RACE IS ON

All top-three Premier League teams in action this weekend

In Summary

• Second-placed Manchester City are at home to Chelsea on Saturday, with Pep Guardiola’s side looking in ominous form.

• Manchester United are in their best form of the season after three consecutive wins, although Sunday’s visit to play Luton Town could be a litmus test.

Liverpool players celebrate during a past match.
Liverpool players celebrate during a past match.
Image: HANDOUT

Liverpool have an early chance to put pressure on their pursuers in the race for the Premier League title when they open the weekend round of games with a visit to south-west London to face Brentford.

Jurgen Klopp has a long injury list, with players such as Joel Matip, Alisson Becker, Joe Gomez, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Mohamed Salah and Dominik Szoboszlai all out of the game, meaning that Darwin Nunez will lead the attack.

Brentford returned to form with an impressive win away to Wolves last week and Liverpool will have to deal with Ivan Toney, whose return has helped give pace and power to the home side’s attack.

Arsenal produced their best display of the season to win 6-0 away to West Ham United a week ago and with Martin Odegaard in fine form, the Gunners are favourite to take another three points from their visit to relegation-haunted Burnley.

Leandro Trossard will again start in the wake of his impressive display last week for the injured Gabriel Jesus, but Arsenal will have seen how an improved Burnley was slightly unlucky to leave Anfield empty-handed last weekend.

Second-placed Manchester City are at home to Chelsea on Saturday, with Pep Guardiola’s side looking in ominous form.

Phil Foden and Kevin de Bruyne helped them to a 3-1 Champions League win in Copenhagen in midweek and although Bernardo Silva and Jack Grealish picked up injuries which will keep them out on Saturday, Julien Alvarez will be rested and ready to start if Guardiola wants to rest any of his frontmen.

Chelsea have struggled to defend against top sides and this is another big test for Mauricio Pochettino’s side ahead of next weekend’s Carabao Cup final against Liverpool.

Tottenham entertain Wolves and their cause is likely to be helped by the season-ending hamstring injury suffered by visiting striker Matheus Cunha and doubts over the fitness of Hwang Hee-chan after the Asian Cup.

Richarlison has shone recently for Tottenham and the return of Hueng Min-son will add extra spice to the game, especially after stories of poor relations among some members of the South Korean squad in the recent tournament.

Newcastle United are without striker Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson as they welcome Bournemouth. Before joining Newcastle, coach Eddie Howe spent time watching Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola at work when he was with Rayo Vallecano in Spain and partially adopted Iraola’s high-pressing style.

Aston Villa have slipped out of the top-four after recent results and need to return to form away to Fulham, although Craven Cottage is a tough ground to visit against a rival that gives little away on their home ground.

Moussa Diaby is in line for a recall for Villa after not starting in last weekend’s defeat at home to Manchester United.

Manchester United are in their best form of the season after three consecutive wins, although Sunday’s visit to play Luton Town could be a litmus test.

Luton wasted a chance to move clear of the bottom three after losing to Sheffield United last weekend, but their role as underdog on Sunday should allow it to sit deep and use the pace of Chiedozie Ogbene and Carlton Morris on the break.

Sheffield United need to build on their win at Luton when they entertain Brighton, whose coach Roberto De Zerbi is being linked with Barcelona for next season.

Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest are at home to West Ham, who remain eighth in the Premier League despite not winning a game in 2024. They to show an ability to recover following last weekend’s humiliation at home to Arsenal.