Arsenal-Liverpool showdown in the Premier League

In the Premier League, the marquee match is between Arsenal and Liverpool. This showdown is particularly intriguing given the teams’ standings and the battle for the top spots. Slot's Reds lead the league with 21 points, while Arteta’s Gunners are close behind in third place with 17 points. It was also set to be a clash of two Italians: Calafiori for Arsenal and Chiesa for Liverpool. However, Calafiori is sidelined due to injury, a significant loss for Arteta, and Chiesa has yet to find regular playing time. The winger may start from the bench, looking to make an impact after two months in England. Meanwhile, Guardiola's Manchester City could capitalize on this big match. After a commanding 5-0 Champions League win, they’ll host Southampton at the Etihad. On paper, the game heavily favors the Citizens, especially with Haaland in sensational form, but surprises are common in the Premier League.

One such surprise is Aston Villa under Unai Emery. They lead their Champions League group and sit fourth, level with Arsenal in the Premier League, and they face a manageable home match against Bournemouth. Manchester United, with Ten Haag at the helm, needs to make up ground from their current 11 points as they head to face West Ham. Chelsea hosts Newcastle in another game featuring Italian talent, with Maresca on the Blues’ bench and Tonali in the Magpies’ midfield. Leicester, led by Jamie Vardy, kicks off the weekend action as they take on Nottingham Forest at home. Rounding out the weekend are Crystal Palace-Tottenham, Everton-Fulham, Brighton-Wolves, and Brentford-Ipswich.

In the Bundesliga, the eighth matchday opens with Mainz vs. Mönchengladbach. After their European efforts, some German teams are looking to rebound from losses in the Champions League and Europa League. Bayern Munich, fresh off a 4-1 win over PSG, aims to stay on top as they face Bochum. Bayer Leverkusen, following a 1-1 draw with Brest, visits Werder Bremen, a team they haven’t lost to away since 2016. Borussia Dortmund will play Augsburg, hoping to recover from the goals conceded against Real Madrid.

The true highlight of the eighth matchday, however, is the clash between Leipzig and Freiburg, featuring Italian star Vincenzo Grifo. Leipzig sits second, with Freiburg close behind in third. Red Bull Arena has been a fortress for Leipzig, who are determined to maintain this trend and strengthen their position at the top. Stuttgart provided the only bright spot for German teams in Europe this week, with El Bilal Touré’s goal securing a win at Allianz Stadium over Juventus. In the Bundesliga, though, Hoeness's team sits at just 9 points, and their home match against Kiel offers a chance to build on their performance in Turin. Rounding out the Bundesliga action are St. Pauli-Wolfsburg, Union Berlin-Eintracht Frankfurt, and Heidenheim-Hoffenheim.