Liverpool’s pursuit of the Premier League title has slowed ahead of their match against Manchester City on Sunday, giving Arsenal a chance to close the gap at the top.
If Arsenal defeat struggling West Ham at home, they can reduce the lead to five points.
Behind the top two, the battle for a Champions League spot is heating up, with only six points separating third-placed Nottingham Forest and seventh-placed Newcastle, who will meet at St James’ Park.
Liverpool appeared to be on track for a record-equalling 20th league title but two 2-2 draws against Everton and Aston Villa in the last 10 days have made the title race more competitive.
Manchester City, despite dominating English football for the past decade, were eliminated from the Champions League by Real Madrid, marking their first exit before the last 16 since the 2012/13 season.
They may also be without Erling Haaland, who was sidelined due to injury in the midweek clash.
However, City showed their strength with a dominant 4-0 victory over Newcastle last week, and they still need points to secure a top-four finish.
Arne Slot, who commented on City’s recent form, noted that injuries have hindered their performance, but they appear to be bouncing back.
Arsenal has the chance to increase the pressure by securing a win against West Ham on Friday.
Despite being without a recognized striker for the rest of the season, Mikel Arteta’s team has earned 23 points from their last 27, keeping them in the title race.
Slot acknowledged the difficulty of playing at the Etihad and stressed that Arsenal’s involvement shouldn’t affect their approach.
Chelsea need to recover quickly to keep their hopes of Champions League qualification alive.
After a poor performance in their 3-0 loss to Brighton, manager Enzo Maresca admitted it was their worst showing under his leadership, with concerns growing over the future of star player Cole Palmer without the lure of European football. Chelsea will face Aston Villa, who are also struggling to stay in the race for a top-four finish.
Nottingham Forest, currently third, are in the midst of an unlikely push for a spot in European competition.
They will face Newcastle away and then host Arsenal and Manchester City in their next two home games, testing their credentials for a Champions League spot.
Newcastle, following two straight league defeats, are looking for consistency. Manager Eddie Howe expressed frustration with their inconsistent form, stressing that elite teams must maintain a high level of performance.
Upcoming EPL Fixtures (all times 1500 GMT unless stated):
Friday:
Leicester vs Brentford (2000)
Saturday:
Everton vs Manchester United (1230)
Fulham vs Crystal Palace
Ipswich vs Tottenham
Southampton vs Brighton
Bournemouth vs Wolves
Arsenal vs West Ham
Aston Villa vs Chelsea (1730)
Sunday:
Newcastle vs Nottingham Forest (1400)
Man City vs Liverpool (1630)
