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The top four race heats up as Liverpool plays Manchester United in a title match
With so much already at risk, Mac Allister, whose thunderous strike set Liverpool up for their 3-1 victory over Sheffield United on Thursday, argued that exacting revenge for their FA Cup loss was not the main driving force.
Liverpool, the league leaders, are hoping to tie their fierce rivals’ record of 20 English championships when they play Manchester United.
Arsenal and Manchester City will be hoping that Liverpool stumbles in this exciting title race, while the competition for a spot in the top four and the battle to avoid relegation are also intensifying.
Three talking points are examined by AFP Sport in advance of this weekend’s action:
– No ‘revenge’ mission for Liverpool –
Alex Mac Allister and his Liverpool teammates were still reeling from their heartbreaking FA Cup quarterfinal loss to Manchester United, so it would not have surprised them if the Argentine midfielder had described their trip back to Old Trafford as a mission of vengeance.
Amad Diallo sealed the 4-3 loss for Jurgen Klopp’s team in the waning moments of extra time after his team twice blew leads.
The failure of Liverpool’s quadruple attempt hurt the Merseysiders, but they may avenge it by defeating Erik ten Hag’s team in an attempt to tie United’s record of 20 Premier League championships.
With so much already at risk, Mac Allister, whose thunderous strike set Liverpool up for their 3-1 victory over Sheffield United on Thursday, argued that exacting revenge for their FA Cup loss was not the main driving force.
“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 and that’s the aim,” said Mac Allister, whose team are two points clear of second-placed Arsenal with eight games left.
Arsenal head to Brighton aiming to keep the pressure on Liverpool, while third-placed City — three points behind the leaders — travel to Crystal Palace.
– Top four race heats up –
Tottenham are not the “finished article” according to boss Ange Postecoglou as his top four hopefuls face a vital weekend in the race to qualify for the Champions League.
Despite Tuesday’s dismal 1-1 draw at West Ham, Aston Villa’s 4-1 loss to Manchester City the day before maintained Postecoglou’s team in the running for a top four spot.
ranked fifth With a game remaining, Tottenham is two points behind Villa in fourth place.
On Saturday, struggling Nottingham Forest will be at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, while Villa will be at Brentford.
Both teams will be expected to win, and while Postecoglou acknowledges his team is still developing, a shocking error could prove to be the difference.
“I would love to have a joystick and 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.
Villa are aiming to play in the Champions League for the first time since 1983 and boss Unai Emery said his players relish the pressure.
“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,” he said.
– ‘Only way is up’ in survival battle –
Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White is confident his side will not crack as the tension mounts in the struggle for survival.
Gibbs-White scored as fourth-bottom Forest defeated Fulham 3-1 on Tuesday to improve their hopes of beating the drop with a first win in seven games in all competitions.
“Credit to the whole team. It looks like the only way is up from here, hopefully,” Gibbs-White said.
Forest have been deducted four points for breaching the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules, while Everton were hit with a six-point punishment — reduced from 10 on appeal — for similar financial offences.
Everton face boss Sean Dyche’s former club Burnley in a crucial clash at Goodison Park on Saturday when the Toffees will bid to snap a club record 13-game winless Premier League run.
Dyche’s side are seven points above second-bottom Burnley as they chase their first league win since beating the Clarets in December.
Third-bottom Luton host Bournemouth looking to close the three-point gap on Forest.
Fixtures (all times GMT)
Saturday
Crystal Palace v Manchester City (1130), Aston Villa v Brentford, Everton v Burnley, Fulham v Newcastle, Luton v Bournemouth, Wolves v West Ham, Brighton v Arsenal (1630)
Sunday
Manchester United v Liverpool (1430), Sheffield United v Chelsea (1630), Tottenham v Nottingham Forest (1700)
