Arsenal's next five Premier League fixtures compared to Liverpool's | OneFootball

Referee Michael Oliver gave Arsenal a mountain to climb on Saturday afternoon but the ten-man Gunners overcame Wolverhampton Wanderers to keep pace with league leaders Liverpool.

Riccardo Calafiori's composed finish ensured that Arsenal were not punished for Myles Lewis-Skelly's harsh red card, although the match finished ten-v-ten as Joao Gomes also received his marching orders briefly before the winner.

With Liverpool having beaten Ipswich Town 4-1 at Anfield, Arsenal's victory made sure they stay within six points of the table toppers, while Nottingham Forest's extraordinary five-goal defeat to Bournemouth has given Mikel Arteta's side a cushion above third.

The Premier League title race is firmly in Liverpool's hands but the Gunners won't surrender without a fight, and the next five fixtures could prove pivotal in the trophy's destination come the end of the campaign.

Arsenal's next five Premier League fixtures

Arsenal and Man City lock horns next weekend / Michael Regan/GettyImages

Arsenal conclude the Champions League's inaugural league phase in midweek against Girona and with their place in the last 16 all but guaranteed, they should be able to rest players ahead of the visit of Manchester City next Sunday. The sides that have contested the previous two title races will trade blows in north London and the Gunners will be wary of Pep Guardiola's men as they inch towards a more recognisable version of themselves.

An almighty test is followed by one of the more simplistic fixtures Arsenal will face during the second half of the campaign. They travel to Leicester City two weeks later and will be well-rested as they sit out the FA Cup fourth round. Arteta's men will be expected to punish the struggling Foxes, even if they did defeat their capital rivals, Tottenham Hotspur.

Arsenal return to the Emirates Stadium the following weekend as they host fellow London outfit West Ham United. The Irons are now under the guidance of Graham Potter, who will be facing the Gunners with his fourth different club. The English coach has tasted four previous victories against them, including one during his spell at Swedish minnows Ostersunds.

The end of February and beginning of March will prove trickier, however. Arsenal host surprise over-performers Nottingham Forest having now pulled three points clear of the Midlands side, with Liverpool eagerly anticipating the outcome of that fixture. A trip to the City Ground proved a challenge for the Reds at the start of January and Arsenal will have no illusions over the scale of their task.

A visit to Old Trafford hasn't proven too challenging for many sides this season but Manchester United have already beaten Arsenal in the FA Cup this term. The old foes will lock horns during the Gunners' first game of March on a ground where they have won just two of their last ten trips.

Liverpool's next five Premier League fixtures

Liverpool face in-form Bournemouth next in the league / Alex Livesey/GettyImages

Liverpool are posed some similarly difficult conundrums over the next month and begin February with a journey to the south coast. The in-form Bournemouth, who thrashed Forest last time out and are only seven points behind Arsenal, will be seeking to pull off an incredible result, with few ruling out the possibility of an upset at the Vitality Stadium.

Following cup duels with Tottenham and Plymouth Argyle, Liverpool return to Premier League action with one of their most anticipated fixtures. The rearranged Merseyside derby with Everton takes place midweek as the Reds aim for an increasingly rare win at Goodison Park during their final league visit to the stadium. They have won two, lost one and drawn nine of their last 12 trips across Stanley Park.

The most straightforward of Liverpool's February league fixtures comes in the middle of the month as they welcome struggling Wolves to Anfield. They won the reverse fixture 2-1 at Molineux back in September thanks to Mohamed Salah's second-half penalty.

A resurgent Man City side are Liverpool's opponents the following weekend. The Cityzens have been in uncharacteristically poor form this season but are starting to find their feet at the beginning of the new year and will undoubtedly cause the Reds issues at the Etihad Stadium. It's a venue that the Merseysiders don't enjoy visiting.

There is no rest for the Reds who then face red-hot Newcastle United just three days later. The Magpies, who could be Liverpool's Carabao Cup final opponents depending on the semi-final second legs for both clubs, have been in relentless form bar a slip-up against Bournemouth and Alexander Isak will be aiming to add to his three goals in five matches against the six-time European champions.