EPL Preview: Is Liverpool now under pressure?

With 13 games left, the Premier League title race, top-four battle, and relegation fight heat up. Key fixtures this weekend could shape the season.

It's now or never for all the teams fighting for something significant in the English Premier League, who blinks first? (Photo credit: GOAL)

Every game round is now as pivotal for every team in the Premier League as ever, with only 13 games left to play. The battles at all ends of the league table are more intense than ever.

At the top, it’s clear it will be a two-horse race, and while Liverpool currently enjoys an eight-point advantage over the Gunners, Mikel Arteta’s men have a game in hand, and the Kops also play Manchester City at the Etihad this weekend.

How Liverpool went from sitting pretty to now being under pressure needs to be studied; however, they still have Arne Slot’s men and only have themselves to blame if they don’t take advantage of Arsenal’s ragtag team.

For the Gunners, it’s good to send the pressure another way, but they must beat West Ham this weekend and then hope that other results go their way as they reach the business end of the season, one that could bring an end to their long wait for the title.

The top four battles are also intense. Chelsea went from being a title contender to now fighting for a top four finish; the Blues currently sit sixth on the log and must win this weekend to take advantage of a potential Manchester City slip-up this weekend.

Nottingham Forest is currently third, but many expect them to slip further down, but despite punching above their weight all season long, Forest can finish strong by doing what they have been doing, which is to continue to win the odd game.

The top four battle has Newcastle breathing down Chelsea’s neck; however, Bournemouth is also breathing down Forest’s neck, so no one is allowed to slip up as they all have something to fight for; it’s a weekend to keep an eye on.

In terms of fixtures this weekend in the top four context, Bournemouth is at home to Wolves; it’s quite tricky, but the Cherries will fancy their chances. Newcastle can lay big claims to the top four by beating Forest at St. James’s Park; however, a win for Forest in that fixture will be a bold statement.

Down below, Southampton seems destined for the drop; however, they won’t go down without a fight, and their next fight is at home to Brighton, a resurgent Brighton; for Wolves, their own task is away at the Vitality Stadium, while Leicester City starts the weekend against Brentford on Friday.