Sky Sports assesses title contenders Liverpool, Arsenal, and Man United as the Premier League returns this weekend. City…LIVERPOOLSky Sport’s’ Richard Morgan:
Con: History is not on the Reds’ sideThere is a good reason why Opta’s computer rates Liverpool’s chances of winning the Premier League title at only 7.1%. Only four teams in Premier League have managed to come back from a deficit eight points or more at this point of the season and win the championship. [although Man Utd have done it four times and Man City twice].
If that were to happen, Arsenal and Man City Liverpool, who has already lost five games in the league this season, would then have to go on an unbeaten streak of a length that is currently beyond a team with a record like that. [only the bottom six have lost more times].
Monterosa
Monterosa may use cookies and other technologies to deliver this content.
We need your consent to use cookies in order to show you the content.
The buttons below allow you to modify your preferences and enable Monterosa Cookies or only to allow them once.
You can always change your privacy settings via Privacy Options.
Unfortunately, we were unable to verify that you had consented for Monterosa cookies.
Use the button below to view this content and allow Monterosa cookies only for this session.
Cookies – Enable them
All cookies are allowed once
Con: Leaky back line doesn’t instil confidence
Please use Chrome to access a more accessible player.
Jamie Carragher thinks Liverpool must spend money in January to strengthen their defense. Watch the complete interview on Sky Sports News, ‘Inside Liverpool at 19:00
Arne Slot must address the defensive shortcomings that have plagued the team throughout the season. In seven of the 11 games they have played this year, they have conceded more than two goals. This is the joint-second-worst performance in the top division.
One of the problems is that the Reds have a much-changed defense which has been struggling to defend the set piece. And their opponents are well aware of this. This season, they’ve let in seven goals from set play, the second worst in the division.
Con: Stars in off-colour colours not performing
Image:
Liverpool spent £446m on signings this summer – including Milos Kerkez and Florian Wirtz, but are seven points off the Premier League summit
Slot after Liverpool’s recent 3-1 loss to Man City The team cannot think about the title race before they fix the problems that have caused them to fall to eighth place in the table.
However, the Dutchman still does not seem to know what his best XI is, with £116.5m summer signings Florian Wirtz “mauled” at the Etihad, according to Sky Sports’ Gary Neville, while fellow new arrivals Alexander Isak and Milos Kerkez both did not even make the starting XI.And with many of the stars who were instrumental to Liverpool’s title win last season also so badly out of form – key performers such as Ibrahima Konate, Alexis Mac Allister and Mohamed Salah – it is a stretch to envisage this group of players suddenly now gelling and emerging from their current slump in time to challenge for the title.
Pro: Can Arsenal stand the heat?There is a nagging fear that the seemingly invincible Arsenal machine could falter once again in the final stretch. Mikel Arteta’s team blew an 8-point lead in April 2023, finishing five points behind the eventual champions Man City, while they also held leads in the past two seasons before fading late on.And let’s not forget either that we are still only in November, with 27 games left to play, which is a lot of football and plenty of time for injuries and loss of form to kick in.Pro: Reds have been there & got the T-shirtLiverpool now have, on paper at least, a favourable run of fixtures – they only face one of the current top 10 before travelling to Arsenal on January 8 – to try and get their stuttering season back on track.And with an almost fully-fit squad from which to now pick from, including influential goalkeeper Alisson Becker, who due back after the international break, Slot can approach this upcoming schedule with the core of the title-winning side that went unbeaten in the league from September 14 to April 25 last season.
Please use Chrome to access a more accessible player.
Take a look at the Premier League teams in a different light!
ARSENALSky Sports’ Nick Wright:Con: Man City The Premier League is atop with a healthy cushion over Manchester. City? Arsenal has been in this situation before. The fans are still traumatized by what happened. Pep guardiola’s team has recovered to overtake Arsenal in both of the last two title races. Gunners fans must prepare to face another title-winning side in the second half of the year.
Sunday 23rd Nov 4:00pm
Kick off at 4:30pm
Pro: Depth Mikel arteta’s ability to have a strong squad to draw on is the biggest reason for believing Arsenal can win this season. Injury to key players has been a problem over the past few years, due to the lack of quality alternatives. The squad is better able to absorb injuries.
