Liverpool are under mounting pressure to halt their alarming slide when they host Aston Villa at Anfield on Saturday. The defending Premier League champions have endured a torrid run, crashing out of the League Cup in midweek and suffering four consecutive league defeats, leaving their title defence in tatters.
Manager Arne Slot faces an uphill task to steady the ship after resting key players in the 3-0 loss to Crystal Palace. Liverpool, who led Villa by 12 points earlier in the season, are now level on points, separated only by goal difference. Injuries to key players such as Trent Alexander-Arnold and Luis Diaz, coupled with a disrupted squad following a record £450 million summer spending spree, have left the Reds looking disjointed.
Aston Villa, meanwhile, have found their rhythm with four straight league wins, including impressive victories over Tottenham and Manchester City. A win at Anfield would not only underline their Champions League ambitions but also deepen Liverpool’s woes.
Elsewhere, Bournemouth put their unbeaten streak on the line against Manchester City at the Etihad on Sunday. The Cherries have not lost since the opening weekend defeat to Liverpool and are eyeing a historic push for European qualification. City, trailing leaders Arsenal by six points, will be desperate to bounce back after last weekend’s loss to Villa. With Erling Haaland carrying the bulk of City’s goals, Pep Guardiola will look for others like Omar Marmoush and Rayan Cherki—both on target in midweek—to share the scoring burden.
Tottenham, sitting third, will seek to rediscover their home form when they face Chelsea. Despite strong performances on the road, Spurs have struggled in north London, managing just one home win in recent weeks. Manager Thomas Frank has urged unity between players and fans to restore their home dominance.
With Arsenal visiting Burnley and several mid-table clashes on the card, this weekend’s fixtures could significantly reshape the Premier League standings as November kicks off.
