Liverpool return to Premier League action next weekend where they will be hoping to close the gap on leaders Arsenal

Liverpool have reportedly got an advantage over their Premier League rivals when they return to top-flight action next week. The Reds were handed a major blow in their hopes of retaining the title last week as they were beaten 3-0 by Manchester City.

Arne Slot's side currently find themselves in eighth place in the Premier League table and are eight points adrift of leaders Arsenal, having lost five matches in the top flight so far this term.

Next up for Liverpool is a home clash against Nottingham Forest, who are in the relegation zone but are buoyed by recent performances under new manager Sean Dyche.

The Reds will be determined to improve their form when the Premier League returns, having lost five of their last six top-flight matches.

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And a recent report has claimed that Liverpool have a major advantage over their rivals.

According to Sky Sports, Liverpool have the second-easiest run of fixtures after the international break. The report states that only Manchester United have an easier run of games when the Premier League resumes.

Liverpool will face teams on teams in 19th (Nottingham Forest), 18th (West Ham), fourth (Sunderland), 16th (Leeds United) and 11th (Brighton) in their opening five matches after the international break.

By contrast, Arsenal's fixture list is the seventh most difficult in the Premier League.

The Gunners will take on Tottenham Hotspur (5th), Chelsea (3rd), Brentford(12th), Aston Villa (6th) and Wolves (20th) in their next five top-flight matches.

“It feels there’s too many (defeats), and the last thing I should think about now is the title race," Slot told reporters after Liverpool's defeat to Man City last week.

“We should first focus on getting results, result and result after result before we can even think about that.

“The reality is we are eighth now, one team is quite far ahead although City is four points away from Arsenal. The rest is quite close.

“I said last season many times even when we were leading, the best way to judge the league table is after 38 games, and the next best way to is to judge it after 19 games because you have all faced the same opponents.

“Our first focus should be on getting results. The last thing we should focus on is the title race. That was something we could do last season but also not the previous two seasons. We need to improve and that’s obvious.”

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