Gerrard seeking big reaction, Al Taawoun out to jam Al Hilal machine

Matchweek 8 of the 2024-25 Roshn Saudi League comes to close on Saturday with Steven Gerrard intent on turning around his team's fortunes, the league's bottom club in need of a reprieve and Al Taawoun the latest to bid to stop the surging champions.

Here’s our matchday preview.

Al Fayha v Al Ettifaq

Al Majma’ah Sports City Stadium, Dammam - KICK-OFF 18:00

After an incredibly difficult start to the season, Al Fayha turned around their form with a run of four matches without defeat, only to meet the mighty Al Hilal last time out.

The 3-0 defeat in Riyadh should not have dampened spirits too much, though, and second-from-bottom Al Fayha will be looking to bounce straight back in Saturday’s early kick-off against an Al Ettifaq who have been wildly out of form domestically in recent weeks.

Steven Gerrard’s side began the campaign with three victories on the bounce but are winless in their past four – with three of those being defeats. Sunday’s 3-2 reverse at home to Al Orobah would have particularly stung, meaning the Dammam club have lost their past three league games on their own patch.

Al Fayha, however, have won only once in 12 RSL matches with Al Ettifaq (D5, L6). What’s more, against Al Ettifaq, they have played the most home RSL matches without a win of any opponent they’ve faced in the top flight.

Get your tickets for Al Fayha v Al Ettifaq HERE 

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Al Raed v Al Fateh

Al Raed Club Stadium, Buraidah - KICK-OFF 18:05

Al Raed welcome the RSL’s bottom side to Buraidah looking to continue their slight upturn in fortune. Odair Hellmann’s men have taken four points from their past two league fixtures: a superb 1-0 win at Al Ettifaq was followed by a 2-2 draw at home to Al Wehda.

It could have been so much better last Saturday, were it not for Mourad Khodari’s 95th-minute equaliser for the visitors from Mecca. Still, another victory here could propel Al Raed into the top half of the table.

How Al Fateh would wish for a similar opportunity. It’s been a hugely disappointing campaign thus far for Jens Gustafsson’s outfit, who have tasted victory once in eight matches across all competitions.

Having said that, Sunday’s 1-1 draw at home to Al Kholood snapped a run of five straight defeats. No doubt, everyone at the club, and the team's supporters, will hope that provides the spark to ignite their season.

So, what will give on Saturday? Al Raed have not won in their past six home league matches (D4, L2), their longest winless home run since an eight-match streak in the 2010-11 season. Al Fateh, meanwhile, are on their longest away losing streak in the RSL (five matches) and have not kept a clean sheet in their past 21 away league games.

Get your tickets for Al Raed v Al Fateh HERE

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Al Hilal v Al Taawoun

Kingdom Arena, Riyadh - KICK-OFF 21:00 

League leaders Al Hilal attempt to maintain both their 100 percent record in this season's RSL, and an unbeaten league run that stretches back 43 matches. Al Taawoun are the latest to try to halt that incredible sequence.

Since the 2024-25 RSL kicked off, Al Hilal have won 11 matches from 11 across all competitions, including Monday’s epic 5-4 triumph in the AFC Champions Elite clash with Asian champions Al Ain in the UAE. There was one negative to come from that encounter, though: key midfielder Ruben Neves has been ruled out for up to four weeks with injury.

Likewise, Al Taawoun come into the match on the back of victory on the continent, when goals from Joao Pedro and Sultan Mandash saw off Turkmenistan’s Altyn Asyr 2-1 at home on Wednesday. In the RSL, Rodolfo Arruabarrena’s side have lost only twice in seven, and are unbeaten in their past three, culminating in last Saturday’s come-from-behind 2-2 draw at Damac.

Of course, they’ll have their work cut out against Al Hilal’s winning machine. In fact, Al Taawoun have triumphed in only three of their 28 league encounters against the capital side (D4, L21).

Get your tickets for Al Hilal v Al Taawoun HERE