Manchester United face a huge test at Premier League leaders Liverpool

LONDON: Manchester United travel to the home of arch-rivals Liverpool this weekend looking to avoid further humiliation, but all signs point to a tough afternoon at Anfield.

Manchester United travel to arch-rivals Liverpool's home game this weekend looking to avoid further humiliation, but all signs point to a tough afternoon at Anfield. Tottenham begin play at struggling Nottingham Forest on Friday, while in-form Aston Villa travel to Brentford, fresh from impressive wins over Manchester City and Arsenal.

Struggling Manchester United, who left Anfield last season with their legs between their legs after a 7-0 defeat, face a Liverpool team sitting at the top of the Premier League and brimming with confidence.

Erik ten Hag's side, who were knocked out of the European Cup by Bayern Munich this week, have lost 12 of their 24 games in all competitions this season.

Toothless at the front, porous at the back and with an ever-growing injury list, it's difficult to say anything positive for the guests ahead of Sunday's game.

Thanks in part to the inconsistency of the teams around them, United still sit sixth in the Premier League, just three points behind Tottenham and six behind fourth-placed Manchester City.

But they will travel to Anfield in fear. With the exception of the 2-1 win at Old Trafford last season, United's recent record against Liverpool is dismal - they have lost four of their last five meetings while conceding 21 goals.

Liverpool are everything United are not - sharp in front of goal, full of confidence and with the never-say-die attitude that has helped them win 18 points from losing positions this season.

Ten Hag has urged his side to focus on finishing in the top four to qualify for the Champions League next season. However, if results don't go your way this weekend, they could find themselves nine points behind fourth and slip out of contention.

Chelsea is looking for a way out of the crisis

The soap opera at Manchester United has taken the focus away from the situation at Chelsea, where Mauricio Pochettino is struggling to get his injury-plagued squad under control.

The Blues, who host bottom-placed Sheffield United on Saturday, are 12th in the table after three defeats in their last four games and are far closer to the relegation zone in points than to the top of the table.

Pochettino, in his first season at the club, believes Chelsea need to re-enter the January transfer window despite spending more than £1 billion ($1.25 billion) in the last three transfer windows.

The Argentine has been plagued by absences, with captain Reece James back on the treatment table with a hamstring injury, along with a list of other experienced players including Ben Chilwell, Wesley Fofana and Christopher Nkunku.

On paper, the visit of Sheffield United appears to be a golden chance for Chelsea to get back to winning ways, but the Blades, under the newly returned Chris Wilder, beat Brentford last week to claim only their second win of the season.

And Chelsea's home form gives little reason for hope - they have won just two of their eight league games at Stamford Bridge.