Another pivotal weekend in the English Premier League as leaders Chelsea host third-placed Arsenal and Aston Villa go to Tottenham Hotspur with the prize of fourth place potentially on offer for the winners, while Manchester United have the much easier task of a home game against bottom club Portsmouth.
For good measure, there is the Merseyside derby, though the underperformance of both Liverpool and Everton makes that a mere sideshow this season instead of a main event. Punters looking for a good bet should, however, pay close attention to this match.
The derby will be full-blooded and fiery, as usual, and there could be some entertainment too, as both teams are on a run of better form. Liverpool have won four and drawn two of their past six league games, conceding only one goal, and Everton are unbeaten in nine league games since losing the reverse fixture 2-0 at Goodison Park on November 29.
Liverpool's improvement has been based on strong defence, but Everton's revival is linked directly to a better scoring rate. They have scored in all of their last nine matches at a rate of more than two goals per game - almost half of their goals total for the season has come in those nine games.
Tonight's match could come down to Liverpool's ability to stop Everton's scoring run, as Rafa Benitez's side have won only four of the 14 league games in which they have conceded this season, losing seven. That gives Everton a good chance of taking at least a point if they can get on the scoresheet, given that Liverpool's four wins when they conceded were all against teams currently in the bottom seven.
Everton were struggling early in the season and at one time appeared as if they might get dragged into the relegation battle, but they are playing back at their usual level under David Moyes and are much more dangerous than the teams that Liverpool have been able to concede against and still overcome. Liverpool have won only four of their 11 games so far against teams in the top half of the table, including just two out of six at home, and Everton's current form and potency in attack makes them the pick on the handicap HAD.
Sir Alex Ferguson no doubt would be happy to see Liverpool suffer another setback in a difficult season but, as he has admitted, his chief wish this weekend is that Arsenal batter Chelsea in the big top-of-the-table clash.