© AFP
Three consecutive defeats, second place in the league table, 16 points behind the leader. This is the current situation of the English Premier League defending champion Liverpool club. Jurgen Klopp's team will try to break the streak of failures on Saturday when they host another city team Everton in the Liverpool derby. Liverpool has 40 points after 24 matches. Everton, which has collected 37 points in 23 games, is in seventh place. The first round clash between these teams ended in a 2-2 draw. Everton has not been able to beat their arch-rival for a long time. The last time they defeated Liverpool was in October 2010 (2-0). In the next 20 matches in the Premier League, Liverpool won 8 times and draw 12 times against Everton. Including other matches, Everton has not won in the city derby in 23 consecutive matches. Liverpool's stronghold, Anfield Stadium, was last defeated by Everton in September 1999 (1-0). Liverpool's players' mood improved this week with a victory in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League round of 16, where they beat Leipzig 2-0. Clear leader Manchester City, who has won 12 consecutive games, will test their strength away against London Arsenal on Sunday. The City team has 56 points after 24 matches. Arsenal played the same number of matches and collected 34 points. They are in tenth place. Manchester City won 1-0 in the first round clash. They made Arsenal surrender in all of the last seven matches in the Premier League. The last time Arsenal defeated Manchester City was in December 2015 (2-1). Second-placed Manchester United will host Newcastle United on Sunday. The Red Devils, who have played 24 games, are already 10 points behind Manchester City. United have ended their last two matches in a draw. Newcastle United's team is in deep trouble. They have lost seven of their last nine matches and are in 17th place with 25 points after 24 matches. In the first round, the Red Devils defeated their opponents 4-0. Sunday will also see the London derby where the well-playing West Ham United will face the struggling Tottenham Hotspur. West Ham United has celebrated six wins in their last eight games and accumulated 42 points in 24 rounds, rising to fifth place. Tottenham Hotspur players have won only one of their last five matches and have slipped to ninth place on the league table – 36 points after 23 games. The first round clash between these teams ended in a 3-3 draw. TV3 Sport channel and the new generation TV Go3 will show all ten English Premier League matches taking place from Friday to Monday. The broadcast schedule: February 19th 21:50 "Wolverhampton" - "Leeds United"; February 20th 14:20 "Southampton" - "Chelsea", 16:50 "Burnley" - "West Bromwich Albion", 19:20 "Liverpool" - "Everton", 21:50 "Fulham" - "Sheffield United"; February 21th 13:50 "West Ham United" - "Tottenham Hotspur", 15:50 "Aston Villa" - "Leicester City", 18:15 "Arsenal" - "Manchester City", 20:50 "Manchester United" - "Newcastle United"; February 22nd 21:50 "Brighton" - "Crystal Palace".
