All eyes will be on Anfield on Monday night when leaders Liverpool host Everton in a highly-anticipated Merseyside derby that could have a huge bearing on the fortunes of these two great rivals this season.
This clash is a dress rehearsal for the FA Cup fourth round meeting between the same two clubs the following weekend.
Certainly, the main preference for both clubs would be to pick up a win on Monday night as it reaps three valuable points that would boost their ambitions in the Premier League.
While Liverpool are striving to earn their first ever Premier League crown, Everton can also break into the top four for a place in the Champions League.
Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez was criticised for his scathing attack on Alex Ferguson last week. In his tirade, the Spaniard said referees have shown leniency towards Manchester United players and questioned the role of chief executive David Gill within the English FA.
Benitez had rarely ever spoken before on such matters since he joined Liverpool four years ago. Yet, there have been other managers who wanted to address Ferguson's mind games and tactics before but were afraid to do so.
The results of last weekend went in favour of Ferguson as Liverpool were held at Stoke while the champions thrashed Chelsea 3-0 at Old Trafford. In midweek, the Red Devils continued to trim the gap when they toppled Wigan at home and now are only two points adrift of Liverpool with a game in hand.
England defender Phil Jagielka told reporters that Everton will be facing Liverpool at the right time.
Last week, the Blues claimed their sixth consecutive clean sheet in league and cup outings following a 2-0 win at Hull.
Liverpool are unbeaten in their last 12 matches, yet they still continue to figure in draws against teams they are expected to beat.
In the first round at Goodison Park, the Reds won 2-0 through goals from Fernando Torres.
The last time the two sides met in the FA Cup and league in the same season was in 1990-91 when Liverpool did the double in the old Division One and Everton went on to win the cup tie.
Chelsea blues
The drubbing to Manchester United was a huge psychological blow for Chelsea.
Luiz Felipe Scolari's side regained some lost confidence in midweek following a 4-1 away win at Southend in the FA Cup and will now look at their match against Stoke as an ideal opportunity to return to winning form in the Premier League as well.
Scolari admitted his players did not play well enough to win any points from the clash at Old Trafford.
That setback came in front of former Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho who was spying on United, Inter's opponents in the Champions League next month.
Manchester United are still on track to win four trophies this season.
This afternoon, they will tackle Bolton at the Reebok Stadium and three points would mean they leapfrog Liverpool at the top of the standings.
Ferguson, having labelled Benitez as being 'disturbed' following the Spaniard's outburst, is urging his players that they must keep the winning trail going following the victories over Chelsea and Wigan.
Wayne Rooney is out with hamstring trouble and defender Rio Ferdinand had another scan to check on his recurring back injury.
Bolton have lost six out of their last seven matches in the league and cup and are only three points outside the drop zone.
Martin O'Neill's Aston Villa are still breathing down the necks of the big guns, striving to keep the pace and preserve their top-four position. Today, the Midlanders play against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
Captain Gareth Barry revealed he has been struggling with a groin injury all season while forward Ashley Young, one of Villa's players linked with a move elsewhere this month, said he was delighted to be playing for the Clarets and being part of the England set-up.
Sunderland, having earned a useful point at Middlesbrough, are undefeated in their last three league home matches.
Tumbling Tigers
Arsene Wenger will lead his side out at the KC Stadium against Hull in search of revenge after the Tigers toppled the Gunners in London in the first round.
After six matches without a win, Hull came good to beat Newcastle away in an FA Cup replay on Wednesday.
Following their last-gasp home win over Tottenham, Wigan lost at Manchester United in midweek after conceding a goal in the very first minute of the match at Old Trafford.
They will try to pull their socks up in search of another positive result against Manchester City at Eastlands.
Wigan manager Steve Bruce is waiting for the market window to close, hoping he would not receive any bids for his top players.
Manchester City were inactive last weekend after their match at Portsmouth was postponed.
This week, City were linked with a mega-bid move for Milan's Kaka. However, despite the money available, they are finding it hard to attract top players to bolster their squad.
Fulham also had their match called off last week due to frost. The board lamented that it was better for them to have an undersoil heating system installed, having lost almost £100,000 from their postponed home clash with Blackburn.
Tomorrow, Fulham will be involved in a London derby at West Ham.
After failing to win any of their last five matches, Newcastle will look at Blackburn for a positive result at Ewood Park.
The Toon have former Rangers forward Peter Lovenkrands on trial after he was released by Schalke 04.
Since Sam Allardyce took over at Blackburn, the side is still undefeated in four matches.
Tomorrow, Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp hosts his former club Portsmouth at White Hart Lane aware that Spurs have sunk into the mire of relegation after their upset at Wigan.
Portsmouth are three points ahead of the Londoners at present and Pompey boss Tony Adams will be keen to keep that same distance at the end of this weekend's programme even if they are playing away.
Bottom-club West Brom, unlucky not to share the spoils with Aston Villa in the Midlands derby, face Middlesbrough at the Hawthorns.
Boro boss Gareth Southgate praised Stewart Downing for his superb display in the north-east draw against Sunderland.
Downing still wants a transfer but he may remain at the Riverside till the end of the season.