Battered Liverpool search for answers, high-flying Arsenal brace for tricky Chelsea test

HAVE Liverpool reached rock bottom or do they have further to fall as they prepare for a tricky-looking match at West Ham this weekend?

The defending English Premier League champions have suffered a staggering six defeats in their past seven league games, with few signs that their manager Arne Slot is getting a grip on the situation.

In stark contrast, buoyant leaders Arsenal take on second-placed Chelsea showing clear signs that they are finally equipped to end their two-decade title drought.

Here are three talking points ahead of this weekend’s action:

Liverpool crisis deepens

Liverpool have lost nine of their past 12 matches in all competitions – a full-blown crisis by the standards of one of the world’s biggest clubs.

The Anfield team are on their worst run of form for more than 70 years, with the pressure mounting on Slot just months after he led them to their 20th English league championship.

The 47-year-old Dutchman admitted he had not slept well after Wednesday night’s damaging 4-1 defeat by PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League.

Liverpool are suffering from an inability to take their chances and a failure to stamp out defensive errors.

They have conceded more goals in all competitions – 34 – than any other EPL team this season.

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Sunday’s trip to West Ham (10.05 pm kickoff, Singapore time) is a tough one. The Hammers have been rejuvenated under manager Nuno Espirito Santo, who took over from the sacked Graham Potter in September.

But despite their horrific run of form, Liverpool, now a lowly 12th in the league, are just three points behind Aston Villa in fourth spot.

Arsenal show depth

Top of the EPL and in pole position in the Champions League, Arsenal are showing signs this season could be a special one.

Analysts Opta give the Gunners a 76 per cent chance of winning the EPL for the first time since 2004, when Arsene Wenger was manager.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta stayed grounded after Wednesday’s impressive 3-1 home win against German giants Bayern Munich in the Champions League, immediately switching his focus to the next match at Chelsea’s Stamford Bridge stadium (Monday 12.30 am, Singapore time).

Wednesday’s win against the six-time European champions Bayern showcased the Gunners’ impressive strength in depth.

Two of the goals came from substitutes – Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli – while Arsenal are still missing a host of first-team players, including Gabriel Magalhaes, Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres.

Arteta, whose team are six points clear of Chelsea, says he is happy with the resources at his disposal.

“I look at the players that are coming in and they can change the game,” he said.

“We certainly have improved that, not only with the quality but as well with the mindset of the players coming in and that’s something that is making a huge difference.”

Villa on the march

Aston Villa failed to win any of their opening five EPL matches this season but manager Unai Emery has since engineered a dramatic turnaround.

If other results go their way this weekend, Villa, who face struggling local rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers, could climb to as high as second in the standings behind Arsenal.

The Villains failed to score a single goal in their first four league fixtures but a terrific run of six wins in seven games has since catapulted them into the top four.

Emery’s team have not been creating bucket-loads of chances but, strikingly, eight of their 15 EPL goals so far have come from outside the penalty area.

New Wolves manager Rob Edwards will not relish the trip to Villa, who have not lost at home since August. Wolves have collected just two points from their 12 games so far and are already nine points adrift of 17th place as they bid to avoid relegation.

Spanish giants looking to bounce back

Spanish champions Barcelona and current league leaders Real Madrid are looking to restore confidence this weekend in La Liga after suffering chastening nights in the Champions League.

Barcelona host Alaves on Saturday while Madrid visit 18th-placed Girona on Sunday, as the top two aim to fend off the in-form pair of Atletico Madrid and Villarreal, who are hot on their tails.

Barcelona suffered a morale-crushing 3-0 defeat at Chelsea on Tuesday, while Real Madrid’s defence wobbled alarmingly in also conceding three goals at Greek side Olympiakos, although they managed to claim a 4-3 victory thanks to four goals from Kylian Mbappe.

The Chelsea defeat was the first time that Barcelona had failed to score in 2025.

Barcelona thumped Athletic Bilbao 4-0 last Saturday at their reopened Nou Camp stadium, and a similar performance against Alaves would help paper over some cracks in the short-term.

It would take last season’s champions provisionally back to the top of La Liga after Madrid dropped points in both of their two previous league matches, including last weekend at promoted side Elche.

Alonso’s team lead Barcelona at the top of the table by one point following that disappointing 2-2 draw, and a goalless draw with Rayo Vallecano before the last international break earlier this month.

As for Real Madrid, they will count on superstar French striker Mbappe once again after he ran riot in the narrow victory in Athens on Wednesday to break a run of three games without a win across all competitions.

Manager Xabi Alonso said that victory was important for the team to get back into a winning dynamic, which he hopes they can build on against Villareal.

The coach has come under scrutiny with some Spanish reports suggesting his players, including winger Vinicius Junior, do not back him.

“We are united, we know the season will be long and demanding. There will be all kinds of moments, but unity is fundamental: that confidence in each other,” said Alonso. AFP