Liverpool's Crucial Five-Game Gauntlet: Can They Outpace Man Utd and Chelsea in the Premier League Race?
Liverpool had little right to leave Nottingham Forest's City Ground with three crucial points, but courtesy of Alexis Mac Allister's 97th-minute strike, that's precisely what occurred.
Arne Slot's team performed poorly throughout most of the match and were lucky not to trail during the opening period. Nevertheless, we're reaching that stage of the campaign where outcomes matter far more than displays, and Liverpool achieved their objective on Sunday afternoon.
Consequently, they took advantage of Chelsea's stumble against Burnley on Saturday and further tightened what promises to be an intense battle until the end for a top-five position that will secure Champions League qualification for next term.
Below is how the upcoming five Premier League fixtures appear for Liverpool, United and Chelsea.
Liverpool, Man Utd, Chelsea's Next Five Premier League Matches
Liverpool, Man Utd, Chelsea's Next Five Premier League Matches
Liverpool | Man Utd | Chelsea |
|---|---|---|
West Ham (H) – Feb. 28 | Everton (A) – Feb. 23 | Arsenal (A) – Mar. 1 |
Wolves (A) – Mar. 3 | Crystal Palace (H) – Mar. 1 | Aston Villa (A) – Mar. 4 |
Tottenham (H) – Mar. 15 | Newcastle (A) – Mar. 4 | Newcastle (H) – Mar. 14 |
Brighton (A) – Mar. 21 | Aston Villa (H) – Mar. 15 | Everton (A) – Mar. 21 |
Fulham (H) – Apr. 11 | Bournemouth (A) – Mar. 20 | Man City (H) – Apr. 11 |
Liverpool have the opportunity to capitalize on their dramatic triumph on Sunday, as they face West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers in their following two encounters.
West Ham are battling fiercely to maintain their Premier League position and are certainly showing progress under Nuno Espírito Santo, while Wolves also haven't looked like one of the league's poorest-ever sides with Rob Edwards in charge.
The Reds then host another relegation-battling team in Tottenham Hotspur on Mar. 15, before traveling to Brighton & Hove Albion and welcoming Fulham following the international break.
Chelsea have surrendered points in consecutive Premier League matches at home, against clubs that presently occupy 15th and 19th positions. They've created opportunities for their competitors and Liam Rosenior's squad will next travel to face the Premier League table-toppers, Arsenal.
A challenging encounter away at Aston Villa comes next just three days afterward before they return to west London and meet a Newcastle United team that's showing improvement on the road.
Everton host the Blues at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Mar. 21 before the international break, with Manchester City visiting the Bridge to begin Chelsea's April schedule. Rosenior's team therefore has a significant part to play in influencing the championship race.
Manchester United conclude the gameweek on Merseyside, as they travel to Everton's impressive new venue on Monday evening. The Red Devils fell to a ten-man Toffees in the reverse meeting on what was among the darkest evenings of Rúben Amorim's troubled tenure.
Michael Carrick's rejuvenated side welcome a struggling Crystal Palace and travel to Newcastle in rapid succession, before hosting Aston Villa at Old Trafford following the FA Cup fifth round. Both clubs will be well-rested, considering they've already departed the tournament.
United then travel to a Bournemouth squad energized by the brilliance of Brazilian talent Rayan.