Premier League leaders Liverpool travel to Manchester United hoping to equal their rivals’ record of 20 English titles. Arsenal and Manchester City will be hoping to defeat Liverpool in a gripping title race, with the battle for the top four and relegation also heating up. AFP Sport looks at three topics ahead of this weekend’s games:

Liverpool has no “Revenge” mission

With the memory of the painful FA Cup quarter-final defeat to Manchester United still fresh in the minds of Alex McAllister and his Liverpool team-mates, the Argentinian midfielder is set to return to Old Trafford On a mission of revenge, it’s no surprise.

Jurgen Klopp’s side twice beat their opponents 4-3 with Amad Diallo sealing victory in the final seconds of extra time.

The end of Liverpool’s treble has stung the Merseysiders but they can make up for it by beating Erik ten Hag’s side as they bid to equal Manchester United’s record 20 top-flight titles.

Mike Allister, whose thunderous goal sealed Liverpool’s 3-1 win over Sheffield United on Thursday, insisted avenging an FA Cup defeat was not the main motivation as there was already so much at stake.

“I don’t know if it’s revenge but for sure it will be an important game for us because if we want to win something we have to win every game and that’s the goal,” Mike Allister said his side are two points clear of second-placed Arsenal with eight games remaining.

Arsenal travel to Brighton aiming to keep the pressure on Liverpool, while third-placed Manchester City – three points behind the leaders – travel to Crystal Palace.

The battle for the top four enters a fierce stage

Tottenham boss Ange Postkoglu says Tottenham are not “done” yet as his top-four hopes face a crucial weekend in the battle for Champions League qualification.

Postkoglu’s side drew 1-1 at West Ham United on Tuesday, but Aston Villa lost 4-1 to Manchester City 24 hours later, leaving the north Londoners firmly in contention for a top-four finish.

Fifth-placed Spurs are two points behind fourth-placed Villa with a game in hand.

Struggling Nottingham Forest visit Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday as Villa host Brentford.

Both sides are favored to win and a shocking miss could be the decisive moment, with Postkoglu admitting his side are still a work in progress.

“I’d love to have a joystick and put them where I want them, but it doesn’t work that way. We’re not a finished product and we know that,” he said.

Villa are targeting a first Champions League appearance since 1983 and manager Unai Emery says his players enjoy the pressure.

“We’re going to play a lot of games over the next few weeks starting on Saturday. Obviously we’re motivated and excited to try and stay competitive,” he said.

In the battle for survival “the only way is up”

Nottingham Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White is confident his side will not collapse as tensions rise in their fight for survival.

Gibbs-White’s goal helped fourth-bottom Forest beat Fulham 3-1 on Tuesday, boosting their hopes of a first win in seven games in all competitions against their rivals.

“Credit to the whole team. It looks like the only way to go is from here, hopefully,” Gibbs-White said.

Forest were deducted four points for breaching the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules, while Everton were hit with a six-point penalty (reduced from 10 on appeal) for a similar financial offence.

Everton face manager Sean Dyche’s former club Burnley at Goodison Park on Saturday as the Toffees look to break their club record run of 13 games without a win in the Premier League.

Dyche’s side are seven points above second-bottom Burnley and are chasing a first league win since defeating the Clarets in December.

Luton, who are third from bottom, host Bournemouth, hoping to close the three-point gap with Forest.

Fixtures (all times in GMT)

Saturday

Crystal Palace v Manchester City (1130), Aston Villa v Brentford, Everton v Burnley, Fulham v Newcastle, Luton v Bournemouth, Wolves v West Ham United, Brighton London v Arsenal(1630)

Sunday

Manchester United v Liverpool (1430), Sheffield United v Chelsea (1630), Tottenham v Nottingham Forest (1700)

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