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Arsenal visit United, Liverpool to cruise to victory?

Gulf News takes a look at the key storylines ahead of this weekend’s Premier League action

Associate Editor

4 MIN READ

Mikel Arteta is hoping to breather life into his side's title challenge

AFP

From United and Arsenal renewing their rivalry to an all-important clash for a Champions League spot, Gulf News takes a look at the key storylines ahead of this weekend’s Premier League action.

Liverpool to cruise to another victory?

Liverpool will look to maintain their dominant form as they host bottom-of-the-table Southampton at Anfield. The Reds have been in stellar form, winning 11 of their last 13 Premier League encounters with the Saints, with the only blips being a 1-0 loss in January 2021 and a dramatic 4-4 draw in May 2023. Southampton have struggled in recent visits to Anfield, losing their last six by a staggering 19-1 aggregate score.

This match will be the second meeting of the season between the two clubs, with Liverpool coming out on top 3-2 in the reverse fixture. Coming into this match, the points gap between the two sides is a massive 58, with Liverpool sitting on 67 points at the top of the table, while Southampton have just 9. This marks the largest points difference between two teams in a Premier League match since 2020.

Liverpool’s recent performance in the Champions League was a testament to their resilience, as they scraped a 1-0 win over PSG despite only registering one shot on target. Alisson Becker was instrumental, making ten crucial saves to secure his third consecutive clean sheet. The Reds now return to league action with the aim of extending their 13-point lead at the top, though they have played one more game than second-place Arsenal.

Southampton, on the other hand, are in serious trouble. With just nine points, they face the very real threat of relegation, and a trip to Anfield looks daunting. Their defence and attack have both been among the worst in the Premier League, and anything other than a Liverpool win here would be a massive shock.

Forest and City chase Champions League spot

Nottingham Forest will be hoping to break a long-standing winless streak against Manchester City when the two sides meet at the City Ground. The Tricky Trees have not beaten City in their last nine league encounters, with two draws and seven losses since a 3-2 win at Maine Road back in 1997. City have been dominant in recent years, winning the last three Premier League meetings 7-0 on aggregate, and have never claimed four consecutive top-flight victories over Forest.

Despite their historical struggles against City, Forest have had a solid campaign so far and sit above their more illustrious opponents ahead of this match. However, they’ve hit a rough patch, winning just one of their last five league matches (D1, L3), and are only two points clear of the chasing pack in the top four. A loss here could see them drop out of the Champions League spots, but their impressive form at home—seven wins in their last ten league games at the City Ground—gives them a glimmer of hope to end their poor record against City.

Meanwhile, Manchester City’s season has been disappointing by their high standards. With just 47 points after 27 games, they are far from the dominant force they have been in recent seasons. A top-four finish remains within reach, but they face an uphill battle to improve their points tally. With six wins from their last nine league outings, City will be eager to avoid further setbacks, especially as they chase silverware in the FA Cup.

United and Arsenal renew rivalry

Manchester United will be looking to end a disappointing run when they host Arsenal in a crucial Premier League clash this weekend. The Red Devils have lost their last four league encounters with the Gunners, marking their longest losing streak against them in league history.

However, they did triumph over their old rivals in the FA Cup earlier this year.

Arsenal also triumphed 1-0 at Old Trafford last season, and the North London side will be keen to replicate that success, as they haven't won back-to-back league games at United since 1979. Arsenal’s recent visits to Old Trafford have seen them score in each of their last 10 Premier League matches, having struggled to do so in previous years.

United’s struggles have been compounded by a series of injuries ahead of this matchup, with nine players sidelined for the game. Manager Ruben Amorim has faced a tough start to life at Old Trafford, with his side crashing out of the FA Cup to Fulham on penalties last weekend.

The team is also languishing in 14th place in the league, making this game a must-win for their hopes of turning their season around.

Arsenal, meanwhile, will be buoyed by their impressive 7-1 Champions League win over PSV, although they’ve faltered in the league in recent weeks. A goalless draw with Nottingham Forest and a home loss to West Ham have left them 13 points behind leaders Liverpool, though Mikel Arteta remains determined to fight for the title.

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