Liverpool Seek Stability as Arsenal Gear Up for Chelsea Showdown
Their forthcoming battle with West Ham is another tough ask. The Hammers have regained their dynamism since the appointment of Nuno Espirito Santo for Graham Potter in September.
Liverpool's Dutch defender #04 Virgil van Dijk heads the ball clear during the English Premier League football match between Newcastle United and Liverpool at St James' Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, north east England on August 25, 2025. Photo/Courtesy
By Ruth Sang
As Liverpool prepare for another tough match on the road this weekend at West Ham, the big question is: have they reached their nadir or could it get even worse? The reigning Premier League champions are in the middle of one of the worst runs in recent memory, having lost six of their last seven league games and giving little evidence that manager Arne Slot has steadied the ship.
In sharp contrast, league leaders Arsenal continue to flourish. The Gunners, pursuing a Premier League title for two decades, currently seem very capable of finally ending their drought. Up next for them is one of their biggest tests in the form of second-placed Chelsea, but confidence is high around the Emirates.
Liverpool’s Problems Continue to Pile Up
The Reds have now lost nine of their last 12 matches in all competitions-a disastrous run for a club of their standing. It represents the worst spell for more than 70 years, and a massive drop off from the heights reached last season raises questions as to how it came to this so quickly.
The pressure on Arne Slot has intensified, especially after Wednesday’s painful 4-1 loss to PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League. Slot admitted that the defeat left him sleepless, emphasizing the weight of the situation. Liverpool’s problems lie largely in their inability to convert chances and persistent defensive lapses. They have conceded 34 goals so far-the highest tally among all Premier League sides this season.
Their forthcoming battle with West Ham is another tough ask. The Hammers have regained their dynamism since the appointment of Nuno Espirito Santo for Graham Potter in September. And despite Liverpool’s worrying drop to 12th position, they incredibly remain only three points behind Aston Villa in fourth position, a factor that underlines how tight the league table is.
Arsenal Show Depth of Squad
At the other end of the table, Arsenal is flying high in both domestic and European competitions. With Opta analysts giving them a 76% chance of lifting the Premier League trophy, the feeling of optimism at the club is sky-high. Most recently, their 3-1 Champions League victory against Bayern Munich underlined their growing maturity and squad depth.
Manager Mikel Arteta has remained unruffled, taking their defeat to Bayern Munich in stride and immediately looking ahead to Sunday’s high-pressure game against Chelsea. Notably, Arsenal’s victory over Bayern featured goals from subs—Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli—a testament to the depth in the squad, with such important players as Gabriel Magalhães, Kai Havertz, and Viktor Gyökeres on the sidelines.
Arteta praised the impact of his bench, saying both quality and mentality have improved a lot. With a six-point cushion over Chelsea, Arsenal seem better placed than ever to maintain their title charge.
Aston Villa Continue Their Rise
Aston Villa’s transformation under Unai Emery has been nothing short of remarkable: from failing to win any of their first five league matches and struggling to score early in the season, they have surged back with six wins in their past seven games. This resurgence has propelled them into the top four, and depending on results, they could climb to second place this weekend.
Curiously, Villa’s goals have often come from long-range efforts-eight of their fifteen league goals have been scored from outside the box. Their opponents, Wolves-who are now under new manager Rob Edwards-face the daunting trip to Villa Park, where the hosts have not lost a match since August. Wolves remain rooted near the bottom of the table, with only two points from their 12 games so far.
Weekend Fixtures
Saturday:
Brentford v Burnley
Manchester City v Leeds
Sunderland v Bournemouth
Everton v Newcastle (1730 GMT)
Tottenham v Fulham (2000 GMT)
Sunday:
Crystal Palace v Manchester United (1200 GMT)
Aston Villa v Wolves Nottingham Forest v Brighton West Ham v Liverpool Chelsea v Arsenal (1630 GMT)
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