- This weekend’s Premier League schedule has several major matches, including a crucial title race match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield.
- We look at this week’s Premier League talking points.
This weekend’s Premier League schedule has several major matches, including a crucial title race match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield.
We look at this week’s Premier League talking points.
Ten Hag looks to turn things around
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag. Photo/Team Talk
Following their loss at the hands of Manchester City last weekend, Manchester United’s miserable season took a new low as they lost at the Etihad Stadium. At this point in the Premier League season, Erik ten Hag’s club has dropped 11 games, one less than the record they established in 2013–14 and 2021–22 for the most losses in a Premier League campaign (12).
Additionally, United has dropped eight games at home in all competitions. It hasn’t happened to the team in 50 years that they dropped nine games at home in one campaign. Though they have only won once in their past 30 visits, Everton, this weekend’s visitors, have a dismal record there. Plus, Sean Dyche’s team has lost 10 straight Premier League games without a victory.
The Toffees will, meanwhile, be hoping to generate enough opportunities to cause Ten Hag’s squad problems despite their worst xG underperformance in the league this season. Across their previous seven games in all competitions, Manchester United has let up an average of 21 shots.
Flying Arsenal meet Bretnford
Kai Havertz. Photo/ Arsenal.com.
Since the start of the new year, Arsenal has been the best team in Europe, and they are now soaring high. The North Londoners have won seven straight games and scored 31 goals under Mikel Arteta’s leadership as they crushed Sheffield United 6-0 on Monday night to maintain their flawless Premier League record in 2024.
With only three goals allowed in that stretch and an opponent’s xG of just 2.12, Arsenal also has the top defense in the division.
Arsenal’s free-scoring forward line and impenetrable defense have helped the team surge back into title contention, and a victory over Brentford on Saturday night would put them atop the standings.
With nine straight league losses and seven straight games in which they have allowed two or more goals, Brentford is in dreadful form. The form book predicts that Arsenal will win and move up to the top, putting further pressure on championship contenders Manchester City and Liverpool when they play on Sunday.
Klopp and Guardiola’s last dance
This weekend will be the final meeting between Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola, the manager rivalry of the contemporary era, for Premier League supporters.
In recent seasons, Liverpool and Manchester City, two teams that have fought for championships, broken records, and challenged one another to new heights, have created some unforgettable matches. Like the great do when the stakes are higher and the goals are similar, this competition has grown more bitter.
With only a point separating the top two teams in the division, this weekend’s big match at Anfield will have high implications. There’s a lot on the line, with Arsenal involved in the closest title fight in ten years.
Games between Klopp’s Liverpool and Guardiola’s Manchester City will be inscribed in the Premier League’s mythology, rivalry, respect, and everything else. Legends are not always acknowledged until after they pass away.
Chelsea under pressure
Mauricio Pochettino. Photo/ Goal
With last weekend’s draw against Brentford, which took place against the backdrop of audible cries for his resignation, Mauricio Pochettino indicated, to put it bluntly, that he did not feel the love from the Chelsea supporters.
There was vociferous chanting against Pochettino and Todd Boehly, and from the terraces, there were also cries for the former manager, Jose Mourinho. Pochettino is well aware that he is up against a steep hill in his quest to win over Chelsea supporters.
There are not as many problems as there were the previous season, but a drop from 12th to 11th place is hardly the kind of result that was anticipated after spending an additional £400 million or more in the summer.
On Monday night, Newcastle will be the guests at Stamford Bridge. The Magpies haven’t triumphed there since Papiss Cisse’s outstanding brace that netted them three points in 2012.
The clamor for change will become louder if that happens.
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