Liverpool are currently sitting comfortably at the top of the Premier League table this Christmas season, with hopes of extending their lead in a Boxing Day match against struggling Leicester City on Thursday. The pressure is on for both Manchester clubs, as City will be hosting Everton and United will be facing Wolves. Arsenal, who are currently in third place, will be testing their squad depth against Ipswich after losing their star player Bukayo Saka to injury.
Tottenham, still reeling from a heavy defeat against Liverpool, will have a challenging away game against the high-flying Nottingham Forest, who are pushing for a spot in the Champions League.
This marks the first time since the 2020/21 season that Liverpool have been at the top of the table on Christmas Day. While historically their form at this stage has been a good indicator of title success, it has only translated into lifting the trophy on one occasion out of the past seven seasons.
Under the leadership of Arne Slot, Liverpool showed their dominance in their last match by defeating Tottenham 6-3, with Mohamed Salah leading the charge. Salah has made Premier League history by being the first player to reach double figures in both goals (15) and assists (11) before Christmas.
Leicester, now managed by Ruud van Nistelrooy, have shown some improvement but continue to struggle defensively. With their last win at Anfield dating back to 2000, they face an uphill battle against Liverpool’s formidable attack.
Arsenal, under Mikel Arteta, recently enjoyed a 5-1 victory over Crystal Palace. However, the win was overshadowed by the news of Bukayo Saka’s hamstring injury, which will keep him out of action for the foreseeable future. Saka’s absence will require Arteta to rethink his offensive strategy, with hopes that players like Gabriel Martinelli can step up to fill the void left by Saka’s absence.
Nottingham Forest, managed by Nuno Espirito Santo, have been on a resurgence and currently sit in fourth place in the table after winning seven of their last ten games. They are now eyeing a return to the Champions League, a competition they have not participated in for over 40 years. Their solid defense has been a key factor in their success this season, with only Liverpool and Arsenal having better defensive records.
As for the upcoming fixtures, Thursday’s matches include Manchester City vs. Everton, Bournemouth vs. Crystal Palace, Chelsea vs. Fulham, Newcastle vs. Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest vs. Tottenham, Southampton vs. West Ham, Wolves vs. Manchester United, and Liverpool vs. Leicester. On Friday, Brighton will face Brentford, while Arsenal will take on Ipswich.
Overall, the Premier League action over the festive period promises to be exciting, with top teams vying for crucial points as they aim for success in the league.
