Liverpool’s gamble to field a third-string side in last week’s FA Cup tie against Plymouth backfired when it suffered a 1-0 defeat. It was then denied a victory in the last-ever Goodison Park Mersey derby on Thursday morning, drawing 2-2 with Everton.
It was still a point gained as Liverpool moved seven ahead of Arsenal but faces four matches in 11 days that could make or break its season.
Arne Slot’s men face Wolves on Feb 16, Aston Villa on Feb 20, Manchester City on Feb 24, and finally Newcastle on Feb 27. Remarkably, after these four league games, Liverpool will have just one league match next month – against Southampton on March 8.
Liverpool will have the League Cup final against Newcastle next month and two Champions League games, all before the next international break – March 17-25.
Having been knocked out of the FA Cup, Liverpool will have a break during the last weekend of March, and intriguingly, its first league encounter in April is against Everton.
Slot received a red card against Everton, giving Liverpool a headache going into the pivotal month in the race to the title.
The Premier League had initially said Slot would be banned for two games for using “offensive, insulting or abusive language”, but deleted its statement an hour later when it came to light, that the referee, Michael Oliver, had yet to submit his match report.
Slot can still expect a two-match ban, which might start from the City game.
Arsenal has trouble of its own as top scorer Kai Havertz is ruled out for the season after suffering a hamstring injury in training. The Gunners are short of firepower as Gabriel Jesus’ season is also over, while Bukayo Saka returns to action at the end of the month.
Mikel Arteta can sign some free agents – among them former players Lucas Perez and Carlos Vela – as Arsenal only registered 22 senior players for the remainder of the season.
Another player available is Chelsea’s Diego Costa, a two-time English Premier League winner. The Spaniard is 36 and has lost some of his speed, but is someone who gives his all in matches.
Like Liverpool, Arsenal faces a tough month with matches against Leicester (Feb 15), West Ham (Feb 22) and Nottingham Forest (Feb 27). It faces Manchester United on March 10.
This run of matches could decide whether Liverpool or Arsenal sits atop the table on May 25.
FIXTURES (Malaysian time)
Today (Feb 15)
Leicester vs Arsenal (8.30pm)
West Ham vs Brentford (11pm)
Southampton vs Bournemouth (11pm)
Aston Villa vs Ipswich (11pm)
Manchester City vs Newcastle (11pm)
Fulham vs Nottingham Forest (11pm)
Feb 16
Crystal Palace vs Everton (1.30am)
Liverpool vs Wolves (10pm)
Feb 17
Tottenham vs Manchester United (12.30am)
Feb 20
Aston Villa vs Liverpool (3.30am)
