Premier League Matchweek 36 Preview: City, Liverpool, Bournemouth
The 2025‑26 Premier League enters its final three weeks with title, European and relegation battles all poised on the brink of resolution.
Arsenal’s 3‑3 draw at Manchester City on Monday shifted the championship equation, leaving the Gunners to focus on securing points in their remaining fixtures.
Manchester City will host Brentford on Saturday in a match that could narrow the gap to two points if the Citizens reclaim momentum.
Manchester United travel to Sunderland’s Stadium of Light, already guaranteed a Champions League berth, to cement their third‑place standing.
Bournemouth, chasing a historic European qualification, face Fulham in what is dubbed a “dream farewell” for manager Andoni Iraola, whose departure is confirmed for the summer.
Liverpool, the outgoing champions, open the weekend against a Chelsea side enduring a six‑game league losing streak, highlighting the stark contrast between the two clubs’ trajectories.
In the Liverpool versus Chelsea clash, Liverpool have recorded 11 Premier League defeats this season, the most since 2014‑15, and 18 losses across all competitions, the worst tally since 2009‑10.
Dominik Szoboszlai has emerged as Liverpool’s most influential player, contributing 13 goals and 10 assists in all competitions, a double‑figure midfield output not seen since Steven Gerrard in 2013‑14.
| Player | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| Dominik Szoboszlai | 13 | 10 |
Szoboszlai leads Liverpool in total goal involvements, ball progression, possessions won, and ranks second for defensive contributions across all competitions.
Only Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United has created more chances in the Premier League this season.
The Hungarian has started all 50 matches he was available for, missing only two through suspension, underscoring his durability and tactical flexibility.
With Mohamed Salah set to leave, Hugo Ekitike sidelined by a long‑term injury, and Alexander Isak still finding rhythm, Szoboszlai has also been deployed as a forward in the push for a Champions League spot.
Chelsea arrive in the worst form of their modern era, having lost six consecutive league games—the longest losing run since 1952 when they lost seven.
They have also failed to keep a clean sheet in their past 13 matches, a streak not seen since 1991.
At Anfield, Chelsea have won only one of their last ten visits, highlighting the difficulty they face against a Liverpool side desperate for points.
Turning to Fulham versus Bournemouth, Bournemouth’s defensive record improved dramatically after Antoine Semenyo’s January departure to Manchester City.
Before Semenyo left, Bournemouth conceded 40 goals in 21 games (1.90 per match) and suffered eight defeats by three or more goals.
| Period | Goals Conceded | Conceded per Match |
|---|---|---|
| Pre‑Semenyo (21 games) | 40 | 1.90 |
| Post‑Semenyo (14 games) | 11 | 0.79 |
Since the January transfer, Bournemouth have allowed just 11 goals in 14 matches, kept six clean sheets, and have not conceded more than two in any game.
Despite the defensive improvement, the team’s expected goals against (xGA) has barely shifted from 1.50 to 1.48, indicating that the reduced goals conceded stem from better shot quality control.
Iraola’s win percentage and points‑per‑game remain the highest among Bournemouth managers in the Premier League era, reflecting consistent performance over three seasons.
The new back four, assembled after the departure of three first‑choice defenders and the goalkeeper, has forced opponents into poorer shooting positions, halving the conversion rate of shots on target into goals.
Goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic’s form has been pivotal, contributing to the six clean sheets recorded during the unbeaten run.
Bournemouth’s 15‑game unbeaten streak is currently the longest in the division, underscoring their late‑season surge.
Junior Kroupi, aged 19, has already netted 12 Premier League goals in his debut season, placing him among only four teenagers to score more in a single campaign.
January signing Rayan, also 19, has added two goals in his last two appearances, bringing his total to four goals and two assists since joining.
The club has become the first to have two different teenagers score in back‑to‑back Premier League games.
Fulham have struggled offensively, failing to score in five of their past seven matches and securing only two wins in nine Premier League meetings with Bournemouth.
Mexican striker Raúl Jiménez remains Fulham’s primary threat, having scored five goals in six starts against Bournemouth.
In the Sunderland versus Manchester United fixture, both sides have exceeded their expected points (xP) this season, with Sunderland +10.2 and United +11.3.
