Have Liverpool hit rock bottom, or is there further to fall as they head to West Ham this weekend?

The Premier League champions have endured six defeats in their last seven league matches, with little indication that manager Arne Slot is gaining control of the situation.

In stark contrast, league leaders Arsenal host second-placed Chelsea, demonstrating that they may finally be ready to end their two-decade title drought.

AFP Sport examines three key talking points ahead of the weekend’s action:

Liverpool Crisis Deepens
Liverpool have lost nine of their past 12 games across all competitions—a full-blown crisis for one of football’s biggest clubs.

The Reds are enduring their worst run of form in more than 70 years, with pressure mounting on Arne Slot just months after guiding them to their 20th English league title. The Dutch manager admitted he struggled to sleep after Wednesday’s damaging 4-1 Champions League defeat to PSV Eindhoven.

The team’s struggles are twofold: missed opportunities in attack and persistent defensive lapses. Liverpool have conceded 34 goals in all competitions, more than any other Premier League side this season.

Sunday’s trip to West Ham promises to be difficult. The Hammers have regained momentum under Nuno Espirito Santo, who replaced Graham Potter in September. Yet, despite their alarming form, Liverpool—currently 12th—remain just three points shy of fourth-placed Aston Villa.

Arsenal’s Depth Shines
Arsenal, top of the Premier League and in a strong Champions League position, are showing that this could be a historic season. Analysts at Opta assign the Gunners a 76% probability of claiming the Premier League title for the first time since 2004.

Following Wednesday’s 3-1 victory over Bayern Munich, manager Mikel Arteta remained focused on Sunday’s clash with Chelsea. The win highlighted Arsenal’s impressive squad depth, with two goals coming from substitutes Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli, despite absences of key players including Gabriel Magalhaes, Kai Havertz, and Viktor Gyokeres.

Arteta praised the squad’s resources, saying: “I look at the players coming in and they can change the game. We’ve improved not just in quality, but also in the mindset of those stepping up, which is making a huge difference.”

Aston Villa on the Rise
Aston Villa started the season poorly, failing to win any of their opening five matches. Under Unai Emery, however, they have mounted a dramatic resurgence.

Villa could climb to second place if results go their way this weekend, as they face struggling local rivals Wolves. After failing to score in their first four league games, Villa have won six of seven matches, now sitting firmly in the top four.

Emery’s team has been efficient rather than prolific, with eight of their 15 Premier League goals coming from outside the penalty area. Wolves, under new manager Rob Edwards, face a tough challenge at a Villa Park where the home side has remained unbeaten since August. Wolves have managed only two points from 12 matches and are already nine points adrift of safety.