Liverpool and Manchester United have both gone through stuttering periods lately.
In midweek both were involved in pulsating 3-3 draws, United at Newcastle and the Reds at home to Arsenal.
Liverpool manager Juergen Klopp has recalled goalkeeper Danny Ward from a loan spell at Aberdeen to apply pressure on his first-choice Simon Mignolet.
The German pinpointed the absence of a winter break, coupled with an unforgiving fixtures schedule, as the greatest challenges Pep Guardiola will have to face if he really joins an English side in future.
Marko Grujic has signed for Liverpool but will join the English club at the end of the season to stay with Red Star Belgrade.
The United fans may be feeling low at the moment but Matteo Darmian insists confidence within the squad is improving despite recent poor performances by Louis van Gaal’s side.
The late equaliser conceded at Newcastle was another setback, but Wayne Rooney’s double will surely give him the needed boost for more nettings.
Looking back at the last ten league results at Anfield shows a perfect balance between Liverpool and Man. United.
2015: Liverpool-United - 1-2
2013: Liverpool-United - 1-0
2012: Liverpool-United - 1-2
2011: Liverpool-United - 1-1
2011: Liverpool-United - 3-1
2009: Liverpool-United - 2-0
2008: Liverpool-United - 2-1
2007: Liverpool-United - 0-1
2007: Liverpool-United - 0-1
2005: Liverpool-United - 0-0
Late Wednesday, joint-leaders Arsenal were made to settle for a point at Anfield in a highly-entertaining match. Tomorrow, the Gunners travel to Stoke, a place not among Arsene Wenger’s favourites for positive outcomes.
Alexis Sanchez faces a late fitness test for Arsenal and new signing Mohammed Elneny could make his debut after his move from Switzerland’s Basel.
To Wenger’s credit, he accepts that a crippling fixtures list is the price he is prepared to pay for more success in the FA Cup.
Arsenal have become accustomed to celebrating FA Cup wins, but Theo Walcott found a way to keep the feeling fresh after his side beat Sunderland, pulling a fan from the crowd to join him.
Claudio Ranieri was left fuming after a last-minute penalty at Tottenham thwarted his Leicester from for a place in the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Yet, the Foxes responded in style on Wednesday as they beat the Spurs 1-0 away to join Arsenal at the top of the standings.
This evening Leicester will be involved in a Midlands derby, away at lowly Aston Villa.
Manchester City were held to a 0-0 draw by Everton at the Etihad Stadium in midweek. Today, third-placed City stay put to entertain Crystal Palace.
City boss Manuel Pellegrini admits the next three weeks could be the most significant in his side’s bid to win the major honours.
The Tottenham fans were glad to live another day in the FA Cup but in midweek they saw their league title hopes jolted by Leicester.
In today’s early kick-off, the Spurs play hosts to Sunderland who had former Spurs striker Jermain Defoe to thank for their 4-2 win over Swansea away in their last outing.
Veteran Defoe was three times on the mark as relegation-threatened Black Cats chalked up their fifth win from 21 matches.
At Stamford Bridge, Chelsea square up to Everton.
Both sides are through to the fourth round of the FA Cup but in the league Chelsea were not able to go beyond a 2-2 draw with West Brom at home.
Everton defended solidly to deny Manchester City and return home with a deserved point.
UK football fixtures
Premier League
Aston Villa-Leicester - 18:30
Bournemouth-Norwich
Chelsea-Everton
Man. City-Crystal Palace
Newcastle-West Ham
Southampton-West Brom
Tottenham-Sunderland - 13:45
Tomorrow:
Liverpool-Man. United - 15:05
Stoke City-Arsenal - 17:15
Monday:
Swansea City-Watford 21:00
Standings: Arsenal, Leicester 43; Man. City 40; Tottenham 36; West Ham 35; Man. United 34; Stoke City 32; C. Palace, Liverpool 31; Watford 29; Everton 28; Southampton, West Brom 27; Chelsea 24; Norwich 23; Bournemouth 21; Swansea 19; Sunderland, Newcastle 18; A. Villa 11.
The Championship
Blackburn-Brighton
Bristol City-Middlesbrough
Derby-Birmingham
Huddersfield-Fulham
Hull-Charlton Athletic
Ipswich Town-Preston NE
MK Dons-Reading
Nottm Forest-Bolton Wanderers
Rotherham-QPR
Sheffield Wed.-Leeds - 13:30
Wolves-Cardiff City
League One
Blackpool-Scunthorpe
Bradford-Oldham
Bury-Walsall
Colchester-Sheffield United
Coventry City-Burton Albion
Doncaster-Gillingham
Peterborough-Southend
Rochdale-Fleetwood
Shrewsbury-Barnsley
Swindon-Crewe
Wigan-Chesterfield
Tomorrow:
Millwall-Port Vale - 16:00
League Two
Accrington-Portsmouth
AFC Wimbledon-Mansfield
Barnet-Carlisle
Crawley-Notts County
Dagenham-Northampton
Hartlepool-Wycombe
Leyton Orient-Exeter City
Luton Town-Cambridge
Morecambe-Yeovil
Plymouth-Stevenage
York City-Newport County
Tomorrow:
Oxford-Bristol Rovers - 16:00