Liverpool face Merseyside derby cauldron, Chelsea defy expectations

Premier League leaders Liverpool will expect more magic from Mohamed Salah when they meet Everton in an emotional Merseyside derby at Goodison Park.

Chelsea face Tottenham having emerged as unexpected title contenders, while West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui and Wolves manager Gary O’Neil battle to avoid the sack.

AFP Sport looks at the key talking points ahead of this weekend’s action:

Salah fuels Liverpool

Mohamed Salah’s blistering form could be the ideal antidote to Everton’s frenzied fans when Liverpool face their rivals for the last Merseyside derby at Goodison Park in the Premier League.

Everton host the Reds for the final time at their home of 132 years in a top-flight match today, with the Toffees due to move to a new stadium at Bramley Moore Dock in time for next season.

Goodison is always hostile territory for Liverpool but the significance of their latest domestic squabble means the Everton faithful will be ramped up even more than usual.

“I’d like to think it’ll bring our fans to the fore,” Everton manager Sean Dyche said.

Liverpool will be confident of silencing the raucous atmosphere if Egypt star Salah maintain his hot streak

On Wednesday, Salah, who has netted nine times in his last seven league matches, scored twice in a 3-3 draw at Newcastle, surpassing Wayne Rooney’s record by scoring and assisting in the same Premier League game for the 37th time.

Salah is out of contract at the end of the season and said last week he was “disappointed” by the club’s failure to offer him a new deal.

But, with 15 goals in all competitions this term, Salah’s value is clear to Liverpool boss Arne Slot.

“Every time we need Mo Salah he scores a goal. We are hoping and expecting he can continue this for a long time,” he said.

Chelsea exceeding expectations

When Enzo Maresca arrived at Stamford Bridge in June, the new Chelsea boss was widely seen to have inherited an impossible job.

Tasked with marshalling a bloated squad filled with talented but underachieving youngsters, while coping with demanding Chelsea co-owners Todd Boehly and Behdad Eghbali, the Italian had taken a major risk by leaving promoted Leicester to replace Mauricio Pochettino.

But fast forward just six months and the sound of Maresca being serenaded by Chelsea fans during Wednesday’s 5-1 win at Southampton underscored the 44-year-old’s impact in a short space of time.

Chants of ‘We’ve got our Chelsea back’ echoed around St Mary’s and ahead of tomorrow’s London derby at Tottenham, the Blues sit in second place, seven points behind Liverpool, after extending their unbeaten league run to six games.

It might be too soon for inexperienced Chelsea to win the title, but a top four finish would be tangible reward for their improvement under Maresca.

“It was a very good feeling, especially because you can see that they are happy, that is our target,” Maresca said of Chelsea’s fans.