Manchester City head to Villa Park on Saturday, desperate to reverse their alarming decline, while Premier League leaders Liverpool travel to face Tottenham on Sunday in a highly anticipated clash.
Pep Guardiola’s City are in uncharted waters, having suffered eight defeats in their last 11 matches across all competitions. Their struggles are in stark contrast to last season when a 1-0 loss at Aston Villa in December was their final defeat before powering to a fourth consecutive Premier League title.
This time, City arrive in Birmingham in dire form, with their chances of a fifth straight title fading rapidly. Currently fifth on the table and nine points behind Liverpool, City have lost five of their past seven league matches—a figure matching their total losses in the previous 67 games.
Speaking after last week’s 2-1 derby loss to Manchester United, Guardiola shouldered the blame, admitting he was “not good enough.” However, midfielder Phil Foden insisted the team remains fully behind their manager.
Meanwhile, seventh-placed Aston Villa have been inconsistent this season but will be optimistic about piling more misery on an injury-hit City side that appears to be in a collective crisis of confidence.
Tottenham vs Liverpool: Clash of Firepower
Sunday’s marquee fixture sees Tottenham hosting Liverpool in a battle that could have major implications for the title race. Liverpool, under the guidance of Arne Slot, are adjusting seamlessly after Jurgen Klopp’s departure.
Despite recent draws against Newcastle and Fulham, the Reds are still top of the table and head into the match after a Carabao Cup quarter-final win over Southampton. However, their commanding nine-point lead at the top has been reduced, giving second-placed Chelsea hope of catching up.
Chelsea, managed by Enzo Maresca, are on a six-game winning streak and could leapfrog Liverpool if they win at Everton earlier in the day.
Tottenham, under Ange Postecoglou, have had a rollercoaster season with seven wins and seven defeats in 16 games. Known for their attacking style, Spurs have netted 36 league goals—only Chelsea have scored more—making Sunday’s match a likely goal-fest.
Weekend Premier League Fixtures
Saturday
Aston Villa vs Manchester City
Brentford vs Nottingham Forest
Ipswich vs Newcastle
West Ham vs Brighton
Crystal Palace vs Arsenal
Sunday
Everton vs Chelsea
Fulham vs Southampton
Leicester vs Wolves
Manchester United vs Bournemouth
Tottenham vs Liverpool
