FOCUS ON SOLSKJAER, LIVERPOOL

As the Premier League moves into the hectic festival period, spotlight will be on Manchester United’s caretaker manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Juergen Klopp’s Liverpool. HT looks at the talking points for Saturday’s action:

LIVERPOOL SEEK TO RETAIN TOP SPOT

Manchester City started the season as hot favourites to defend their Premier League crown but Liverpool have emerged as genuine title contender.

Juergen Klopp's unbeaten leaders are on a six-match winning streak and will be hoping to retain top spot on Christmas Day.

Each of the past four sides to be in front on December 25 has gone on to win the title, though Liverpool themselves were the last side to fail to do so, in 2013/14.

DE BRUYNE, AGUERO BOOST MAN CITY FIREPOWER

A single Premier League defeat, against Chelsea, hardly spelled disaster for Manchester City but it notably came with both Kevin De Bruyne and Sergio Aguero missing. Both players started in the midweek League Cup win on penalties against Leicester, with

FIXTURES

Arsenal v Burnley Bournemouth v Brighton Chelsea v Leicester Huddersfield v Southampton Man City v Crystal Palace Newcastle v Fulham

West Ham v Watford

Cardiff City v Man United De Bruyne scoring his first goal of an injury-blighted season.

For all their much-vaunted strength in depth, Guardiola needs De Bruyne's creativity and Aguero's goals as he remains in the hunt for a trophy clean sweep.

"It's the best job Ole (Gunnar Solksjaer) will have in his life, because you can't lose. Hold the fort until the end of the season, if he does well he'll get a couple of years. If he doesn't, he'll go back to where he was enjoying anyhow. It's a different type of management with Mike Phelan coming in (as assistant). With the players they've got, I bet he can't believe his luck."

Neil Warnock, Cardiff manager