As the Premier League enters its final stretch, Liverpool are on the brink of reclaiming the crown, while a fierce fight rages behind them for the remaining Champions League spots. With just seven matches left, the tension is rising at both ends of the table — from the title race and top-five battle to the grim struggle for survival.
Liverpool Look to Refocus After Fulham Setback
Despite holding a commanding 11-point lead at the top of the Premier League, Liverpool’s shock 3-2 loss to Fulham last weekend reminded fans and critics alike that no lead is safe in football. That defeat ended the Reds’ impressive 26-match unbeaten league run, raising eyebrows and sparking talk of complacency.
But manager Arne Slot insists his side are locked in and determined to clinch the club’s first league title since 2020.
"There is no reason for us to be complacent," Slot said ahead of their clash with West Ham at Anfield. "It takes us so much effort, so much hard work to win."
With only seven matches remaining and the finish line in sight, Liverpool will look to reassert their dominance on Sunday and inch closer to a record-equalling 20th English title.
Top-Five Champions League Race Goes Down to the Wire
The battle for the top five — and a coveted place in next season’s expanded Champions League — has become one of the most intense in recent Premier League history.
Currently, just five points separate third-placed Nottingham Forest and sixth-placed Manchester City, with Chelsea, Newcastle, and Aston Villa all locked in a thrilling race for qualification.
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Chelsea sit fourth and will hope to capitalise against relegation-threatened Ipswich on Sunday.
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Newcastle, level on points with Chelsea but trailing on goal difference, host Manchester United in a crucial clash.
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Aston Villa, just two points behind the top five, visit relegated Southampton looking to keep their hopes alive.
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Manchester City, under pressure from a disappointing season, face Crystal Palace and can’t afford a slip.
For City, failing to qualify would mark their first absence from the Champions League since 2010-11 — a stunning fall for a club that has dominated the domestic scene for the better part of a decade.
Leicester Facing Relegation Doom
At the opposite end of the table, Leicester City’s nightmare season has them teetering on the edge of relegation. A 3-0 loss to Newcastle on Monday extended their horrendous run to eight straight home league defeats without scoring — a first in English football’s top four divisions.
The Foxes, now under the beleaguered leadership of Ruud van Nistelrooy, haven’t found the net at home since December 8, ironically against their weekend opponents Brighton.
"Trying different things, different structures, different players in different positions and the results are not there. That is the worrying thing," Van Nistelrooy admitted.
If Leicester lose at Brighton and Wolves beat Tottenham, the Foxes will be 18 points from safety with only six games left — effectively sealing their fate just a year after bouncing back to the top flight.
Key Fixtures to Watch
Saturday (2pm GMT unless stated)
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Manchester City vs Crystal Palace (11:30am)
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Brighton vs Leicester
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Nottingham Forest vs Everton
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Southampton vs Aston Villa
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Arsenal vs Brentford (4:30pm)
Sunday (1pm GMT unless stated)
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Chelsea vs Ipswich
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Liverpool vs West Ham
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Wolves vs Tottenham
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Newcastle vs Manchester United (3:30pm)
Monday
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Bournemouth vs Fulham (7pm GMT)
With Liverpool looking to lock up the title and multiple teams fighting tooth and nail for European qualification, this weekend’s Premier League action promises drama, desperation, and possibly, destiny. Whether at the summit or the cellar, every point now carries immense weight.
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