Arsenal face a take a look at of their Premier League title credentials in opposition to Liverpool this weekend because the scramble to keep away from relegation intensifies.
Manchester United and Newcastle will search to consolidate their positions within the high 4, whereas Frank Lampard takes cost for Chelsea’s go to to Wolves after returning to Stamford Bridge as caretaker supervisor.
This is a take a look at among the key speaking factors forward of the motion.
Liverpool lie in await Arsenal
Arsenal journey to Anfield on Sunday searching for an eighth consecutive Premier League win as they shut in on a primary English top-flight title for 19 years.
On paper, a match in opposition to faltering Liverpool doesn’t look the hardest of duties however Jurgen Klopp’s group are a harder proposition at house than away, successful 9 of their 13 league matches at Anfield this season.
Klopp noticed positives within the goalless draw in opposition to Chelsea in midweek after three consecutive defeats in all competitions, praising his males for his or her perspective.
“Now let’s stick with it,” he stated. “Anfield is ready for us and we wish to ship. We have now one other 10 video games to play and the subsequent one is Arsenal.”
The Gunners, who haven’t received at Anfield within the league since 2012, face a frightening set of fixtures in April, with matches in opposition to Manchester Metropolis and Chelsea to come back later within the month.
But when they beat Liverpool, even defending champions Metropolis, eight factors behind Arsenal with a sport in hand, may start to lose perception they’ll catch their title rivals.
Rashford reliance
Marcus Rashford was as soon as once more the match-winner in Manchester United’s victory in opposition to Brentford on Wednesday, however Erik ten Hag is painfully conscious that his aspect are over-reliant on the England ahead.
United’s 1-0 win at Previous Trafford, which lifted them again into the highest 4, was their first within the Premier League since mid-February.
Ten Hag lastly ran out of persistence with the blunt Wout Weghorst however regardless of their dominance, United have been unable so as to add a second purpose to Rashford’s first-half strike.
The Purple Devils haven’t received a league match with out Rashford being on the scoresheet since earlier than the World Cup.
Ten Hag, whose aspect host Sean Dyche’s Everton on Saturday, admits it’s “the reality” that United are too reliant on Rashford, who has 28 targets in all competitions this season.
However discovering an answer shouldn’t be straightforward. Weghorst has scored simply twice since he joined on mortgage in January and Anthony Martial is discovering his toes once more after an injury-ravaged season.
Relegation strain
The strain on the backside of the Premier League is rising by the week, with golf equipment taking drastic measures within the battle for survival.
Crystal Palace, Leeds, Everton and Southampton have all appointed new managers in current weeks, whereas Brendan Rodgers left Leicester on Sunday.
Nottingham Forest proprietor Evangelos Marinakis stated Steve Cooper would stay accountable for the struggling membership however warned outcomes should “enhance instantly”.
And David Moyes is clinging to his job as West Ham boss after a humiliating 5-1 house defeat by Newcastle in midweek, which left the membership hovering above the relegation zone on purpose distinction alone.
Hammers captain Declan Rice is adamant he and his teammates can’t afford to sulk.
“We’re constructive that we’ve sufficient to get out of this,” he stated. “We will solely fear about ourselves. We have now picked up outcomes. It’s all the way down to us. And if we win our video games, we shall be all proper.”
Fixtures
Saturday (1400 GMT except said)
Manchester United v Everton (1130), Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest, Brentford v Newcastle, Fulham v West Ham, Leicester v Bournemouth, Tottenham v Brighton, Wolves v Chelsea, Southampton v Manchester Metropolis (1630)
Sunday
Leeds v Crystal Palace (1300), Liverpool v Arsenal (1530)