Premier League leader Manchester City and its relentless challenger Liverpool will expect to stay neck and neck in the title race after this weekend's matches.

Meanwhile, in the battle for top four places, Arsenal can deliver a hammer blow to Manchester United's hopes, while Chelsea can't avoid another slip against West Ham.

Pep Guardiola believes City will have to hold off one of the best teams ever if his side is to pip Liverpool to the title.

Guardiola's side is one point clear of second-placed Liverpool after both teams won comfortably in midweek.

With six games left, it will likely take just one slip from either team to decide the enthralling race.

It would be a major surprise if that happens this weekend as City hosts second-bottom Watford on Saturday, while Liverpool plays fourth-bottom Everton in Sunday's Merseyside derby at Anfield.

Guardiola has acknowledged City will have to win all their remaining matches to be sure of lifting the trophy, and that is a fitting tribute to the quality of quadruple chasers Liverpool.

"Liverpool is one of the best sides in the whole of football history, we are facing one of the best teams ever," Guardiola said this week.

"They have everything, that's why being there with them means a lot. The players know it. They've faced them and they know.

"We don't have any chance to drop anything, but we have been in this position and played with this pressure."

Arsenal can increase United's woes

Manchester United's decision to announce the long-awaited appointment of Ajax boss Erik ten Hag as its new manager from next season came just two days after the Dutch coach was given a stark reminder of the massive task he faces at Old Trafford.

United's wretched display in Tuesday's 4-0 defeat at Liverpool underlined just how far it has fallen since Alex Ferguson led them to its last Premier League title in 2013.

Languishing in sixth place – 23 points behind Manchester City – United has been reduced to scrapping for a top-four finish and even that goal could well be beyond them.

United heads to Arsenal on Saturday trailing both the fifth-placed Gunners and fourth-placed Tottenham by three points.

Defeat against a direct rival for the Champions League places would be a fatal blow for interim boss Ralf Rangnick and his side, rocked by the bomb threat received by out-of-form captain Harry Maguire on Thursday.

Arsenal, behind Tottenham on goal difference, go into the clash boosted by Wednesday's 4-2 win at Chelsea, a vital success that ended its run of three consecutive defeats.

"I said to the players, if you want to be playing Champions League football, you have to beat the top teams," Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said.

Chelsea must plug defensive leaks

Before their shocking 4-1 home defeat against Brentford, Chelsea had won six consecutive games and was showing few signs of being affected by the sanctions on Russian owner Roman Abramovich.

But since that unexpected setback, Thomas Tuchel's side has been mired in an inconsistent spell that threatens to ruin its hopes of an uplifting end to a difficult campaign.

Its painful Champions League quarterfinal exit against Real Madrid featured a 3-1 first-leg defeat in which Karim Benzema demolished the cracks in the Chelsea defense that Brentford had already exposed.

The feelgood factor from a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace in the FA Cup semifinals swiftly vanished as Arsenal ransacked Stamford Bridge to reawaken fears the Blues might miss out on a top-four place.

Currently, five points clear of fifth place, Chelsea has conceded 11 goals in three home games and would be plunged into further turmoil if it loses to West Ham on Sunday.