Liverpool can move closer to the Premier League title when the leaders face Fulham on Sunday, while Manchester City will look to bolster their bid to qualify for the Champions League against arch rivals Manchester United.
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has challenged the club to outwork the teams that stand between the Reds and a record-equalling 20th English title.
Arne Slot’s side had to dig deep to beat Everton 1-0 in a tetchy Merseyside derby at Anfield on Wednesday.
The victory moved Liverpool 12 points clear of second-placed Arsenal with just eight matches left.
After being eliminated from the Champions League last 16 by Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and losing the Carabao Cup final to Newcastle in their previous two games, Liverpool settled their nerves thanks to Diogo Jota’s winner against Everton.
Now they head to Fulham aiming to take another step in their march to a first title since 2020.
Van Dijk said: “It’s a funny world. Doubts outside all of a sudden, but the fact is there are eight games to go, there is a 12-point gap.
“If we have to fight, we have to fight. The manager mentioned it in his press conference. We have to outwork opponents. If we don’t, we won’t get results.”
Amid a battle to qualify for the Champions League, Manchester City need forward Jack Grealish at his best as they are without Norway striker Erling Haaland for several weeks due to an ankle injury.
City lost 2-1 to United after conceding two late goals earlier this season, and Grealish wants to get revenge at Old Trafford.
He said: “They beat us here early on in the season, and that was a real difficult one to take.
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“But we’re going there on the back of two wins and with a lot of confidence. Fingers crossed, we can make our fans happy.”
Taylor Harwood-Bellis also insists Southampton will keep fighting to avoid relegation, but the defender’s bottom-of-the-table side are destined for the drop as early as this weekend.
Matheus Franca’s stoppage-time equaliser for Crystal Palace in Wednesday’s 1-1 draw at St Mary’s denied Southampton only their third league win this season.
It means Saints – who sit 19 points from safety – will be condemned to relegation if they lose at Tottenham on Sunday and Wolves beat Ipswich on Saturday.
Chelsea beat Tottenham to move into EPL top four
If that happens, Southampton will be the first team to be relegated with seven matches still to play.
They are also one shy of matching Derby’s 2007-08 record low Premier League total points tally of 11.
Below are Premier League fixtures scheduled for the weekend:
Saturday
Everton v Arsenal
Crystal Palace v Brighton
Ipswich v Wolves
West Ham v Bournemouth
Aston Villa v Nottingham Forest
Sunday
Brentford v Chelsea
Fulham v Liverpool
Tottenham v Southampton
Manchester United v Manchester City
Monday
Leicester v Newcastle
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