Liverpool were beaten 3-0 by Manchester City on Sunday.placeholder image
Liverpool were beaten 3-0 by Manchester City on Sunday. | Getty Images
Liverpool’s next five Premier League fixtures compared with rival clubs as the Reds look to end recent slump
Arne Slot and his Liverpool side were left trudging off the field at the Etihad as Manchester City ran out deserved 3-0 winners, ending the Reds’ mini-revival and worsening a trend of poor performances and results which have left their title defence hanging by a thread.
The international break comes at a welcome time, but the challenges will continue after the break. A home clash with Sean Dyche’s revitalised Nottingham Forest is next up at Anfield, before a trip to the London Stadium to face a West Ham United side also fighting hard to get out of trouble under Nuno Espirito Santo.
Fourth-placed Sunderland then visit the Reds to kick off December, having lost just twice so far this season following promotion glory, while fellow newly-promoted Leeds United are next up for Slot’s men at Elland Road ahead of a clash with Brighton & Hove Albion for the Reds. While the fixture list looks favourable on paper, there are certainly potential slip-ups there if the champions are off their game. How do their upcoming fixtures compare to rivals?
Title-challenging Arsenal and Manchester City’s next five fixtures
Currently viewed as the two favourites for the Premier League title, both Arsenal and Manchester City face a mixed bag of fixtures as they enter the festive period.
The Gunners host arch-rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the North London Derby after the international break, facing back-to-back London derbies as they then travel to Stamford Bridge to face third-placed Chelsea. Brentford then travel to the Emirates in early December, before the Gunners travel to Villa Park to face in-form Aston Villa. A home clash against Wolverhampton Wanderers, who are set to have Middlesbrough manager Rob Edwards in the dugout by that point, sees out their next five fixtures.
As for the Cityzens, a tough trip to Newcastle United is next up after the internationals before Leeds visit the Etihad. Craven Cottage and struggling Fulham are next on the agenda after that, before Sunderland travel to Manchester to face off against Pep Guardiola’s men. City then travel to Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace on December 14.
Upcoming fixtures for Man United, Chelsea and other PL high-flyers
The Premier League top-half is excruciatingly tight at this moment in time, with five sides level on 18 points and just three points separating third and tenth. Liverpool currently sit in eighth on goal difference, meaning the Reds will need to better the results of a whole host of high-flying sides if Slot’s men are to find themselves back in title contention by Christmas.
Third-placed Chelsea travel to Burnley next up, before Arsenal visit Stamford Bridge on November 30, just days after the Blues host Barcelona in the Champions League. Leeds away follows the Gunners for Enzo Maresca’s men, before a trip to Bournemouth and a home clash with Everton.
Regis Le Bris’ Sunderland have been the surprise package of the Premier League season so far, and the Black Cats travel to Fulham next up before Bournemouth visit the Stadium of Light. Their trip to Anfield follows that, before the North East outfit travel to Man City to complete a challenging double-header. Finally, the Tyne-Wear derby against Newcastle takes place at the Stadium of Light, with local bragging rights at stake in a first league encounter for nine years.
Tottenham Hotspur are currently in fifth place despite some patchy home form, and Thomas Frank’s side face the North London Derby next before they host Fulham. A trip to Newcastle follows that, before Brentford visit north London. Spurs then travel to Forest.
Level on points with both Spurs and the Reds are Aston Villa, who comfortably beat Bournemouth 4-0 last time out. The Villans visit Leeds next before hosting Wolves. A trip to Brighton follows that, before a home clash with leaders Arsenal and a trip to West Ham.
Manchester United are ahead of arch-rivals Liverpool on goals scored, currently sitting seventh after a solid run of recent form. The Red Devils face Everton next at Old Trafford, before travelling to Crystal Palace. They host West Ham after that, followed by a trip to bottom side Wolves at Molineux. Bournemouth at home on 13 December sees out their next five fixtures.
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