Red-hot Liverpool face Palace test as Arsenal try to keep pace

Liverpool, flawless in their Premier League title defence so far this season, will face a serious test when they visit unbeaten Crystal Palace on Saturday.

Arsenal cannot afford another Newcastle nightmare, while Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim is in desperate need of a winning run.

Liverpool have got off to a flyer with seven straight wins in all competitions, but the Premier League leaders will face a stern examination at Selhurst Park.

The Reds, bolstered by their knack for scoring late winners, have marched five points clear after reeling off five successive league victories.

However, Oliver Glasner’s Palace are also flying high, in fifth place.

The FA Cup holders are the only other unbeaten team left in the top division and have enjoyed recent success against Arne Slot’s men, beating them on penalties in the Community Shield season curtain-raiser at Wembley in August.

Palace also drew 1-1 with champions Liverpool at Anfield on the final day of last season, an impressive result that ranks as part of their current 16-match unbeaten run in competitive matches dating back to April. With Hugo Ekitike suspended, British-record signing Alexander Isak is set to lead the Liverpool attack after scoring his first goal for the club in the midweek League Cup win against Southampton.

Isak will be closely watched by Palace’s England defender Marc Guehi, who was on the verge of joining Liverpool before the move collapsed on transfer deadline day.

Desperate to end their agonising wait for a first English title since 2004, Arsenal cannot afford another costly slip-up when they head to Newcastle, which has not been a happy hunting ground recently.

Mikel Arteta’s second-placed side, Premier League runners-up for the past three seasons, are already trailing in Liverpool’s wake after losing to the champions at Anfield and dropping two points against title rivals Manchester City.

The Gunners, without a trophy since 2020, are developing an unwanted reputation for crumbling when the pressure mounts and the trip north will provide another test of their mettle.

Arsenal have been beaten on their past three visits to St James’ Park, including a League Cup semi-final second-leg defeat last season after a Premier League loss earlier in the campaign.

Newcastle have won four of the past six meetings regardless of venue and Eddie Howe’s men have plenty of motivation after taking just six points from their first five matches.

Manchester United boss Amorim has his sights set on finally winning successive league matches as his side travel to struggling Brentford on Saturday.

Amorim has endured numerous low points since he arrived from Sporting Lisbon in November, including a humiliating League Cup loss at fourth-tier Grimsby in August, fuelling speculation over his future.

United have steadied the ship a little with consecutive home league wins against Burnley and Chelsea -- the first time they have managed that in Amorim’s reign.

But the 40-year-old is still far from secure after a miserable 3-0 loss at Manchester City, in a match sandwiched between the two wins at Old Trafford, exposed the many issues bedevilling Amorim’s team. City manager Pep Guardiola hailed Kyle Walker as “one of the greatest full-backs ever” ahead of his return to the Etihad with Burnley on Saturday.

Walker won six Premier League titles and the Champions League among 15 major trophies during an eight-year spell under Guardiola between 2017 and his exit earlier this year.

“Absolutely, one of the greatest fullbacks ever,” said Guardiola at his pre-match press conference.

Agence France-Presse

English Premier League fixtures (1400 GMT unless stated):

On Saturday: Brentford vs Manchester United (1130), Chelsea vs Brighton, Crystal Palace vs Liverpool, Leeds vs Bournemouth, Manchester City vs Burnley, Nottingham Forest vs Sunderland (1630), Tottenham vs Wolves (1900)

On Sunday: Aston Villa vs Fulham (1300), Newcastle vs Arsenal (1530) On Monday: Everton vs West Ham (1900).