All this talk of Fabio Capello as the next England manager has somewhat distracted football fans from what promises to be a truly great – and season shaping – Sunday afternoon’s viewing.
Surely the only place to be if you haven’t got a ticket for Anfield or the Emirates is in your armchair with an unobstructed view of the TV.
If you decide to tuck into the already half-empty tin of Quality Street while watching the action, do spare a thought for the suits at the FA. They've been fishing around in football's pralines and coffee creams for weeks - hopefully, in Capello, they have pulled out someone who will give all Englishmen the sweet taste of success in their mouths come the 2010 World Cup Finals.
However, the plight of the national team can comfortably be put to the back of our minds on Sunday. Surely it's no coincidence that the big four in the Premiership play each other on the same weekend - and thanks to Sky, on the same day in the space of a few hours.
Anfield will be a much happier place after their midweek romp in Marseille, and with such a morale boost Liverpool are not surprisingly favourites at 2.62. Of course, should Rafa Benitez decide to shuffle his team again, there's every chance the Reds will look more like they did at Reading last week than the hugely impressive display they gave in France. The home side have drawn four of seven in the league at Anfield, and it would take a brave man to bet against Manchester United (3) leaving with a share of the spoils at 3.2.
There's just time to enjoy your Sunday roast before the spotlight moves to the Emirates Stadium. Defeat at Middlesbrough last week means Arsenal (2.64) no longer have the 'unbeaten' tag to apply added pressure, but how they react to that setback will be interesting. There was a good deal of chortling at Chelsea's (3.2) slow start earlier in the season, but they could catch and even overhaul the Gunners with a healthy victory on Sunday.
Which of the 'big four' will win the Premiership?
One thing is certain - we seem to have the portents for a title race that will involve more than two clubs and should go to the wire. United are favourites at 2.28 and yet were available at 5 not so long ago. All those who layed Arsenal (4.2) at double-figure prices must be starting to sweat now, although the title isn't necessarily won by the team playing the most attractive brand of football. How Arsene Wenger's new breed of youngsters last the course will be key.
As low as 2.14, as high as 8.8 - Chelsea's price illustrates what has been a turbulent campaign thus far. They now trade at around 5 - but watch that plummet if they win at Arsenal. Clearly the hierarchy at Stamford Bridge feel manager Aram Grant is worth a punt, having given him a new four-year contract.
The many backers of Liverpool (8.6) at prices below 4 must surely hope Rafa Benitez begins to show as much hunger to win the Premiership as he does to win the Champions League.
The Merseyside club have traded as high as 34 to repeat their European success of 2005, but are now as low as 14 after securing their place in the knockout stage.
Who will get their hands on the FA Cup this season?
The Reds will not be relishing their trip to Luton in the Third Round of the FA Cup on the first weekend of 2008. Such ties are potentially huge banana skins, especially against a side whose players seemingly need a good cup run just to insure they get paid. However, the omens are good for Liverpool - they won 5-3 at Kenilworth Road in the Third Round in 2006, and went on to beat West Ham in an epic final four months later. The Merseyside club is fourth favourites at 6.8 for the world's greatest cup competition.
Favourites and holders Chelsea (5.5) face what appears a relatively simple task against London neighbours QPR (640) but Manchester United (5.7) have landed a far tougher draw at Aston Villa (40), who might have feared they would be preparing for the tie with Marin O'Neill, had the FA not overlooked him (again).
If you're searching for some FA Cup value, what about Everton at 22? Going well in the Premiership and with a home tie against Oldham, David Moyes' side are overdue a good run having not gone beyond the fifth round since 2002.
