Liverpool Braced for Premier League Title Party

Liverpool Braced for Premier League Title Party
TT

Liverpool Braced for Premier League Title Party

Liverpool Braced for Premier League Title Party

Liverpool have one hand on the Premier League trophy as they seek the solitary point they need against struggling Tottenham on Sunday that would guarantee a record-equaling 20th English title.

A draw at an expectant Anfield would take Arne Slot's men 13 points clear of Arsenal with just four games remaining, meaning they could not be caught.

Below them, Chelsea and Newcastle have the chance to press their case for Champions League qualification with Manchester City, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa all involved in the FA Cup semi-finals.

At the bottom of the table, Ipswich's fate could be sealed.

AFP Sport looks at three talking points ahead of this weekend's action:

Liverpool on the brink

It is tough to see struggling Tottenham delaying Liverpool's title party at Anfield.

After Arsenal's home draw against Crystal Palace in midweek, Arne Slot's men just need a draw to seal the deal and pull level with bitter rivals Manchester United on 20 English titles.

Out-of-form Tottenham are 16th in the league table and have a miserable record at Anfield -- not winning there since 2011.

Liverpool won the reverse fixture this season 6-3 and were 4-1 winners on aggregate in their two-legged League Cup semi-final.

Captain Virgil van Dijk said it had been an "outstanding season" but that there was still work to do after Liverpool's 1-0 at Leicester last week.

"Now we have the chance to finish it off on the weekend against a very good Tottenham Hotspur, in my opinion," he said. "We played three times already against them this season and every game was very intense.

"To be in this position now, it's a good position but we're not there yet. We all have to realize that and we will. We'll make sure of that. It's a good week of preparation and then we have to be ready."

Champions League shootout

Just four points separate third-placed Manchester City from Aston Villa in seventh in the race for Champions League spots next season.

For the first time the Premier League's top five will all qualify for Europe's top club competition, due to strong performances in continental competition.

Liverpool are already guaranteed a spot and Arsenal, 10 points clear of Chelsea in sixth, are practically there, leaving three places open.

City stole a march this week in the mini-league with a last-gasp win against Villa after Nottingham Forest, now fourth, beat Tottenham on Monday.

Villa play Crystal Palace in the FA Cup semi-finals on Saturday, with Forest taking on City the following day at Wembley.

It means Newcastle, who could have Eddie Howe back on the touchline after a bout of pneumonia, would leapfrog City if they beat lowly Ipswich.

Chelsea badly need to beat Everton at home with a tough run of games to come against Liverpool, Newcastle, Manchester United and Forest.

Southampton playing for pride, Ipswich on brink

Southampton's 1-1 draw at West Ham last week meant they drew level with Derby's record-low points tally of 11 from the 2007/08 season, with five games to go to better the Rams' total.

But it will be of limited comfort after a miserable season for Saints, who were relegated earlier this month.

Leicester are already down and Ipswich appear certain to follow them barring a miracle -- a draw for West Ham at Brighton on Saturday would seal their fate.

It would be the second successive season in which all three promoted clubs had been relegated straight back to the Championship.

Prior to the 2023/24 campaign, this had last occurred in 1997/98.

All the evidence points to a worrying and widening chasm between English football's top two tiers as the season nears its end.

Fixtures

Saturday (1400 GMT unless stated)

Chelsea v Everton (1130), Brighton v West Ham, Newcastle v Ipswich, Southampton v Fulham, Wolves v Leicester

Sunday

Bournemouth v Manchester United (1300), Liverpool v Tottenham (1530)



Slot: Liverpool's Isak Faces Two Months Out After 'Reckless' Tackle

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain - December 20, 2025 Liverpool's Alexander Isak receives medical attention due to an injury after scoring their first goal Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain - December 20, 2025 Liverpool's Alexander Isak receives medical attention due to an injury after scoring their first goal Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley
TT

Slot: Liverpool's Isak Faces Two Months Out After 'Reckless' Tackle

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain - December 20, 2025 Liverpool's Alexander Isak receives medical attention due to an injury after scoring their first goal Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Tottenham Hotspur v Liverpool - Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, Britain - December 20, 2025 Liverpool's Alexander Isak receives medical attention due to an injury after scoring their first goal Action Images via Reuters/John Sibley

Alexander Isak is expected to be out of action for two months after fracturing his leg against Tottenham, with Liverpool manager Arne Slot accusing Tottenham's Micky van de Ven of making a "reckless challenge".

The Sweden striker was injured in a tackle from the defender in the act of scoring the opening goal in Saturday's 2-1 victory and limped off the pitch, said AFP.

Liverpool said in a statement on Monday that the forward had had an operation on an ankle injury that included a fibula fracture.

"It's going to be a long injury, for a couple of months," Slot told reporters on Tuesday, "So, yeah, that's a big, big, big disappointment for him. And as a result also of course for us."

Slot described Van de Ven's tackle as "reckless".

"I think I said a lot about the tackle of Xavi Simons (sent off earlier in the game for Spurs), which for me was completely unintentional, and I don't think you will ever get an injury out of a tackle like that.

"The tackle of Van de Ven, if you make that tackle 10 times, I think 10 times there's a serious chance that a player gets a serious injury."

