Arsenal brace for Liverpool test as relegation battle heats up

LONDON, Apr 07 (AFP): Arsenal face a test of their Premier League title credentials against Liverpool this weekend as the scramble to avoid relegation intensifies.

Manchester United and Newcastle will seek to consolidate their positions in the top four, while Frank Lampard takes charge for Chelsea's visit to Wolves after returning to Stamford Bridge as caretaker manager.

AFP Sport looks at some of the key talking points ahead of the action.

Arsenal travel to Anfield on Sunday seeking an eighth consecutive Premier League win as they close in on a first English top-flight title for 19 years.

On paper, a match against faltering Liverpool does not look the toughest of tasks but Jurgen Klopp's team are a tougher proposition at home than away, winning nine of their 13 league matches at Anfield this season.

Klopp saw positives in the goalless draw against Chelsea in midweek after three consecutive defeats in all competitions, praising his men for their attitude.

"Now let's carry on," he said. "Anfield is waiting for us and we want to deliver. We have another 10 games to play and the next one is Arsenal."

The Gunners, who have not won at Anfield in the league since 2012, face a daunting set of fixtures in April, with matches against Manchester City and Chelsea to come later in the month.

But if they beat Liverpool, even defending champions City, eight points behind Arsenal with a game in hand, might begin to lose belief they can catch their title rivals.