Daunting for Jose in Reds’ fortress
BIG CLASH: UNITED CANNOT AFFORD TO SLIP UP AGAIN
Jose Mourinho faces a quandary as he prepares Manchester United for a trip to Premier League leaders Liverpool while Manchester City will be keen to show that last week’s Chelsea defeat was just a blip.
United have an impressive recent record against Liverpool, unbeaten in eight league games, but away fans will travel with a sense of trepidation to Anfield.
Unai Emery takes his Arsenal side, unbeaten in 21 matches in all competitions, to face struggling Southampton while Chelsea also travel to take on Brighton.
Manchester City host seventh-placed Everton while Tottenham, fresh from reaching the Champions League knockout phase, face Burnley at Wembley.
AFP Sports picks out some of the main talking points ahead of the weekend fixtures.
Can Mourinho end Liverpool’s unbeaten run?
Jose Mourinho came under fire last year for failing to attack Liverpool’s then leaky defence, settling for a 0-0 draw that ultimately cost his side momentum.
Normally a draw at Anfield would be a good result but defeat tomorrow could leave United 11 points off the top four if other results go against them.
United scored four goals last week against Fulham but their attacking play has rarely been fluid this season and they are coming up against a defence that has conceded just a single goal at home in the Premier League.
Jesus firing blanks
Gabriel Jesus has not found the net in the Premier League since August despite chances to stake his claim in the absence of Sergio Aguero through injury.
City boss Pep Guardiola has come to the defence of the misfiring forward, saying he just needs to relax but he will be scratching his head about how to get the best out of the Brazilian.
Arsenal’s defensive crisis
Arsenal are without a clutch of centrebacks for their trip to second-bottom club Southampton, seeking fresh direction under new manager Ralph Hasenhuttl.
Sokratis Papastathopoulos and Shkodran Mustafi are suspended after picking up bookings in last week’s 1-0 win against Huddersfield while Konstantinos Mavropanos and Rob Holding are injured.
Club captain Laurent Koscielny could feature even though has been missing from the Premier League since May with a serious Achilles injury.
Pochettino’s rising stock
Mauricio Pochettino enhanced his burgeoning reputation with an impressive 1-1 draw at Barcelona this week as his side reached the Champions League last-16.
The downside of the success is that the Spurs boss is being linked once again to clubs higher up football’s food chain, specifically Real Madrid and Manchester United.
“It’s no coincidence that every day you read Real Madrid want him or United want him,” Danny Rose told The Guardian ahead of Tottenham’s match against lowly Burnley.
“It’s exactly what he deserves.”