Liverpool’s next five fixtures in 15 days as Arne Slot faces crucial title run-in

Liverpool currently lead the way in the Premier League, with a six point leader over nearest challengers Arsenal, but the Reds face a crucial period of five games in a fortnight

Liverpool face a crucial fortnight as Arne Slot’s side look to tighten their grip on the Premier League title.

The Reds currently lead the way in the top-flight, with a six-point lead over closest challengers Arsenal. Slot’s men have been flying this season and have still only lost one league game, at the hands of Nottingham Forest way back in September.

They have also reached the final of the Carabao Cup and the last 16 of the Champions League, having topped the table in the first phase. But the Premier League leaders were dumped out of the FA Cup by Championship strugglers Plymouth on Sunday.

Some have pointed out that may well aid the Reds ahead of a hectic second-half of the season. With the next international break not being held until March, the games will come thick and fast.

The first mini-blitz of games will come over the final two weeks of February. That run starts with a trip to Everton in a delayed Merseyside Derby on Wednesday, postponed due to Storm Darragh back in December.

The Toffees have enjoyed a strong start to life back under David Moyes since he replaced Sean Dyche. But they were also dumped out of the FA Cup, falling to a dominant Bournemouth side on Saturday.

After taking on their bitter rivals, Liverpool next host Wolves on Sunday, with the Midlands side currently sitting just two points outside the relegation zone. Slot’s men claimed a 2-1 win in the reverse fixture at Molineux in September, thanks to goals from Ibrahima Konate and Mo Salah.

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There is just a three day turnaround before their next game, which will come in a difficult trip to Aston Villa. Unai Emery’s men are eighth in the top-flight and are in touching distance of a European qualification place.

Goals from Salah and Darwin Nunez ensured the Reds won the reverse game at Anfield in November. Perhaps the toughest challenge of the February run comes on 23 February when Slot will take his side to the Etihad Stadium to face Manchester City.

City have endured a wretched campaign but will still represent a difficult test. The Reds did dominate November’s clash at Anfield, with goals from Cody Gakpo and superstar Salah handing them all three points.

There is another short turnaround for the final game of this stretch, with Newcastle travelling to Anfield on 26 February. A thrilling 3-3 draw played out at St James’ Park in December, though Newcastle’s last Premier League win away at the Reds came way back in April 1994.

Speaking after the defeat to Plymouth, Slot conceded the schedule had been tough on his players. He said: “They trained yesterday and they will train tomorrow again. Most of the things we do, we do for a reason – we just don’t do it all of a sudden, something.

“The Aston Villa game comes during the week again as well. The last few weeks we have played every single week two times. The upcoming weeks we have to play every single time two games.

“It’s not only for them good to once in a while have a week where they only play one game, but also for the ones that were here today, they need the intensity of the game because you can keep on training with them but once in a while they need a game as well.”

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