Liverpool host Manchester City in a defining second within the Premier League title race as Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola conclude their top-flight rivalry on Sunday. Free-scoring Arsenal can go prime for at the very least a day once they host Brentford, whereas Aston Villa face Tottenham in an important showdown within the battle for a top-four end. AFP Sport seems at three speaking factors forward of the weekend’s motion:

One extra sleepless evening for GuardiolaManchester City boss Pep Guardiola faces one final sleepless evening as he wrestles with the issues posed by his nice rival Jurgen Klopp.

Klopp’s bombshell revelation that he’ll stop as Liverpool supervisor on the finish of this season has given further gravitas to Sunday’s essential conflict with City at Anfield.

Although Guardiola has received 5 of the final six Premier League crowns, Klopp has been a relentless thorn in his facet, with Liverpool’s 2020 title the one break in City’s dynastic reign.

Guardiola revealed the depth of his respect for Klopp when he admitted the German’s departure would make it simpler for him to calm down earlier than conferences with Liverpool.

“I will sleep better. The games against Liverpool have almost been a nightmare,” stated Guardiola, whose second positioned group are one level behind leaders Liverpool with 11 video games remaining.

Although Klopp and Guardiola additionally confronted off throughout spells with Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich respectively, their time within the Premier League elevated their battle for supremacy to new heights.

The pair have met 15 occasions within the Premier League since 2016, with Klopp incomes 4 victories and Guardiola claiming 5 wins.

However, beating Liverpool at Anfield in entrance of a crowd is without doubt one of the few feats nonetheless to elude Guardiola as City boss.

The English champions solely victory away to Liverpool since 2003 got here behind closed doorways three years in the past.

With a lot at stake this weekend, Guardiola could have been shifting restlessly below his quilt this week as he plots yet another memorable second at Klopp’s expense.

Arsenal don’t have any margin for errorDeclan Rice has warned Arsenal they don’t have any margin for error within the chase to win a primary Premier League title since 2004.

After ending 2023 with damaging defeats towards West Ham and Fulham, Mikel Arteta’s males have responded with seven successive league victories.

Sheffield United had been crushed 6-0 at Bramall Lane on Monday, transferring Mikel Arteta’s third positioned facet again inside two factors of Liverpool.

With Liverpool and City assembly on Sunday, Arsenal can quickly seize pole place in the event that they beat Brentford on the Emirates Stadium 24 hours earlier.

“It has been a hell of a comeback since the Christmas period, when we lost two in a row,” Arsenal midfielder Rice stated.

“But it is the Premier League, you need to be on it every single game. You can’t have any slip-ups.

“If you have a look at the 2 different groups on the prime, they do not seem like they’ll slip up anytime quickly.”

Villa fuelled by European dreamsAston Villa face top four rivals Tottenham on Sunday bidding to take a huge step towards playing in the Champions League for the first time in 41 years.

Villa’s unexpectedly impressive campaign has raised hopes of a return to Europe’s elite club competition, a level they last played at as holders in 1982-83 after Tony Barton’s team won the tournament the previous year.

Over four decades later, Unai Emery’s fourth-placed side are five points ahead of Tottenham in fifth and a victory at Villa Park would put them firmly on track to finish in the top four.

“The Premier League is 38 matches and we are actually within the fourth place and it’s a superb alternative to attempt to compete,” Emery said.

“If we need to elevate our ranges, enjoying necessary video games, you will need to play matches like this week.”

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