5 games to watch: Arsenal and Liverpool headline the weekend

Here are five of the best matches around Europe this weekend, headlined by a Premier League top four battle between Arsenal and Liverpool.

All five of Europe’s top leagues have games this weekend that are sure to entertain fans. The weekend kicks off in France, where there’s a battle between the first and second place. The Bundesliga and Serie A both offer games between teams in top six spots looking to pick up valuable points. In La Liga, Real Madrid look to bounce back after losing heavily to Barcelona and appointing a new manager. The best game of the weekend, however, is in the Premier League, where second-place Liverpool play an Arsenal side that have been in excellent form.

5. Paris Saint-Germain vs. Lille — Friday, Nov. 2, 3:45 p.m. ET (BeIN Sports)

Honorable mention: Lyon vs. Bordeaux – Saturday, Nov. 3, 12:00 p.m. ET (BeIN Sports) and Montpellier vs. Marseille – Sunday, Nov. 4, 3:00 p.m. ET (BeIN Sports)

The Ligue 1 schedule is absolutely stacked. The weekend kicks off with a game between first and second place as Paris Saint-Germain host Lille, but also features a game between third-place Montpellier and fifth-place Marseille. If that wasn’t enough, fourth-place Lyon battle an eighth-place Marseille side that have been on the rise since firing their manager.

While the defending champions hold an eight point lead over Lille, the Great Danes have played well this season picking up 25 ponts in 11 games. To make their start even more impressive, Lille have the youngest roster in Ligue 1. Jonathan Bamba and Nicolas Pepe will be two players to watch. Both have scored seven goals this season, while Pepe has added seven assists. In addition to being an aggressive team going forward, Lille are strong defensively, conceding only eight goals. However, Lille’s defense will be tested by Neymar, Kylian Mbappe and Edinson Cavani.

4. Hertha Berlin vs. RB Leipzig — Saturday, Nov. 3, 1:30 p.m. ET (FS2)

After nine games, both Hertha Berlin and RB Leipzig have 16 points, good for fifth place in the Bundesliga. With both teams battling for a European spot, Saturday’s game could determine which team gets into the Champions League and which has to settle for the Europa League.

While Leipzig are right where they were expected to be, Hertha have surprised many. Ondrej Duda has been one of the main reasons Hertha have gotten off to such a strong start. After spending most of his first two seasons in Berlin injured, Duda is healthy and has scored six goals, the second most in the Bundesliga.

Leipzig are in an uncomfortable situation. Manager Ralf Rangnick will be gone at the end of the season regardless of how his team does. Despite the lame duck situation in which Rangnick finds himself, Leipzig have picked up points in eight straight games and kept three straight clean sheets. However, they’ve been held without a goal in their last two games.

3. Fiorentina vs. Roma — Saturday, Nov. 3, 1 p.m. ET (ESPN+)

Fiorentina and Roma both entered the season with European ambitions. Both teams enter the weekend with 15 points and tied for sixth in Serie A. With only three points separating both clubs from the top four, a victory on Saturday will go a long way in determining which club will qualify for the Champions League.

After a strong start to the season that saw Fiorentina pick up 10 points in their first five games, the Viola’s have won only one game over their last five games. Stefano Pioli’s side have played very well in their own side of the field, conceding only three goals. In attack, the Viola have relied on Federico Chiesa, Giovanni Simeone and Marco Benassi, who have combined for eight goals.

While Fiorentina started hot and cooled off, Roma had an opposite start to the season. The capital club picked up only five points in their first five games before picking up 10 over their next five. Eusebio Di Francesco’s side could have made it four wins in five games if not for a 90th-minute equalizer by Napoli in their last game.

2. Real Madrid vs. Real Valladolid — Saturday, Nov. 3, 11:15 a.m. ET (BeIN Sports)

In a matter of four months, Julen Lopetegui was fired by both Real Madrid and the Spanish national team. Over their last five games under Lopetegui, Madrid had picked up only one point and scored just two goals. Sitting ninth and seven points behind Barcelona, Real will turn to Santiago Solari as their new manager. It won’t be an easy task for Soari, who will be expected to get Real to start scoring and winning games right away. In his first game in charge, Solari will be without Marcelo, Daniel Carvajal and Raphael Varane and forced to change three-quarters of his back four.

On Saturday, Madrid host Real Valadolid, who are surprisingly sixth in La Liga after being promoted. Valadolid have been on quite the run since starting the season with only three points in their first five games. Over their last five games, they have 13 points. While Valladolid have scored only nine goals this season, they’ve relied on a strong defense that has conceded only seven goals and kept five clean sheets.

1. Arsenal vs. Liverpool — Saturday, Nov. 3, 1:30 p.m. ET (NBC)

There’s no question what the best game of the weekend is. On Saturday, Arsenal host Liverpool. The Reds enter the game unbeaten and tied for first in the Premier League with 26 points. Arsenal have played very well under Unai Emery, picking up all of their 22 points in their last eight games. Liverpool will look to keep their unbeaten streak going, while Arsenal get another chance against a top six side.

Jurgen Klopp’s side are defined by their front three of Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Mohamed Salah. The trio has combined for 13 goals this season, despite a slow start from Salah. The Egyptian superstar has caught fire recently, scoring twice and adding two assists in his last two games. While the Reds attack gets all of the headlines, Liverpool have played extremely in their own half of the field. The Reds have conceded only four goals, keeping six clean sheets.

Arsenal’s seven-game winning streak came to an end last weekend when they drew 2-2 with Crystal Palace. Like Liverpool, the Gunners success can be attributed to their attack. Emery’s decision to play Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette together has paid off, as the two players have combined for 11 goals, thanks to great service from Mesut Ozil. The trio will test Liverpool at the back. While Liverpool also have a strong defense, Arsenal can’t say the same. The Gunners have managed only two clean sheets, conceding 13 goals, including five against Chelsea and Manchester City.