EPL Weekend Preview: Man United Vs Liverpool Battle Of Titans, Arsenal, Man City Survival Race

Liverpool currently leading the Premier League, are set to face Manchester United as they aim to draw closer to matching their rivals’ record of 20 English titles.

The title race is intense, with Arsenal & Manchester City hoping for a Liverpool slip-up, while the competition for the top four spots & the fight against relegation is becoming more intense.

Here are three key talking points to consider ahead of this weekend’s matches:

Revenge mission for Liverpool

Following their recent FA Cup quarter-final defeat at the hands of Manchester United, Alexis Mac Allister & his Liverpool teammates might have been expected to view their upcoming return to Old Trafford as a chance for revenge.

In a heartbreaking 4-3 loss, Liverpool surrendered their lead twice, ultimately falling to Amad Diallo’s decisive goal in the dying moments of extra time. The defeat marked the end of Liverpool’s hopes for a quadruple triumph, leaving a bitter taste for the Merseyside club.

As they aim to draw level with United’s 20 top-flight titles, Liverpool have the opportunity to make amends by overcoming Erik ten Hag’s side. Despite the desire to avenge their FA Cup disappointment, Mac Allister emphasized that the team’s focus remains on the significant stakes involved in the match.

Mac Allister, whose thunderous strike put Liverpool on course for their 3-1 win over Sheffield United on Thursday, insisted avenging their FA Cup loss was not the primary motivation with so much already at stake.

“I don’t know if it’s revenge but for sure it will be an important game for us because if we want to win something we have to win every game & that’s the aim,” said Mac Allister, whose team has two points clear of second-placed Arsenal with eight games left.

Arsenal heads to Brighton aiming to keep the pressure on Liverpool, while third-placed City, who are three points behind the leaders travel to Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Top four race

Tottenham manager Ange Postecoglou has acknowledged that his team is not the “finished article” as they strive for a top-four finish & qualification for the Champions League.

Following a frustrating 1-1 draw against West Ham, Tottenham’s hopes were kept alive by Aston Villa’s 4-1 at the hands of Manchester City. Currently in fifth place, Tottenham is just two points behind-placed Villa, with a game in hand.

This weekend, Tottenham will host struggling Nottingham Forest at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, while Villa will face Brentford at home. Both teams will be aiming for victory, any unexpected slip-up could have significant implications in the race for the top four.

Postecoglou has acknowledged that his team is still a work in progress as they approach this crucial stage of the season.

“I would love to have a joystick & put them where I want them but it doesn’t work like that. We are not the finished article and we know that,” he said.

Aston Villa is striving to secure a spot in the Champions League for the first time since 1983, & manager Unai Emery has expressed that his players thrive under the pressure of this ambition.

“We will play a lot of matches in the next weeks, starting on Saturday. It’s clear we are motivated and excited to try to be competitive,” Unai Emery said.

Survival Battle 

In the battle for survival, Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White is optimistic that his team will stay resilient as the pressure intensifies.

Gibbs-White found the net as fourth-bottom Forest secured a crucial 3-1 victory over Fulham on Tuesday, ending a seven-game winless streak across all competitions and boosting their chances of avoiding relegation.

“After the win, it feels like the only way is up for us, hopefully,” Gibbs-White remarked.

Forest has been docked four points for breaching the Premier League’s financial rules, while Everton received a six-point penalty (reduced from 10 on appeal) for similar violations.

Everton, led by’ manager Sean Dyche, will face his former club Burnley in a pivotal match at Goodison Park on Saturday, aiming to end a club-record 13-game winless streak in the Premier League.

Dyche’s team currently sits seven points above second-bottom Burnley, seeking their first league victory since defeating Burnley in December.

Meanwhile, third-bottom Luton Town will host Bournemouth as they strive to narrow the three-point gap with Forest in the relegation battle.