Meetings between Liverpool and Manchester United are considered among the main highlights of the English Premier League calendar. This season's first act of this fascinating rivalry will unfold tomorrow at Anfield.
While champions Manchester United have taken their customary place at the top of the standings, their arch-rivals Liverpool have slipped further off the pace after their fourth loss of the campaign at Sunderland.
Alex Ferguson, the Manchester United boss, will no doubt be looking to pick up three points to strengthen his team's pole position. On the other hand, Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez is desperate to end his team's sorry run of late by beating their fiercest rivals.
The Red Devils, currently seven points above the Liverpudlians, have lost only once this term. Although they lost both games to Liverpool last term, United look to have an edge over their foes. They are still a solid and well-oiled team despite the high-profile departure of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid.
Last Saturday, Sunderland thoroughly deserved the three points against Liverpool but for the Reds to lose to a goal that took a deflection off a beach ball thrown from the crowd, is absurd.
The match officials must have received a shock when they learnt that the goal should have been disallowed. The FA have banned referee Mike Jones from Premier duty this weekend but didn't have the guts to replay the match.
Striker Michael Owen is expected to receive a hostile reception when he treads on the Anfield pitch and this should never be applauded. Liverpool passed up the opportunity to sign their former hero and then Ferguson decided to take him on board. Owen insisted that he would celebrate as normal if he scores tomorrow.
In the Champions League, Manchester United extended their positive streak with a 1-0 win at Russian side CSKA Moscow.
Not so for Liverpool who went down 2-1 to Olympique Lyon at Anfield. Their hopes of progressing to the knock-out stages look slim.
Successive losses
Second-placed Chelsea, who suffered back-to-back away defeats against Aston Villa 1-2 and Wigan 1-3, will have the comfort of playing at home this afternoon when they host Blackburn.
The Blues have won all their four league matches at Stamford Bridge, while their opponents have yet to chalk up a point on their travels. One of Rovers' scorers against Burnley, Franco di Santo, is ineligible to play because he is on loan from Chelsea.
In midweek, Chelsea were back to their best after tearing Atletico Madrid apart with a 4-0 triumph.
Harry Redknapp, having led Tottenham to a precious victory at his former stomping ground of Portsmouth, is now plotting the downfall of Tony Pulis, of Stoke, at White Hart Lane.
Spurs, who picked seven points from the last three matches, will be without Jermain Defoe who starts a three-match ban for his red card at Fratton Park.
Stoke have had three draws on their travels in the league.
Arsenal, four points behind United but with a game in hand, will be engaged in a London derby at West Ham tomorrow. This is their second derby this season after the 1-0 win at Fulham.
The Gunners have won four straight league matches, scoring 14 goals in the process. Wenger admitted that if the side failed to win any silverware in the next two seasons, it will be his fault.
Poor West Ham are sinking down the table. They are currently a place off bottom, having now gone six league matches without a win.
In the Champions League, Arsenal gained a useful away point at AZ Alkmaar.
At the City of Manchester Stadium, Mark Hughes's Blues entertain Fulham after successive 1-1 away draws against Aston Villa and Wigan.
At home the Blues have won all their three league games and will be keen to extend this perfect run.
Fulham have lifted themselves out of the drop zone following their 2-0 win over Hull. The fans have great faith in Roy Hodgson after his success in steering the side to safety in the first phase of the campaign last season.
A Midland derby is on at Molineux between Wolves and Aston Villa. The gold-and-blacks were unlucky to suffer a last-gasp goal and drop two priceless points at Everton.
Yet, today's match promises to be a different story since Villa are buoyed by their remarkable win over Chelsea. The Clarets are only two points below the top four.
Wolves coach Mick McCarthy is confident that his team are good enough to steer clear of the relegation zone.
Sunderland, up to seventh, take on Birmingham at St Andrews where manager Steve Bruce had a spell before he left for Wigan.
The Blues are a place above the relegation trap door and must pull up their socks and show more desire in their approach.
Birmingham manager Alex McLeish is in talks with chief executive Sammy Yu to strengthen the side in January, after new owner Carsen Yeung stood by his promise to slash ticket prices.
Heartened by their good display in the 2-1 defeat at Manchester United, Bolton hope to make home advantage count in their clash with Everton. Bolton's loss to United came after five positive results in league and cup outings.
Everton are struggling without their injured players as David Moyes remarked that it was time to rest some of his youngsters.
It is also time for another Burnley win since they will be playing at Turf Moor, where they have a perfect record, against Wigan. Their four wins at home and five defeats away have left the Clarets in mid-table.
Hull suffered their sixth defeat of the season at Fulham and are firmly in the relegation mire. They face a 'six-point clash' in their meeting with bottom-placed Portsmouth at the KC Stadium.
Pompey are to trying to lure Edgar Davids back to the game a year after he retired.