AFP Sport appears to be like at three speaking factors forward of this weekend’s motion:
– No ‘revenge’ mission for Liverpool –
With reminiscences of their painful FA Cup quarter-final defeat at Manchester United nonetheless contemporary for Alex Mac-Allister and his Liverpool team-mates, it could have been no shock if the Argentine midfielder had branded their return to Previous Trafford as a revenge mission.
Jurgen Klopp’s facet twice blew the lead in a 4-3 defeat that was clinched by Amad Diallo within the last seconds of extra-time.
The top of Liverpool’s quadruple bid stung the Merseysiders however they’ll make amends by defeating Erik ten Hag’s males as they bid to maneuver degree with United’s document 20 top-flight titles.
Mac-Allister, whose thunderous strike put Liverpool on track for his or her 3-1 win over Sheffield United on Thursday, insisted avenging their FA Cup loss was not the first motivation with a lot already at stake.
“I don’t know if it’s revenge however for positive it is going to be an essential recreation for us as a result of if we need to win one thing we’ve to win each recreation and that’s the purpose,” mentioned Mac Allister, whose group are two factors away from second-placed Arsenal with eight video games left.
Arsenal head to Brighton aiming to maintain the stress on Liverpool, whereas third-placed Metropolis — three factors behind the leaders — journey to Crystal Palace.
– High 4 race heats up –
Tottenham shouldn’t be the “completed article” in line with boss Ange Postecoglou as his prime 4 hopefuls face a significant weekend within the race to qualify for the Champions League.
Postecoglou’s facet was held to a irritating 1-1 draw at West Ham on Tuesday however Aston Villa’s 4-1 defeat at Manchester Metropolis 24 hours later saved the north Londoners firmly in competition for a top-four berth.
Fifth-placed Tottenham are two factors behind fourth-placed Villa with a recreation in hand.
Struggling Nottingham Forest visits the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, whereas Villa hosts Brentford.
Either side will likely be anticipated to win and a shock slip-up might be a decisive second, with Postecoglou conceding his group remains to be a piece in progress.
“I’d like to have a joystick and put them the place I would like them nevertheless it doesn’t work like that. We aren’t the completed article and we all know that,” he mentioned.
Villa is aiming to play within the Champions League for the primary time since 1983 and boss Unai Emery mentioned his gamers relish the stress.
“We’ll play a variety of matches within the subsequent weeks, beginning on Saturday. It’s clear we’re motivated and excited to attempt to be aggressive,” he mentioned.
– ‘Solely method is up’ in survival battle –
Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White is assured his facet won’t crack as the stress mounts within the battle for survival.
Gibbs-White scored as fourth-bottom Forest defeated Fulham 3-1 on Tuesday to enhance their hopes of beating the drop with a primary win in seven video games in all competitions.
“Credit score to the entire group. It appears to be like like the one method is up from right here, hopefully,” Gibbs-White mentioned.
Forest has been deducted 4 factors for breaching the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability guidelines, whereas Everton was hit with a six-point punishment — decreased from 10 on attraction — for related monetary offences.
Everton face boss Sean Dyche’s former membership Burnley in an important conflict at Goodison Park on Saturday when the Toffees will bid to snap a membership document 13-game winless Premier League run.
Dyche’s facet are seven factors above second-bottom Burnley as they chase their first league win since beating the Clarets in December.
Third-bottom Luton hosts Bournemouth trying to shut the three-point hole on Forest.
Fixtures (all instances GMT)
Saturday
Crystal Palace v Manchester Metropolis (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)
AFP
