Reds and City renew rivalry, bid to narrow Arsenal gap

Manchester City host Liverpool this weekend in the latest chapter of a compelling rivalry that has dominated the Premier League for nearly a decade - but this time both clubs are playing catch-up.

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Table-toppers Arsenal will hope their two main rivals cancel each other out at the Etihad, but a win for either City or Liverpool would be a psychological boost.

The Gunners, meanwhile, face former captain Granit Xhaka when they travel to fourth-placed Sunderland, while Manchester United seek revenge for their defeat in the Europa League final by Tottenham Hotspur.

Arne Slot has steadied the ship at Anfield, reverting to a tried-and-trusted defence after a run of four Premier League defeats that threatened to derail Liverpool's season.

It is too soon to say if the defending champions have turned a corner but consecutive wins and clean sheets against Aston Villa, in the Premier League, and Real Madrid, in the Champions League, are steps in the right in the right direction.

Liverpool manager Slot's defence for the past two matches has been Conor Bradley, Ibrahim Konate, Virgil van Dijk and Andy Robertson -- all of whom were at the club last season.

On Sunday the Reds will face a challenge of a different magnitude when they come up against Erling Haaland, who has already scored an astounding 27 goals in 17 matches for club and country this season.