Soccer: How Liverpool can reclaim Premier League perch

What to watch in the leading soccer leagues in Europe this weekend:

ENGLAND

After collecting only two points from a possible six in its last two games, Liverpool’s title challenge is wobbling.

Juergen Klopp’s side can reclaim top spot in the Premier League — temporarily at least — with at least a draw against Bournemouth on Saturday.

But realistically, Liverpool has to avoid slip-ups — particularly against weaker opponents — if the 29-year title drought is to end.

The 26th round starts on Saturday lunchtime with Manchester United at Fulham after rising to fifth last weekend above Arsenal, which is at Huddersfield.

ITALY

Serie A leader Juventus dropped points for only the third time last week, in a 3-3 draw against Parma and visits Sassuolo on Sunday. Napoli could have trimmed the gap to six points by then, with a victory at Fiorentina on Saturday.

SPAIN

Real Madrid has another tough assignment. After earning a 1-1 away draw against Barcelona in the first leg of the semifinals of the Copa del Rey on Wednesday, Madrid plays Atletico Madrid in the league on Saturday.

Real Madrid is in the middle of the most difficult period of the season, with a trip to the Netherlands coming right after the city derby for a match against Ajax in the round of 16 of the Champions League.

A victory at Atletico’s Wanda Metropolitano would lift Madrid past its city rival into second place.

FRANCE

Paris Saint-Germain coach Thomas Tuchel must decide whether to risk playing key midfielder Marco Verratti at home to Bordeaux on Saturday.

Encouragingly, Verratti resumed training this week after recovering from a sprained ankle. Having been expected to play on Wednesday in the French Cup, he sat out due to an unspecified problem. Tuchel’s midfield is weak and he needs Verratti at Manchester United in the last 16 of the Champions League on Tuesday.

GERMANY

The pressure might be getting to Bundesliga leader Borussia Dortmund. Lucien Favre’s side dropped points at Eintracht Frankfurt last weekend and was knocked out of the German Cup by Werder Bremen in a penalty shootout Tuesday. The side no longer seems to be scoring goals as freely as it did earlier in the season.