Premier League: Big weekend ahead for teams at both ends of the log

Premier League crunch time as Bournemouth, Forest, Liverpool, Arsenal, and Manchester City face key tests. Chelsea, Tottenham , United aim for wins.

It's once again the battle of the master and the apprentice, with both of them struggling for form, who would come out tops? (Photo credit: Sky Sports)

It’s a big weekend in the Premier League; the boys are being separated from the men at both ends of the table; it’s crunch time from here on.

Bournemouth beat Newcastle last weekend; now it’s time for them to face another team that is on the upward trajectory, Nottingham Forest. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side is joint second, only behind the Gunners on goals, and is firmly in the title race.

You wonder what is working for Forest; it’s their grit and tenacity. They only have to keep doing the same thing they’ve been doing, and they will have nothing to worry about; it hasn’t been down to luck; they have made their own success, and Bournemouth must be wary of them.

Liverpool’s title charge continues at home with the visit of Ipswich Town. The Tractor Boys play so well but end up with nothing on the board; they have it all to do against the log leaders, and it’s a good fixture for Mohammed Salah to wake up from his recent slumber.

Arsenal rued missed chances last weekend. The Gunners dropped two precious points last weekend at home against Aston Villa, allowing Liverpool to extend their lead at the top. A trip to Wolves is next, and Arsenal must not slip anymore; they no longer have any margin for error.

The big one on Saturday is the one between Manchester City and Chelsea. It ended 2-0 in the first leg at Stamford Bridge with Enzo Maresca just learning how to walk in the league; Chelsea cannot afford to miss out on the ongoing point sales by the champions.

The Cityzens went from beating Ipswich 6-0 last weekend to losing a 2-0 lead in the Champions League on Wednesday; the 2023 champions are now in danger of missing out altogether in the elite competition. Is this the end of the greatness of Pep Guardiola?

Tottenham hosts Leicester City on Sunday, but their problems have refused to go away. Ange Postecoglou announced that Dominic Solanke is out for another six weeks; the England striker joins Yves Bissouma as the latest injury issues for Spurs.

Tottenham barely scraped past Hoffenheim in the Europa League on Thursday, and sitting in 15th on the log in the Premier League, Postecoglou can rest assured that there’s nothing he can achieve in the league anymore; the cups are now his route to success this season.

Manchester United once again left it late in the Europa League on Thursday as they beat Scottish side Rangers 2-1, thanks to a 92nd-minute Bruno Fernandes goal. Fulham is next in the league, a team flying high but with a point to prove after struggling last weekend; this will be a cracker.