Liverpool Face Chelsea Title Test, Ten Hag Fights to Avoid Sack

Premier League leaders Liverpool face the first serious test of their title credentials against Chelsea this weekend as the English top flight returns after an international break.
Elsewhere, beleaguered Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag cannot afford another flop from his troubled team when Brentford visit Old Trafford.
AFP Sport looks at the key talking points ahead of the action.
Liverpool set for Chelsea test
Liverpool are top of the table after six wins from their first seven games, but the schedule is about to get far more demanding for a team chasing their first Premier League title since 2020.
Arne Slot has started his Anfield reign with league wins over Ipswich, Brentford, Manchester United, Bournemouth, West Ham, Wolves and Crystal Palace.
The only blemish was a surprise home defeat against Nottingham Forest.
But that run of fixtures was hardly the most daunting, especially with United in turmoil, as former Feyenoord boss Slot acclimatized to English football in a relatively low-stress environment.
Slot's honeymoon period since replacing Jurgen Klopp might not last much longer, with fourth-placed Chelsea visiting Anfield on Sunday before a trip to unbeaten Arsenal next weekend.
Chelsea, undefeated in their past seven games in all competitions, are just four points behind Liverpool as new manager Enzo Maresca earns praise for quietly resetting the culture at Stamford Bridge.
While Chelsea co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali are reportedly jousting for control of the club behind the scenes, Maresca has taken a bloated squad that underachieved for the past two years and turned them into top-four contenders.
For both Maresca and Slot, their clash at Anfield will provide a clearer picture of just what can be achieved this season.
Pressure mounts on Ten Hag
As the walls close in on Erik ten Hag, the under-fire Manchester United manager's fate could be settled over the next week.
Ten Hag is fighting to avoid the sack after United's worst start to a top-flight season since 1989/90.
Languishing in 14th place with only two wins from seven league matches, United are without a victory in their past five games in all competitions.
After United co-owner Jim Ratcliffe sounded out Thomas Tuchel over his potential interest in replacing Ten Hag after the end of last season, the Dutchman might have breathed a sigh of relief when the former Bayern Munich and Chelsea boss accepted an offer to come England's new manager this week.
Although that removed one potential threat to Ten Hag's position, it is unlikely to prevent Ratcliffe dismissing the 54-year-old if results do not improve drastically.
Brentford's habit of scoring within seconds of kick-off this season makes them a serious danger to a team with United's habit of shooting themselves in the foot.
And even if Ten Hag survives Brentford's visit, Fenerbahce boss Jose Mourinho will surely relish the chance to add to his old club's problems in Thursday's Europa League tie in Turkey.
Assuming Ten Hag is still in charge by then, United finish a testing week with a trip to lowly West Ham, where defeat could well prove the final straw for the former Ajax boss.
Strugglers eye first win
Champagne-soaked celebrations are already a distant memory for Ipswich and Southampton, who have failed to record a single win since earning promotion from the Championship last season.
But this could be the weekend for both teams to break their duck as fourth-bottom Ipswich host fellow strugglers Everton, while second-bottom Southampton welcome 15th-placed Leicester to St Mary's.
Crystal Palace, also in the relegation zone, travel to Nottingham Forest in search of their first victory and Wolves -- bottom of the table with only one point -- hope to defy all expectations by shocking champions Manchester City at Molineux.
Fixtures
Saturday (1400 GMT unless stated)
Tottenham v West Ham (1130), Fulham v Aston Villa, Ipswich v Everton, Manchester United v Brentford, Newcastle v Brighton, Southampton v Leicester, Bournemouth v Arsenal (1630)
Sunday
Wolves v Manchester City (1300), Liverpool v Chelsea (1530)
Monday
Nottingham Forest v Crystal Palace (1900)

Liverpool's first-choice goalkeeper Alisson will not be rushed back from injury, manager Arne Slot said on Tuesday ahead of the leaders' midweek Premier League clash at Newcastle United.

The Brazilian has been out since early October because of a hamstring injury although he has hardly been missed with understudy Caoimhin Kelleher impressing.

"I think I have been clear a few weeks ago about what my position is about our goalkeepers, but we are just waiting for Alisson to be completely fit because Caoimhin is doing too well to put Alisson on goal if he's only 50%," Slot told reporters.

"That would not be good for Alisson and it would not be good for the team. He's getting there, it might take a few more extra days, but he's getting closer.

"Like I've always said, the end phase of a rehab is always the period where you feel like 'okay, is he really there or does he need extra days?' But he will be in goal before the end of December if things continue like they are now."

Ireland's Kelleher has made 11 appearances this season in all competitions and has kept four clean sheets in his last five games, including against Real Madrid and Manchester City.

Liverpool head to Newcastle on Wednesday with a commanding nine-point lead in the Premier League and they are 11 ahead of reigning champions City after beating them on Sunday.

"We know we have a difficult week coming up again and as we thought, Real Madrid and Man City were difficult to face," Slot said. "I think it's even harder to go to Newcastle away as well.

"We're not even halfway through the season yet, but it's a good position to be in. That's definitely true."

Liverpool Face Chelsea Title Test, Ten Hag Fights to Avoid Sack