half meltdown at Tottenham during the last weekend, where they squandered a two goal advantage, has left City with scant room for mistakes in the title contention.
Even with Sunderlands impressive return to the elite division, Arsenal anticipates handling their home fixture at the Emirates confidently, extending their advantage to nine points a full day before Citys yearly intimidating journey to Anfield.
Citys sole away success against Liverpool since 2003 occurred in a stadium without fans amid Coronavirus measures in 2021.
The travelling form of Pep Guardiolas team offers scant reassurance that they can break that fruitless streak on Sunday.
With matching home performances, the six point gap to Arsenal stems from the disparity in their away results.
Nevertheless, Liverpool manager Arne Slot stays cautious regarding a City team that defeated his outfit 3 0 earlier this term and progressed smoothly to the League Cup final against Newcastle even after Guardiola rotated five players in the previous midweek game.
"That indicates, alongside our encounter with them, the formidable presence City maintains and will continue to hold," Slot remarked.
Major clubs pursue Villa
Trailing Arsenal and City, the contest for next seasons Champions League spots increasingly appears as a selection of three out of four.
The robust showings by English teams in European tournaments virtually guarantees that fifth position will secure Champions League entry.
Merely seven points divide third placed Villa from sixth positioned Liverpool.
"We are in the closing stages of the campaign, so outcomes carry greater weight progressively," Slot supplemented.
Following their unexpected challenge in keeping up with the title chase for much of the year, consecutive home losses to Everton and Brentford have Villa glancing nervously behind them.
A crisis of injuries in midfield has deprived Emery of skipper John McGinn, Youri Tielemans, and Boubacar Kamara for the foreseeable period.
Villa must rediscover victories on their away match at Bournemouth, as United and Chelsea aim to sustain their ascent through the rankings.
United welcome a faltering Tottenham seeking a fourth straight triumph under Michael Carricks leadership, whereas Chelsea travel to league basement dwellers Wolves.
Will Palaces desperate acquisitions succeed?
Two Premier League teams enduring poor runs collide as Crystal Palace heads to Brighton.
Without a victory in 12 outings, Palace shattered their transfer record twice during the January window, spending over £80 million on Jorgen Strand Larsen and Brennan Johnson amid fears of slipping into relegation peril.
"I am here to inject vitality, score goals, and contribute maximally to the team," Strand Larsen stated. "I believe we complement each other ideally."
The Eagles possess a nine point buffer above the drop zone, although that might shrink to six before their start, with West Ham facing troubled Burnley on Saturday.
Brighton sit just two points ahead after securing only one win from their previous 11 league fixtures, derailing their aspirations for European involvement.
Friday (all times GMT)
Leeds v Nottingham Forest (2000)
Saturday
Manchester United v Tottenham (1230), Arsenal v Sunderland, Bournemouth v Aston Villa, Burnley v West Ham, Fulham v Everton, Wolves v Chelsea (all 1500), Newcastle v Brentford (1730)
Sunday
Brighton v Crystal Palace (1400), Liverpool v Manchester City (1630)