Liverpool remain at the summit of the Premier League and will soon clash with rivals Arsenal in what promises to be a thrilling encounter, with Manchester City poised to pounce on any potential slip-ups from either side.
Last season’s title race featured a fierce contest between City, Arsenal, and Liverpool, and it seems the same narrative is unfolding this year. Seven matches into the new campaign, Liverpool sit at the top, just four points clear of third-placed Arsenal. The Gunners suffered their first defeat of the season, falling to Bournemouth on Saturday night.
Taking advantage of Arsenal’s misstep, both Manchester City and Liverpool claimed vital wins on Sunday. City required late heroics from John Stones, whose stoppage-time header secured a victory over Wolves, while Liverpool triumphed over Chelsea in a hard-fought contest.
With another international break looming in December, teams have just three games left before the pause, making this stretch critical for maintaining momentum. By the time the break arrives, the Premier League table could look quite different, especially with the top contenders facing tough fixtures.
The spotlight will be on next weekend’s showdown as Arsenal host Liverpool. The Gunners have won this fixture for two consecutive years, but they’ll be without key defender William Saliba, who is suspended after a red card. A win here would be vital for Arsenal as they aim to bounce back.
For Liverpool, this match represents one of the first major tests under manager Arne Slot. Beating Chelsea at Anfield was a step forward, but going to Arsenal’s home turf is an entirely different challenge. As they prepare for battle, City will be eagerly watching, knowing that one of their title rivals is bound to drop points.
City’s path before the international break looks comparatively straightforward, with three games against south coast teams. They kick off against newly-promoted Southampton, who’ve struggled early in the season. Pep Guardiola’s men then head to Bournemouth and Brighton, hoping to maintain their unbeaten run.
Upcoming fixtures for the top three:
Liverpool
- 27 October: Arsenal (A)
- 2 November: Brighton (H)
- 9 November: Aston Villa (H)
Man City
- 26 October: Southampton (H)
- 2 November: Bournemouth (A)
- 9 November: Brighton (A)
Arsenal
- 27 October: Liverpool (H)
- 2 November: Newcastle (A)
- 10 November: Chelsea (A)
Following their Arsenal clash, Liverpool will host Brighton and Aston Villa. Both teams have posed challenges in the past, and Villa’s form this season suggests they could give Liverpool another tough test.
Meanwhile, Arsenal will face tricky back-to-back away games against Newcastle and Chelsea. Last season, Arsenal managed just one point from these two fixtures. St James’ Park remains one of the toughest away venues, and Chelsea’s resurgence was clear in their narrow loss to Liverpool earlier this season. Mikel Arteta knows his side cannot afford to lose further ground on City, who have overtaken them late in the last two seasons.
With so much at stake, these next few weeks could significantly shape the title race.
