Premier League leaders Arsenal visit second-placed Chelsea on Sunday aiming to strengthen their grip on top spot, but earlier in the day attention will turn to reigning champions Liverpool as they attempt to halt a nightmare run.
Liverpool travel to West Ham United after suffering back-to-back home defeats to Nottingham Forest in the league and PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League — the latter marking their worst sequence of results in 71 years.
Arne Slot’s side began the season with seven straight wins following a record £445 million summer spend, but nine defeats in their last 12 matches have left the manager under pressure and the club closer to the relegation zone than to Arsenal. By the time they kick off at West Ham, Liverpool could be 14th in the table.
The slump has been attributed to several factors, including the psychological impact of forward Diogo Jota’s death in a summer car crash and the struggles of big-money signings Florian Wirtz, Alexander Isak and Milos Kerkez. Key figures Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk have also faced criticism after Wednesday’s 4-1 humiliation by PSV.
Former Liverpool midfielder Dietmar Hamann suggested Slot faces a defining choice over Salah’s role, while Jamie Carragher argued the hierarchy will not sack a manager who delivered the title in his first season. Carragher warned, however, that Liverpool can no longer rely on Salah, Van Dijk or Alisson, saying others must step up as the club faces a transition.
While Liverpool fight to stop the rot, Arsenal’s momentum continues to build. Mikel Arteta’s side are unbeaten in 16 matches across all competitions and their midweek victory over Bayern Munich was hailed by the manager as “immense.” A win at Stamford Bridge would extend their lead to at least seven points.
Chelsea, buoyed by a 3-0 triumph over Barcelona, will look to cut the gap to three points as coach Enzo Maresca’s project gathers pace. Manchester City, meanwhile, must recover from consecutive defeats to Newcastle United and Bayer Leverkusen when they host struggling Leeds United on Saturday.
Aston Villa, now fourth after a strong resurgence, face bottom club Wolverhampton Wanderers, while Crystal Palace host Manchester United. Tottenham Hotspur, still searching for consistency at home, welcome Fulham in Saturday’s fixture list.
