Liverpool halted their domestic losing skid at five with an opportunistic 2-0 win over Aston Villa at Anfield on Saturday, returning to third on the Premier League table.

The Reds came into the match with their Premier League title defence in tatters after four successive defeats.

When Liverpool needed a boost, the Anfield crowd motivated the Reds to a vital win - with Mohamed Salah returning to form.

Real Madrid Attempt Power Move In Race For Marc GuehiThe scramble for elite defenders, particularly those nearing contract expiry, has become a strategic battleground across Europe. With financial

Ryan Gravenberch also scored on his return to the side as Arne Slot’s champions picked up their first points since September

The schedule doesn't get any easier for Mo Salah and company with Real Madrid on the horizon in the Champions League

Fast forward to Monday, and – after a 3-2 defeat to Brentford – Liverpool has now lost four straight games in the Premier League, just the fourth time in history that a defending champion has gone on such a poor run of form, per Opta.

Who's leading after Matchday 9? And what do our writer, the algorithm, a child and this week's subscriber expect to see on Matchday 10?

The festive calendar has once again offered a reminder that in the Premier League, schedules bend to broadcasters as much as to tradition. Liverpool, champions under Arne Slot last season, will navigate a reshuffled run of fixtures across Christmas and New Year as they push to sustain their title credentials and keep rhythm in a period often defined by fatigue,