Christmas Premier League chart-toppers Liverpool are overwhelming favourites to see off struggling Leicester on Boxing Day (Thursday). Meanwhile each crisis-hit Manchester golf equipment will search a festive fillip, with faltering champions City at house to Wolves and United away to Wolves. Second-placed Chelsea host Fulham whereas in-form Arsenal will fancy their probabilities in opposition to relegation-threatened Ipswich on Friday, even with out the injured Bukayo Saka. Ange Postecoglou’s Tottenham, licking their wounds after a brutal 6-3 hammering by Liverpool, face a troublesome project at high-flying Nottingham Forest.
AFP Sport picks out among the main speaking factors within the run-up to one of many busiest factors of the English soccer season.
Liverpool prime of the tree
Liverpool are prime the desk on Christmas Day for the primary time because the 2020/21 season and can wish to make it rely.
Just as soon as up to now seven top-flight campaigns through which they’ve sat on the summit on December 25, have they gone on to win the title.
Arne Slot’s aspect returned to profitable methods in type on Sunday, overwhelming Spurs following two irritating attracts.
They are 4 factors away from Chelsea with a sport in hand. It can be an enormous shock in the event that they slipped up in opposition to Leicester at house, particularly with Mohamed Salah having fun with a purple patch.
The Egypt worldwide is the primary participant to achieve double figures for each targets (15) and assists (11) earlier than Christmas within the historical past of the Premier League.
Leicester gained their first match beneath new supervisor Ruud van Nistelrooy earlier this month however have collected only a single level of their previous three matches, conceding 9 targets.
The leaky Foxes haven’t gained at Anfield since 2000 and are simply two factors away from the drop zone after returning to the highest flight this season.
Saka blow forces Arsenal rethink
A buoyant Mikel Arteta stated the Premier League title race was “on” after Arsenal swept Crystal Palace apart 5-1 on Saturday.
But one darkish cloud was Saka limping off at Selhurst Park, with the England winger set for a prolonged spell on the sidelines with a hamstring harm.
It is a blow for Arteta, depriving him of his most potent attacking weapon — Saka has scored 9 targets and supplied 13 assists in all competitions this season — simply as Arsenal are discovering their type once more.
“It’s going to be a extremely good train for all of us to consider methods to beat one other problem, as a result of we have already had so much within the season,” stated Arsenal boss Arteta, whose workforce are third within the Premier League desk.
Arteta has plenty of attacking choices, with Gabriel Martinelli a candidate to fill the void, however Saka, 23, presents one thing distinctive.
Forest chase European dream
Nottingham Forest followers are dreaming of a return to the Champions League — greater than 40 years after they final performed in Europe’s premier membership competitors.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s aspect have gained seven of their previous 10 Premier League video games to climb to fourth within the desk forward of their match in opposition to Tottenham on Thursday.
Forest haven’t gained a significant trophy since 1990 however they’ve a proud custom in continental competitors — with the Midlands membership twice topped European champions beneath former supervisor Brian Clough, in 1979 and 1980.
While Forest should not prolific scorers, they’re spectacular on the again — solely Liverpool and Arsenal have conceded fewer targets within the English prime flight this season.
Former Spurs boss Nuno is braced for the unknown in opposition to his former membership, who’ve constructed a status as nice entertainers.
“You by no means know what is going on to occur within the sport,” he stated. “What we are able to see is sweet gamers, a variety of targets, additionally conceding targets.”
Fixtures
Thursday (1500 GMT until said)
Manchester City v Everton (1230), Bournemouth v Crystal Palace, Chelsea v Fulham, Newcastle v Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest v Tottenham, Southampton v West Ham, Wolves v Manchester United (1730), Liverpool v Leicester (2000)
Friday
Brighton v Brentford (1930), Arsenal v Ipswich (2015)
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