Isak's injury is the latest setback for the forward after he signed from Newcastle for a British record £125 million ($168 million) in September.

A dispute with Newcastle meant he did not have a proper pre-season program and arrived at Liverpool well behind his team-mates in terms of fitness.

His season was then interrupted by a groin injury.

The 26-year-old has scored just three goals in 16 appearances since completing his protracted move to Anfield.

Isak's absence will be a major blow for Reds boss Slot, with Mohamed Salah at the Africa Cup of Nations and Cody Gakpo not ready to return from a muscle injury until early in the new year.

It leaves Slot with Hugo Ekitike, who has five goals in his past four games, and the little-used Federico Chiesa as his only senior forwards.

Liverpool, whose Premier League title defense collapsed after a shocking run of results, have climbed to fifth in the table after extending their unbeaten league run to five games.

Isak's injury raises the prospect of Liverpool moving to boost their attack in the January transfer window, with Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo linked with a move to Anfield.

It may also change the conversation around Salah following his recent claim that he had been thrown under the bus by the club and no longer had a relationship with Slot.

Salah's rant, which came after he was left on the bench for three successive matches, prompted Liverpool to leave him out of the squad for a Champions League match at Inter Milan.

But he returned to action as a substitute against Brighton before leaving for international duty.

Liverpool host bottom side Wolves on Saturday.


Saudi Weightlifting Team Wins 36 Medals at Qatar Cup, Arab, West Asian Championships

File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT
File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT
TT

Saudi Weightlifting Team Wins 36 Medals at Qatar Cup, Arab, West Asian Championships

File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT
File photo of the Saudi flag/AAWSAT

The Qatar International Weightlifting Cup, the Arab Weightlifting Championship and the West Asian Weightlifting Championship began concurrently in the State of Qatar, with the participation of several regional national teams.

The Saudi national team is taking part with 36 male and female lifters across various age categories, reflecting the expansion of the sport’s base and its continued technical and competitive development in the Kingdom, the Saudi Press Agency said on Tuesday.

The Saudi team delivered a strong performance, securing a total of 36 medals, including 27 gold and nine silver medals.

Abdullah Al-Zubaidi won six gold medals in the snatch, the clean and jerk, and the total in the youth 56 kg category in the Arab and West Asian competitions. Mohammed Al-Ajyan claimed 12 gold medals in the snatch, the clean and jerk, and the total in the youth and junior 60 kg categories in the Arab and West Asian competitions.

In the senior category, Aqeel Al-Jassim captured nine gold medals in the snatch, the clean and jerk, and the total in the 60 kg category at the Qatar International Weightlifting Cup and the Arab and West Asian competitions, while Mansour Al-Saleem earned nine silver medals in the same weight category.


Reports: Liverpool Fear Isak Has Broken Leg

Liverpool's Swedish striker #09 Alexander Isak (C) is helped off the field by medical staff after picking up an injury during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on December 20, 2025. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)
Liverpool's Swedish striker #09 Alexander Isak (C) is helped off the field by medical staff after picking up an injury during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on December 20, 2025. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)
TT

Reports: Liverpool Fear Isak Has Broken Leg

Liverpool's Swedish striker #09 Alexander Isak (C) is helped off the field by medical staff after picking up an injury during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on December 20, 2025. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)
Liverpool's Swedish striker #09 Alexander Isak (C) is helped off the field by medical staff after picking up an injury during the English Premier League football match between Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, on December 20, 2025. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP)

Liverpool are awaiting scan results they fear will confirm record signing Alexander Isak has suffered a broken leg after he was injured in their win against Tottenham, reports said Monday.

The Sweden forward was hurt in the act of scoring the opening goal in Saturday's 2-1 victory in London after a sliding challenge from Spurs defender Micky van der Ven.

Isak, 26, who had come on as a second-half substitute, was unable to celebrate with his teammates and left the pitch in considerable distress.

Immediately after the game Liverpool boss Arne Slot admitted the injury was "not a good thing".

"If a player doesn't even try to come back, that is usually not a good thing but I cannot say anything more than that," AFP quoted him as saying.

"That is just gut feeling and nothing medical... let's not be too negative yet. We don't know yet. Let's hope he is back with us soon."

The Athletic and Sky Sports reported Monday that Liverpool fear Isak has broken his leg, which would mean a lengthy period on the sidelines.

Isak has had a disrupted start to his life at Anfield, making just 16 appearances and scoring three goals since his £125 million ($168 million) British record move from Newcastle on transfer deadline day.

A dispute with Newcastle meant he did not have a proper pre-season program and arrived at Anfield well behind his team-mates in terms of fitness. His season was then interrupted by a groin injury.

Any absence would be a major blow for Slot, with Mohamed Salah at the Africa Cup of Nations and Cody Gakpo not ready to return from a muscle injury until early in the yew year.

It leaves the Liverpool manager with Hugo Ekitike, who has five goals in his past four games, and the little-used Federico Chiesa as his only senior forwards.

Liverpool, whose Premier League title defense collapsed after a shocking run of results, have climbed to fifth in the table after extending their unbeaten league run to five games.