Since interim manager Michael Carrick took charge in January, United have amassed 32 points from an expected 20.7, the highest overperformance among Premier League teams.
| Team | Actual Points | Expected Points (xP) |
|---|---|---|
| Sunderland | — | +10.2 |
| Manchester United | 32 | 20.7 |
Both clubs are unbeaten in league matches when scoring first, a statistical edge that could prove decisive on Saturday.
Sunderland have opened the scoring in only 12 games, fewer than any side except Wolves, Burnley and Nottingham Forest.
United’s Slovenian forward Benjamin Sesko has excelled under Carrick, scoring seven non‑penalty Premier League goals from an xG of 4.3.
Sesko’s shots average 11.4 yards from goal, with only two of his 23 attempts coming from outside the box, highlighting his efficiency inside the penalty area.
His 15 shots on target represent the league high for this period, and his six fast‑break attempts illustrate United’s quick‑transition approach.
Historically, Sesko’s goal‑per‑minute ratio (one every 85 minutes) is the best among players with 500+ minutes under any United manager in the Premier League era.
Sesko was withdrawn at half‑time in United’s previous win over Liverpool due to a knock and remains a doubt for the Sunderland match.
Sunderland have not defeated a top‑four opponent in 28 Premier League games, a streak dating back to Gus Poyet’s tenure and a 2‑1 win at Chelsea in April 2014.
United previously beat Sunderland 2‑0 in October and have lost only once in their last 15 visits to the Stadium of Light.
Regis Le Bris, now Sunderland’s manager, holds a 2‑0 record against Carrick from their Championship meetings last season when Carrick was with Middlesbrough.
Manchester City’s upcoming clash with Brentford arrives after City’s 3‑3 draw with Arsenal, a result that kept the title race alive.
Guardiola’s side have averaged just 1.4 goals per game in their nine Premier League meetings with Brentford, the lowest scoring rate against any opponent in his near‑decade at Manchester City.
| Opponent | Avg. Goals per Game | Meetings |
|---|---|---|
| Brentford | 1.4 | 9 |
Brentford have beaten City at the Etihad only once, a 2‑1 victory in November 2022 that completed a Premier League double over the eventual treble‑winning side.
Under Keith Andrews, Brentford have increased fast‑break shots and counter‑attacking goals, surpassing the combined totals of their previous two seasons.
Defensively, Brentford have conceded fewer expected goals over the past six games than all but three other clubs, with an xG against of 6.42.
Igor Thiago leads Brentford’s attack, scoring 22 league goals from 79 attempts, a 27.9% conversion rate that ranks fourth among players with 20+ goals since 2003‑04.
Thiago has contributed 42% of Brentford’s total goals this term, underlining his importance to the club’s European aspirations.
City have been formidable at home this season, remaining unbeaten in 15 league matches at the Etihad since a 2‑0 defeat to Tottenham in August.
They have scored two or more goals in 13 of those 15 games, reflecting the attacking depth provided by Rayan Cherki and Jeremy Doku.
Doku has recorded six goal involvements in his last five appearances and leads the league with 74 successful dribbles and 27 carries ending in a chance.
City’s defensive record in the final 15 minutes of matches is the strongest, conceding only seven goals while Brentford have scored 18 in the same period.
Nevertheless, City have dropped 17 points from winning positions this season, the most in any campaign since 2008‑09, with 12 of those points lost in 2026.
Both teams possess the capacity to dictate the tempo, but Brentford’s industrial, persistent style is expected to test City’s late‑game composure.
The outcomes of these four fixtures will shape the final league table, influencing Champions League qualification, European spots, and relegation outcomes.
Arsenal will aim to secure the title with a win at West Ham, while Manchester City seek to close the two‑point gap against Liverpool.
Liverpool’s survival hopes hinge on overcoming Chelsea’s losing streak, a result that could determine whether they retain a top‑four finish.
Bournemouth’s pursuit of a historic European place depends on maintaining their defensive solidity against Fulham.
Manchester United will look to cement third place, leveraging their overperformance metrics and the form of Benjamin Sesko.
Sunderland’s chance to upset United presents a rare opportunity for a club that has struggled against top‑four opposition for decades.
Collectively, these matches encapsulate the drama of a season that has seen record‑breaking individual performances, managerial farewells, and a tightly contested title race.
