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LONDON. – Manchester City have another chance to ratchet up the pressure on English Premier League football leaders Liverpool this weekend as both teams seek to recover from disappointing midweek results.
Pep Guardiola’s defending champions, who host Arsenal tomorrow, had the opportunity to cut Liverpool’s lead to a single point on Tuesday, at least temporarily, but slipped to a 2-1 defeat against Newcastle.
Jurgen Klopp’s team, who face a tricky-looking trip to West Ham on Monday, were unable to fully capitalise, held to a 1-1 draw by Leicester the following evening.
Adding to the intrigue, Tottenham, for many weeks on the fringes of the title race, are now just two points behind City despite being without the injured Harry Kane and Dele Alli.
Liverpool looked on course to open up a seven-point lead at the top of the English Premier League when Sadio Mane gave them an early lead against Leicester but they were pegged back and had to settle for a draw.
Klopp’s men are five points clear of Manchester City with 14 games to go but former Manchester United and England defender Rio Ferdinand suggested nerves are already playing a part at Anfield.
“That is something Klopp will have to address,” said the BT Sport pundit.
“You don’t want to see nerves at this stage, this is early.
“I think they looked nervous, the crowd were nervous and it fed into the players.”
Manchester City enjoyed more than three-quarters of the possession against Newcastle but still ended on the losing side – their fourth English Premier League defeat of the season.
Guardiola’s team appeared to have put December’s wobble behind them and had smashed in 29 goals without reply in all competitions going into the match at St James’s Park.
Their past three league defeats have come in games in which they have taken the lead, a run the manager will be desperate to end.
Mauricio Pochettino admitted he did not want Son Heung-min to play the full 90 minutes of his side’s 2-1 win against Watford on Wednesday but circumstances forced his hand.
The South Korean, playing in his first match since returning from the Asian Cup, was the standout player against Watford and netted their crucial equaliser.
Pochettino knows how much he needs Son in the absence of Kane and Alli, even if he is aware of the need to avoid burnout.
“He finished very tired, with some cramp,” said the Spurs boss, whose side host Newcastle today.
Fixtures (all 5pm unless otherwise stated)
Today: Tottenham v Newcastle (2:30pm), Brighton v Watford, Burnley v Southampton, Chelsea v Huddersfield, Crystal Palace v Fulham, Everton v Wolves, Cardiff v Bournemouth (7:30pm)
Tomorrow: Leicester v Manchester United (4:05pm), Manchester City v Arsenal (6:30pm)
Monday: West Ham v Liverpool (10pm) – AFP
Online Reporter