MANCHESTER, England: Liverpool’s troubles earlier in the season appeared to have hurt their chances of facing relentless champions Manchester City again on Sunday, but a timely return to form has raised hopes of further breathless brilliance.
Last season, two 2-2 draws between eventual champions City and narrow runners-up Liverpool were high-class affairs. Holding nothing back, both sides attacked at every opportunity in encounters that alternated from one to the other.
The two teams were at the peak of their powers as City won a fourth Premier League title in five years while Liverpool, second by a point, lifted two trophies and reached the Champions League final as they neared an unprecedented one quadruple.
Another thriller set in this season’s Community Shield opener in August, won by Liverpool, whetted the appetite for another campaign pitting these two new rivals for the title.
City have played their part, unbeaten in nine league games and scoring a whopping 33 goals, a point behind Arsenal at the top of the table, but Liverpool have neglected their end of the bargain.
Despite bolstering their squad with the arrival of Uruguayan striker Darwin Nunez and tying Egyptian striker Mohamed Salah to a new contract, Liverpool have endured their worst start to a domestic season in a decade.
Their 10-point return from eight games is their worst start to a league season since 2012-13 under Brendan Rodgers, when they finished seventh.
The first goal conceded in six of their eight league games hasn’t helped matters. The same thing happened again at Rangers in the Champions League on Wednesday, but what followed gave hope that they had turned the corner.
Liverpool have scored seven goals at Ibrox with Salah, one of many high-profile members of Jurgen Klopp’s squad, struggling to get going this season and scoring the fastest hat-trick in Champions League history, off the bench.
“It changes the mood, definitely,” said Klopp after the win. “It’s very different.
“It’s good, but we all know who we’re welcoming on Sunday and it will be a different game. But it’s better to go into the game with a feeling like tonight.”
Defensive problems persist but Liverpool and Salah in particular could not have picked a better time to find their shot on target.
ARSENAL STILL AHEAD
Ahead of Sunday’s clash between Liverpool and City, leaders Arsenal can extend their lead at the top of the table with a win at Leeds United, where the hosts are unbeaten at home this season.
Arsenal have won eight of their nine league games this season – only 1903-04 (in the second division) did they win nine of their first ten games in a league campaign.
Goals have flowed for the Gunners too, and they have scored three goals in each of their last three league games.
Another rising Londoner Chelsea travels to Aston Villa, where pressure is mounting on manager Steven Gerrard after the Midlands club’s disappointing start to the season.
Graham Potter is new to the role of manager at Chelsea but has already enjoyed better results as his side have recorded four wins and one draw in all competitions since taking charge.
Manchester United, who have had a patchy start to the season, face a tough test on Sunday as they host high-flying Newcastle United, where a win for the visitors will see them overtake their opponents in the standings.
Elsewhere, third-placed Tottenham Hotspur host Everton in the capital on Saturday for a straight run of wins in all competitions.