Liverpool’s next 5 fixtures compared to Arsenal as title rivals win again but dropped points coming

LIVERPOOL remains six points clear of Arsenal in the Premier League table but the Reds still have a game in hand. This weekend, Ipswich and Wolves were beaten and the title picture remains the same as before.

Next up for Liverpool is a tricky-looking visit to Bournemouth. Andoni Iraola’s side hammered Nottingham Forest 5-0 last time out with both teams hoping to make the European places. The following day, Arsenal will host Manchester City.

That feels like a big weekend in the title race. If Liverpool can go to Bournemouth and win, that would represent a big result considering the form of the Cherries. Manchester City, meanwhile, should provide the Gunners with a test.

Arsenal has some more hard fixtures coming up, too. After Manchester City, it plays Leicester and West Ham — both beatable but neither a gimme. It then has Manchester United, Nottingham Forest and Chelsea.

Liverpool, meanwhile, has the game in hand against Everton after Bournemouth (though that isn’t until February 12, it is the next league game after next weekend because of FA Cup and Carabao Cup commitments). It then has Wolves, Manchester City, Newcastle and Southampton.

Liverpool.com says: Both Liverpool and Arsenal have matches in their next run where dropped points are possible. Neither should panic when it happens, though, because this year’s title race isn’t going to be as perfect as in previous seasons. You simply don’t need to win every game (Arsenal’s need, given the gap it needs to make up, is obviously stronger).

Arsenal is playing catch-up and needs to improve its form. For Liverpool, though, a draw here and there is absolutely fine. A point at Bournemouth would be no calamity no matter what happens when Mikel Arteta’s men playing the day after, for example, while Arsenal winning all of its next five or six seems highly improbable. – Liverpool.com