This weekend is a repeat of the opening day of the season. There’s just much more at stake this time around. Games are dwindling and the window of opportunity to salvage your season is shortening. It makes for some fascinating match-ups.
By Sam McGuire
Here’s what to keep an eye on this weekend.
Top versus bottom, almost
Liverpool entertain an out-of-sorts Ipswich Town this weekend.
The Reds have been fairly dominant at Anfield this term, picking up 20 points from 10 matches. They’ve conceded just eight goals, giving them the second meanest defence on home soil this term behind Bournemouth (seven).
After a bit of a blip earlier this month – drawing against Manchester United and Nottingham Forest while losing to Spurs in the Carabao Cup – Arne Slot’s side have bounced back over the past week with two wins from two.
They left it late against Brentford to claim a 2-0 win courtesy of two Darwin Núñez goals before a professional performance against Lille in the Champions League saw them coast to a 2-1 victory.
The game against the Tractor Boys should be a routine win for the Reds.
Kieran McKenna’s side are without a goal in their last two outings. They lost 2-0 to Brighton and were hammered 6-0 by Manchester City. They have given up 19 goals on their travels this season across 10 matches. This leaky defence is why they find themselves in the dropzone. Ipswich are level on points with 17th placed Wolves but have an inferior goal difference (-23 to -19).
Ipswich have two objectives on Saturday. The first, of course, is to get something from the game. However, if they want, they need to make sure they aren’t on the receiving end of another hammering. It could be crucial at the end of the campaign.
The return of Enzo Maresca
Enzo Maresca returns to the Etihad on Saturday. The Italian tactician used to be an assistant to Pep Guardiola before departing for Leicester City. After a successful stint with the Foxes, he moved to Chelsea. Ahead of kick-off, the Blues are fourth in the Premier League table, two points ahead of Maresca’s former employers.
There’s a real opportunity for Chelsea to damage City’s top four hopes this weekend while simultaneously improving their own chances of playing Champions League football next term.
The visitors head into this game in better form too. They brought a five-match winless streak to an end in the Premier League last weekend with a 3-1 victory over Wolves. Trevoh Chalobah, back from a loan stint with Crystal Palace, impressed on Monday night. If he manages to keep tabs on two-time Golden Boot winner Erling Haaland, the decision to loan him for the first half of the campaign will look even more foolish.
City, meanwhile, have given up 2-0 leads in two of their last three matches across all competitions. Brentford salvaged a point against Guardiola’s side in the Premier League while Paris Saint-Germain scored four unanswered goals to claim a vital three points in the new-look Champions League format.
The Citizens did hammer Ipswich 6-0 but that points to them being more flat-track bullies than anything else. They have added reinforcements though in the shape of Omar Marmoush and he could play a part on Saturday. If he has an impact, he’d be an immediate fan favourite. He has the potential to reignite their failing campaign just days after arriving.
The Eagles and The Bees
Crystal Palace had a horrid start to the campaign but are now unbeaten in six. In fact, across their last 13 matches in all competitions, they’ve only suffered two defeats and both were against Arsenal.
Oliver Glasner has managed to turn things around the decision not to part ways with him during what was a difficult period is now looking like a clever one. A win for Palace this weekend would see them leapfrog Brentford, their opponents.
The Bees has been in freefall as of late. Since the start of December, they have won just two of their eight Premier League fixtures. They’ve lost on four occasions and are now just 12 points ahead of the relegation places. Earlier in the season, a push for a European finish looked to be on the cards.
Their downfall has been their away form. Thomas Frank’s side have taken just five points from a possible 30 on their travels. Only Southampton have picked up fewer points away from home. The Jeykll and Hyde nature of Brentford this season sees them sit third in the home form table and 19th in the away form.
Jean-Philippe Mateta is the dangerman in this game. He’s not scored as many as Bryan Mbeumo (13) or Yoan Wissa (11) but he’s netted four in his last three outings for Crystal Palace and he’s proving to be a difference-maker and a match-winner for them.
Pressure on Rúben Amorim?
It is safe to say Manchester United didn’t really get a new manager bounce after hiring Amorim. The Red Devils are 13th on 27 points from their 22 matches. They’ve had the odd good result – the draw at Anfield and the FA Cup penalty shootout win over Arsenal – but they’re regularly being beaten. Last time out, Brighton claimed a straightforward 3-1 win over their hosts at Old Trafford.
This weekend, they travel to Fulham.
There’s been no draw between these two sides in their last six meetings. United are without a clean sheet in 12 and are averaging just one point per game on the road. They have just two wins away from Old Trafford in the Premier League and face a Fulham side that has caused problems for a lot of teams this season.
Marco Silva’s side are in contention for a European finish this season if their good form continues and they’ll be hopeful that they’ll be able to make the most of United being consistently inconsistent.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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