Premier League Matchday 13 Preview: Liverpool crisis continues and the top two meet | OneFootball

English Premier League

There's much anticipation ahead of Matchday 13 in the Premier League after another terrible week for Liverpool, while in the title race the top two clash in what promises to be a thrilling Super Sunday encounter. Mike Norman brings us the latest standings, updated prices, this weekend's fixtures and much more...

What happened in Matchday 12?

Premier League leaders Arsenal increased their lead at the top of the table thanks to thrashing Tottenham 4-1 in the north London derby with Eberechi Eze putting in a man of the match performance, scoring a brilliant hat-trick. The Gunners now have a six points lead over their nearest rivals.

Manchester City suffered a slightly surprising defeat at Newcastle and dropped down to third in the table, replaced by Chelsea who recorded a routine win over Burnley in the weekend's early kick-off.

The shock result of Matchday 12 was Liverpool's 0-3 home defeat to Nottingham Forest, a result that means Arne Slot's men have now lost six of their last seven Premier League games. The Reds dropped to 11th in the table but they ended the weekend 12th after they were overtaken by Merseyside rivals Everton on Monday night who won 1-0 at Old Trafford - playing much of the game with 10 men - thanks in large to a dreadful performance from Manchester United.

Rob Edwards' reign at Wolves began with a home defeat to Crystal Palace, while there were also wins for Brighton, Fulham and Aston Villa, the latter club moving into the top four of the Premier League for the first time this season.

Premier League Table after Matchday 12

Who are the favourites to win the Premier League title?

Arsenal shortened from 8/13 to 4/11 thanks to an excellent weekend in which they beat rivals Tottenham while second-placed Man City lost away at Newcastle. The Citizens remain second favourites for the title but they're out to 3/1 from 9/4.

Chelsea are the new third favourites at 14/1, ahead of Liverpool at 22/1 and Man United at 66/1. No other club in the market is trading at under 250/1.

2025/26 Premier League Winner:

- Arsenal 4/11- Manchester City 3/1- Chelsea 14/1- Liverpool 22/1- Manchester United 66/1- BAR 250/1

Who are the favourites to be relegated to the Championship?

There's very little change in the market order and despite their home defeat Wolves remain unchanged at 1/33 to be relegated, though Burnley shortened to 2/13 and Leeds were cut to 5/4 following their weekend defeats.

Forest are out to 11/2 following their tremendous win at Anfield, while Sunderland shortened slightly to 6/1 and Fulham went in the opposite direction following their win over the Black Cats at Craven Cottage on Saturday.

2025/26 Premier League Relegation:

What are the Matchday 13 fixtures?

Saturday 29 November

- Brentford v Burnley (15:00)- Manchester City v Leeds (15:00)- Sunderland v Bournemouth (15:00)- Everton v Newcastle (17:30, live on Sky Sports)- Tottenham v Fulham (20:00, live on Sky Sports)

Sunday 30 November

- Crystal Palace v Manchester United (12:30, live on TNT Sports)- Aston Villa v Wolves (14:05, live on Sky Sports)- Nottingham Forest v Brighton (14:05, live on Sky Sports)- West Ham v Liverpool (14:05, live on Sky Sports)- Chelsea v Arsenal (16:30, live on Sky Sports)

What is the game of the weekend?

On Sunday, Chelsea host Arsenal in the game of the weekend, and both will go into it with huge confidence following their midweek Champions League exploits.

Following a routine win over Burnley on Saturday the Blues thrashed La Liga champion Barcelona 3-0 in the Champions League thanks to an excellent team performance, while for the Gunners, after a convincing win over Tottenham on Sunday they comfortably beat Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich 3-1, proving that they are one of the best teams in Europe currently.

And to add a bit more spice to Sunday's fixture, it's second v first in the Premier League with Chelsea hoping to cut the gap to three points to Arsenal.

In recent seasons this has been a fixture that has very much gone the Gunners way. In the last 10 meetings Arsenal have won seven and drawn two with their one loss coming at the Emirates Stadium in 2021. At Stamford Bridge the Gunners are unbeaten in the last six meetings, though for the last two seasons that match has ended in a draw.

In the Match Odds market Enzo Maresca's men can be backed at 23/10 to take all three points, Mikel Arteta's men can be backed at 6/5, while the Draw is currently trading at 23/10. Below is a chart showing the percentage chance of each outcome according to the Betfair Exchange Match Odds market.

Players to watch in Matchday 13

Virgil van Dijk, Mo Salah, Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez, Alexander Isak. Take your pick really. In fact, forget Kerkez, he won't play on Sunday unless Arne Slot has genuinely lost the plot. He's been absolutely terrible since joining from Bournemouth, he looks as though he's never played football at this level ever.

The same can be said for Wirtz and Isak, so we have to ask the question (which we have done in more detail in the section below), is Slot the reason they've suddenly become bad players?

Liverpool's slump under the Dutch boss has been incredible. Liverpool have now lost nine of their last 12 games in all competitions, their worst run of form for over 70 years. They've lost three consecutive games by at least a three-goal margin for the first time since 1953!

So all eyes will be on the whole Liverpool team - not just the big names mentioned - when they travel to West Ham on Sunday which now feels like a must-win game. Will Salah even play? He has been dreadful this season, Van Dijk looks lost, Wirtz - who at least missed the last few defeats with an injury - has been the worst signing of the season, Isak looks as though he's never played as a striker in his life.

Surely it's time for them all to step up, take responsibility for their poor form, and try to put an end to their current slump. So yes, while the whole world will be watching Liverpool on Sunday to see how they react, lots of attention will be on their stars and it will be fascinating to see how they react.

Manager to watch in Matchday 13

Arne Slot we're looking at you. Liverpool don't go on poor runs of form like this, not even when they had an average team in the 90s and 00s and often struggled to finish in the top four. So it takes some doing to oversee a Liverpool team that won the title in runaway fashion last seaon to now go on the club's worst run of form for over 70 years.

Has Slot lost the dressing room? If he has then there'll be no way back. Liverpool will continue in poor form and the inevitable will happen, the Dutchman will be sacked. If you think that's a distinct possibility then you can back Slot to be the next Premier League manager to leave at 5/2. Only Leeds boss Daniel Farke is shorter in the betting at 4/6.

There's no suggestion that Slot has lost the dressing room it has to be said, but something just isn't right at the Merseyside club. Kerkez has gone from being one of the Premier League's best wing-backs to a defender who can't defend. Wirtz has gone from being one of the most creative players in the world to a player who can't create. Isak has gone from being one of the most prolific goalscorers out there to someone who can't score a goal. All this is under Slot's watch.

On the flip side, Mo Salah was brilliant under Slot last season, as were Liverpool in general. But this season the drop off has been incredible. Salah looks like a rabbit in the headlights and Slot has a huge decision to make on Sunday - continue to play him and hope he finds his form, or give him a bit of time out of the team.

So Sunday' game at West Ham has now become a huge match for Slot and his team, in which the Reds can be backed at 8/11 to win. His team selection will be heavily scrutinised, as too will Liverpool's performance, and of course, the result will matter most. Lose it, and this time next week the subject of this manager to watch section could well be a new boss at Anfield!