Reigning champions Liverpool have lost only once in their past 14 Premier League meetings with Manchester United but enter the weekend under pressure after three consecutive defeats in all competitions — a run that has allowed Arsenal to climb to the top of the table.

Meanwhile, Nottingham Forest boss Ange Postecoglou survived the international break but remains under intense scrutiny, still searching for his first win after seven matches in charge.

AFP Sport examines three key storylines ahead of another crucial Premier League weekend:

Liverpool banking on the Anfield boost

Liverpool began the season in blistering form, reeling off five straight Premier League victories and appearing poised for a record 21st English top-flight crown — one more than bitter rivals United.

But defensive frailties and reliance on late goals have caught up with Arne Slot’s side, who suffered league defeats to Crystal Palace and Chelsea, sandwiched around a Champions League loss to Galatasaray. Now just a point behind leaders Arsenal, the Reds are eager to steady the ship when United visit Anfield.

Liverpool’s social media team couldn’t resist reminding fans of the 7–0 humiliation they inflicted on United in March 2023. Mohamed Salah scored twice that day and boasts an impressive record against the Red Devils, finding the net in 10 of the past 11 clashes across all competitions.

Yet Salah, along with summer signings Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak, has struggled for form of late, while Liverpool’s back line has looked increasingly vulnerable. United haven’t won at Anfield since 2016, but back-to-back draws there suggest they may fancy their chances of exploiting Liverpool’s defensive gaps.

Postecoglou’s search for a breakthrough

Despite a winless start, Ange Postecoglou insists he isn’t panicking as pressure mounts at Nottingham Forest. Sitting just above the relegation zone, Forest host Chelsea in Saturday’s early kick-off — a daunting task for a side desperately short on confidence.

It marks a dramatic downturn for Forest, who finished seventh last season under Nuno Espírito Santo to clinch European football. For Postecoglou, it’s an uncomfortable continuation of last year’s struggles at Tottenham, where a dismal league campaign overshadowed his Europa League triumph and cost him his job.

“I’ve fought for things my whole life, so it’s just another fight that I love to be in,” said the 60-year-old after a 2–0 defeat to Newcastle earlier this month, responding to fans’ calls for his dismissal.

Whether the international break has provided a reset or merely postponed the inevitable remains to be seen, with reports suggesting former Burnley and Everton boss Sean Dyche is on standby should results fail to improve.

Semenyo unstoppable for flying Bournemouth

Few players have lit up the Premier League this season like Antoine Semenyo. The Ghanaian winger has been electric for Bournemouth, scoring six goals and providing three assists to propel Andoni Iraola’s side into fourth place — their best-ever start to a top-flight campaign.

Remarkably, Semenyo has been involved in 82 percent of Bournemouth’s league goals, the highest contribution rate of any player in the division.

“He’s incredible,” teammate Justin Kluivert said. “Every game, he shows he’s world-class.”

Bournemouth’s form is all the more impressive given they sold nearly £200 million worth of talent over the summer. Their resilience will be tested again this weekend when they face a Crystal Palace side eager to bounce back after seeing their 19-match unbeaten run across all competitions come to an end.