Title rivals eye chance to close gap on Chelsea

Chelsea players — (Image credit: Filipe Luis/Getty)

Chelsea play Tottenham on Sunday at Wembley in the Capital One Cup, a mouthwatering finale to what was once known as the League Cup. But with the Blues otherwise engaged, their Premier League rivals will be looking to close the gap on the table toppers. Having dropped four points in their last four matches, Chelsea are now just five points clear of Manchester City.

Liverpool v Manchester City

The Reds go into Sunday's encounter at Anfield after the worst possible result in Turkey on Thursday night. Not only did they lose to Besiktas but the game went to penalties, taking 30 more minutes out of already tired legs. With under 72 hours' turnaround, Liverpool will need the Kop to be at their most vocal against a City side that suffered its own European disappointment on Tuesday, losing 2-1 to Barcelona in the Champions League. "That extra period of 48 hours that City have could be crucial, certainly physically, especially as we will have very little preparation time," Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers admitted. "But that's the way it's been dealt and we'll deal with it the best we can. The players have had lots of challenges to overcome this season and we are ready to keep performing and doing the best we can."

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

Join more than 350,000 subscribers and keep yourself informed with a selection of The Week’s most interesting, enlightening and entertaining stories - plus daily puzzles.

Latest Videos FromThe Week

Watch full video here:

It's a Super Sunday of Premier League action with the Gunners hosting Everton. The home side's league form has been good of late – five victories in their last six matches – but their horror show of a performance against Monaco on Wednesday will not easily be erased from the minds of the players or public. Fortunately for Arsene Wenger's team, they're up against an Everton side who – like Liverpool – spent Thursday night in Europa League action. Toffees' striker Romelu Lukaku is a doubt for the clash after hobbling off with a tight hamstring against Young Boys, the Belgian having already scored twice in the first half. In a miserable week for the Gunners, Wenger revealed in his Friday press conference that Jack Wilshere, sidelined since November, has had another operation on his troublesome ankle and will not be seen again for the foreseeable future. As for the Monaco debacle, Wenger says he and his players have a "responsibility" to atone for the abject display. "I expect a strong response in the Premier League because it is a different competition. We have an opportunity to maintain our top-three position."

The pressure is starting to increase on United boss Louis van Gaal after another disappointing result, the defeat at Swansea last weekend. Though they are currently fourth, United have only three points more than Tottenham in seventh and the Old Trafford faithful are beginning to fear that they may miss out on Champions League qualification for the second consecutive season. They face a Sunderland side on Saturday hovering just above the relegation zone but manager Gus Poyet senses United are vulnerable. "We need to look at that game as a good opportunity to play a certain way," explained Poyet.