Image:
Arsenal’s Eberechi Eze celebrates the win against Crystal Palace
No Bukayo Saka? Here’s Noni Madueke. No Kai Havertz? Viktor Gyokeres is a good alternative. No Martin Odegaard? Use Eberechi Eze. William Saliba not available? Pro: The defenseThe Premier League’s best defence just got better. Arsenal have not been able to score on seven of their 11 opponents in the current season. Three of their opponents have not even attempted a shot at goal. It’s difficult to create chances, let alone score, against them. The Sunderland game reminded us that they aren’t impregnable, but the game in which Black Cats scored two goals from chances that were worth 0.44 expected goal looks like an aberration. Arsenal has conceded only twice in open play during the season.
Arsenal dominates set-pieces. While other teams, like Liverpool, are struggling to adjust to Premier League’s new direct-play style, Arsenal is well-prepared. The number of set-pieces they’ve scored this season is already in double figures. Con: Lack of fluidity? Arsenal’s set-piece attack is an asset, but is it sustainable? Arsenal’s general play is not as dangerous. 12 Premier League clubs have scored more open-play than Arsenal has so far in this season. Arsenal still has work to do in order to find a more cutting edge and redress their balance.
Please use Chrome to access a more accessible player.
Former Arsenal striker Thierry henry previews the North London Derby
The timing is right? While Liverpool’s best players show signs of ageing and Manchester United’s best players have a youthful appearance, it is the right time to bring in new talent. City Arsenal, who are in the midst of a transitional period, appear to be at a sweet spot for winning titles. The squad has a stable and cohesive structure, with players at or nearing their peak age.
Please use Chrome to access a more accessible player.
Between the Lines looks at how each Premier League club is performing in comparison to how stats suggest that they should be.
MAN CITYSky Sports’ Laura Hunter: Pro: Fixture favourabilityOpta ranks Man CityThe division’s next set of fixtures is the third-easiest in all of the division. In their next five games, they will face Newcastle, Leeds Fulham Sunderland Crystal Palace and Fulham. Since they are four points behind Arsenal, it’s possible the gap will narrow over this period. Arsenal, on the other hand, is in mid-table for upcoming fixture difficulty. It could be the best time to buy. City They need to make up for the losses they suffered by losing their first two matches of this season. City Play first, both this weekend and the next.
Please use Chrome to access a more accessible player.
Tim Sherwood speaks on Sky Sports Fan Club regarding the Premier League title race. Should Arsenal be concerned about a resurgent Manchester? City?
Last weekend, Pep Guardiola managed his 1000th match. It is hard to imagine a scenario that would have been different if Pep had chosen his opponent, performance and result. Pep has called Liverpool his biggest Premier League enemy. Many might say the result has eliminated Arne’s team from this year’s race. It did prove something. City can once again dominate direct rivals. The scars of last season’s shocking collapse are fading.
Haaland’s conspirators are a proIt is not necessary to be a genius in order to understand that the presence of Erling Haaland on your team will make title success more probable. Haaland’s 14 Premier League goals is almost double the number of Igor Thiago (eight). The next goal he scores will be his 100th competition goal. Haaland FC is not the team that we are used to. The form of Jeremy Doku, and Phil Foden is a major contributor. They can hurt you in a variety of ways when all three of them are playing well: wide out, central combinations, or balls behind. They can do everything.
Live: SNF
Saturday 22nd of November at 5:00pm
Con: Defensively vulnerableMan CityBecause of their defensive vulnerability, despite having a lot of talent at the top. Arsenal’s defensive solidity is unquestionably superior. City’s. Gigi’s signing in the summer was a surprise, but it hasn’t helped them win the campaign. This season they have lost five points on their way to winning positions – a ratio that is not sustainable for a title rival.
Image:
Man CityThis season’s defensive performance by’s
Con: Time for gel City There are many new faces within the squad. While the spine of the team remains the same, the players themselves have changed. The squad is full of talent, but the form will fluctuate as few are familiar with the intense nature of the league. Tijjani Reijnders is a good fit, and Omar Marmoush, who arrived in January last year, has proven to be a valuable asset. It will be interesting to watch how the players cope with Christmas. Nico Gonzalez is a vital player if Rodri continues to have his game time curtailed.
2025-11-20 14:15:00
Discover more from sportscraper.co.uk
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
