• Thursday, March 28, 2024
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BusinessDay

Liverpool test title might at Old Trafford as Atletico Madrid host Valencia

Manchester United-Liverpool

Football fans will gear up for a thrilling week of football action after the international break, as Premier League, LaLiga and Serie A matches resume.

The pick of Premier League matches this weekend is definitely the meeting of Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday evening. The Red Devils went into the international break on the back of a dispiriting 1-0 loss away to Newcastle United – a new low for a club which has been on the decline for years.

By contrast, Liverpool beat Leicester City 2-1 at home in their last outing to make it eight wins from as many matches and open up an eight-point lead at the top of the log over champions Manchester City.

Jurgen Klopp’s team will also have the all-time Premier League record for consecutive wins in their sights: the Reds have racked up 17 straight victories from last season into this, and equalling Manchester City’s record of 18 at the home of their hated rivals the Red Devils will be the sweetest achievement for the Merseyside club.

Also, the pick of LaLiga games for this round comes from Estadio Wanda Metropolitano on Saturday afternoon, when Atletico Madrid host Valencia. The Rojiblancos have won just once in their last five league outings, playing out a goalless draw with Real Valladolid before the international break to sit in third place on the log, three points adrift of leaders Real Madrid.

Valencia, meanwhile, are unbeaten in their last four LaLiga outings and claimed back-to-back wins over Athletic Bilbao and Deportivo Alaves before the international break, moving them up to eighth spot and within striking distance of the Champions League berths.

The headline match from Serie A this weekend is the opening clash between Lazio and Atalanta from Stadio Olimpico. Le Aquile have struggled for consistency in the league thus far, with a 2-2 draw away to Bologna in which they twice had to come from behind to salvage a point summing up the difficulties of their campaign thus far. Lazio, nonetheless, have risen to sixth spot and are optimistic of further improvement.

 Atalanta, meanwhile, have really hit their stride in Serie A. A 3-1 home win over Lecce extended their unbeaten run to five matches, a sequence of results in which they have claimed 13 points from a possible 15 to rise into third place behind the leading duo of Juventus and Internazionale. Le Dea will hope to continue their momentum with a win in Rome and lay down a marker as potential title hopefuls.