Manchester City are in their deepest slump since the Abu Dhabi-led takeover of 2008.
Manager Pep Guardiola admitted he was questioning himself after Wednesday's 2-0 setback to Juventus It represented City's seventh loss in 10 games across competitions and left them 22nd in the standings. With just two games of the Uefa Champions League phase remaining, a place in the top eight and automatic last-16 qualification looks beyond them and they face a battle just to stay in the top 24 and claim a play-off spot.
"I’m incredibly honest. If we play good [I say] we played good and today I thought we played good," Guardiola told reporters after the defeat in Turin. "Our game will save us. We can do it."
Among a series of eye-catching statistics, City have conceded more goals across all competitions than any other team from Europe's big five leagues (21 in nine games) since the start of November.
Just as concerning has been their league form. Six of those defeats have come in the Premier League, leaving City eight points behind leaders Liverpool, who also have a game in hand.
Thankfully for City, they next face a club equally mired in poor form.
Sunday's match against city rivals Manchester United sees fourth vs 13th in the league table, positions both clubs will find unacceptable.
United have lost their last three in the league, including a first home defeat to Nottingham Forest in 30 years last weekend.
New United boss Ruben Amorim has won just one of his four Premier League games since taking charge at Old Trafford, though he does have recent experience of beating Guardiola's men, leading Sporting to a 4-1 Champions League victory in his final home match with the Portuguese champions.
However, City might not be quaking in their boots – misfiring United have an embarrassing recent record at the Etihad Stadium, shipping 13 goals in their past three Premier League matches during three heavy defeats.
United were in action on Thursday, maintaining their unbeaten record in the Europa League with a 2-1 win over Viktoria Plzen.
"The win is important at the moment and it's good to prepare for the next game," United manager Amorim told TNT Sports.
Match details: Manchester City v Manchester United, Sunday, kick off 8.30pm UAE
Salah can't stop scoring
The only topic generating more heat than City's alarming slump is the red-hot form of Mohamed Salah.
The Egyptian forward was Liverpool's savour once again in midweek, hammering home a penalty against Girona to maintain the Reds' grip at the top of the Champions League standings with six wins from six.
That was Salah's 16th goal of the campaign, and took him level on 50 Champions League goals alongside Kylian Mbappe and Filippo Inzaghi.
It followed a star showing against Newcastle United last week, in which Salah scored twice and made an assist in a thrilling 3-3 draw at St James' Park.
Salah's contract situation continues to be a distraction off the pitch, though his performances clearly show it is having no effect on it.
Despite last weekend's Merseyside derby at Everton called off due to high winds, Liverpool still top the table by four points and have a game in hand over their rivals.
Manager Arne Slot wants a return to the intensity his men showed in wins against Real Madrid and Manchester City at home when they take on Fulham at Anfield.
"I'm far from pleased about the performance," said the Dutchman, bemoaning his side's lack of control against Girona in midweek.
Match details: Liverpool v Fulham, Saturday, kick off 7pm UAE
Chelsea lead chasing pack
In-form Chelsea took advantage of Liverpool's inactivity last weekend to move four points behind the leaders.
The Blues stormed to a 4-3 victory over London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, with Cole Palmer twice converting from the penalty spot.
Enzo Maresca said after the match it was "completely wrong" to talk of a title challenge, but with Manchester City struggling for form and Arsenal not the force they looked last season, Chelsea look best placed to take the fight to runaway leaders Liverpool.
Chelsea boast the most potent attack in the division and will expect to extend Brentford's miserable away record when the sides meet at Stamford Bridge.
With the game in mind, the Italian used Thursday's Europe Conference League to blood some youngsters in his squad.
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Cole Palmer celebrates scoring Chelsea's fourth goal from the penalty spot during their 4-3 Premier League win at Tottenham Hotspur on December 8, 2024. Getty Images -
A dejected Son Heung-min, who scored Tottenham's third goal, after the match. Getty Images -
Cole Palmer scores his second penalty of the match to make it 4-2 in the 84th minute. Reuters -
Tottenham's Pape Sarr bundles over Cole Palmer to gift Chelsea their second penalty of the game. Getty Images -
Enzo Fernandez fires home Chelsea's third goal in the 73rd minute. Getty Images -
Enzo Fernandez celebrates scoring Chelsea's third goal. Getty Images -
Chelsea's Cole Palmer scores from the spot. PA -
Cole Palmer celebrates scoring Chelsea's second goal from the penalty spot. Getty Images -
Tottenham's midfielder Yves Bissouma fouls Chelsea's Moises Caicedo to give away a second-half penalty. AP -
Chelsea's Jadon Sancho celebrates with teammate Marc Cucurella after scoring in the 17th minute. AP -
Jadon Sancho scores Chelsea's first goal. Getty Images -
Dejan Kulusevski celebrates after after scoring Spurs' second goal in the 11th minute. EPA -
Dejan Kulusevski fires home Tottenham's second goal. Reuters -
Chelsea's Cole Palmer looks on as a steward clears objects thrown by fans from the pitch. Getty Images -
Tottenham striker Dominic Solanke, right, celebrates with Brennan Johnson after his fifth-minute goal. AFP -
Dominic Solanke scores Tottenham's first goal under pressure from Chelsea defender Levi Colwill. Getty Images
Maresca praised Chelsea’s young debutants Josh Acheampong and Samuel Rak-Sakyi after his team qualified for the last 16 with a 3-1 win against Astana in Kazakhstan.
The head coach left at home all but one of the XI that started Sunday’s win at Tottenham, but it did not stop an inexperienced second string easing to victory in temperatures of around minus 10 in the Kazakh capital Almaty.
There was also a second senior start for winger and academy graduate Tyrique George and, having built a commanding lead they never looked like surrendering, Maresca felt confident enough to finish the game with an additional three teenage debutants on the pitch, all sent on in the second half.
“I was impressed by all of them,” said Maresca. “The ones that started – Tyrique, Sam and Josh – they all have done very good. Very happy for them. Also the ones that came on in the second half. So I’m pleased for them.”
Match details: Chelsea v Brentford, Sunday, kick off 11pm UAE
Howe under scrutiny
Without a win in four games, Newcastle United are languishing in 12th place in the Premier League table.
Inconsistency has been central to the struggles of Eddie Howe's men.
Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City and Tottenham have dropped points on Tyneside but home defeats to Brighton and West Ham, coupled with just two wins on the road, have heaped pressure on Howe.
The Englishman is reportedly vulnerable after changes in the club's hierarchy, with key allies departing. Sporting director Dan Ashworth left early this year – and has since been and gone from Old Trafford – while former co-owners Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi sold their minority stake in the club in July.
"Howe cannot escape scrutiny," former Newcastle captain Alan Shearer told The Athletic. "Ultimately, he is responsible for results and performances and neither look great."
Match details: Newcastle v Leicester City, Saturday, kick off 7pm UAE
Fixtures
Saturday (7pm UAE unless stated)
Arsenal v Everton, Liverpool v Fulham, Newcastle v Leicester, Wolves v Ipswich, Nottingham Forest v Aston Villa (9.30pm)
Sunday
Brighton v Crystal Palace (6pm), Ma6nchester City v Manchester United (8.30pm), Chelsea v Brentford, Southampton v Tottenham (both 11pm)
Tuesday
Bournemouth v West Ham (midnight)
