The Champions League is nearly upon us again (mumble mumble, and, uh, the Europa League as well, mumble mumble), but will the big boys rest their top boys for these Premier League clashes?
Not likely. Tottenham and Arsenal both have massive midweek games, away at Milan and at home to Barcelona respectively, but given theyâÂÂre both still involved in the title/top-four race, canâÂÂt afford to put out the reserve teams this weekend.
Spurs face a tricky trip to Sunderland, which seems almost as far as Milan if you ever drive it, while Arsenal face a resurgent Wolves who just handed Manchester United their first league defeat of the season...
Actually, at home to Wolves, Arsenal really might rest a few players.
Chelsea will mean business in their awfully posh west London derby, though, and Manchesters United and City will be taking their own derby pretty bloody seriously.
But thatâÂÂs only the beginning of the weekendâÂÂs excitementâ¦
SATURDAY
Manchester United v Manchester City (12.45pm, Sky Sports 2 & HD2, 5 Live Radio)
That clock will continue to virtually tick until Citeh win a trophy of any kind, or indeed anything â this blogger hears theyâÂÂre pretty unlucky in the end-of-season Premier League raffle as well.
But thereâÂÂs another City-mocking clock that could be designed, should United fans find the time and inclination. The newly rich noisy neighbours have only won once at Old Trafford since 1974, when men were men and Sir Alexander Chapman Ferguson was rounding up his playing career with Ayr United.
Can this game provide a hallowed second away victory? ItâÂÂs not inconceivable now United have shown a weakness at last, but finally losing a game could actually help them: less worrying about an unbeaten record, more thinking about winning.
And no doubt: a win here would be an earth-shatteringly massive blow to CityâÂÂs title hopes. Good thing for them, then, that Rio Ferdinand is merking about with Jonny Evans on the touchline with an injury, so Chris Smalling will start in the centre of defence. HeâÂÂs not there yet...
What wonâÂÂt happen: City grab a vital point...
What will happen: â¦as United bounce back to win all three.
Arsenal v Wolves (3pm)
Stephen Hunt in âÂÂinjuredâ shocker! âÂÂWolves play well against good teamsâ revelation! Blogger shocks world by predicting Arsenal victory anyway!
What wonâÂÂt happen: Such excitement, and exclamation marks, to last the rest of this blog
What will happen: Hunt not to play, Wolves to put in a decent performance, and Arsenal to win
Birmingham v Stoke (3pm)
A potential thriller this ainâÂÂt, or at least that would be my usual prediction. But in fairness to Stoke, of whom I am guilty of consistently underestimating, they were on the right end of a five-goal thriller last week against Sunderland.
The Potters are likely to name an unchanged side, while BirminghamâÂÂs quest for their first back-to-back victories in over a year will be boosted by the eventual granting of a work permit to Obafemi Martins. Given that heâÂÂs played in the Premier League before, youâÂÂre led to wonder if he tried the old âÂÂDo you know who I am?â at customs â a question that never prompts a satisfying answer.
Ben Foster has miraculously recovered from a thumb injury that kept him out of the England game against Denmark. Extraordinary turnaround times physios manage between meaningless international friendlies and must-win Premier League relegation battles these days, eh?
What wonâÂÂt happen: Martins to display the scarily blistering pace once endowed to him years ago, though the scarily inept finishing may get a run-out
What will happen: A draw, and StokeâÂÂs fourth in 26 league matches
Blackburn v Newcastle (3pm)
Shefki Kuqi goes straight into the Newcastle squad and may face one of his 639 former clubs. HeâÂÂll have fond memories of Blackburn, having scored a goal every five games in the 2005-06 season he was there. Better than his one in nine for Finland, admittedly, but still â not brilliant.
The Big Finn is on a hiding to nothing at Tyneside, with fans and pundits up there and the world over condemning him before he gets a chance (well, another one).
ItâÂÂs worth remembering that, thanks to the probably-still-sensible decision not to splurge ã35m of ready monies on a striker, any striker, in the last few hours of the transfer window, Newcastle only find themselves short due to a long-term injury to Shola Ameobi.
They should still be fine with the trio of Lovenkrands, Best and Ranger, but a fourth striker is always useful in case another one loses a leg. And given the transfer and loan windows are both shut, Alan Pardew could only sign a player out of contract. Kuqi is likely to be the best of a bad bunch. He is at least a striker, he does at least have experience, and he does at least have two working legs. He may not be as ridiculous a signing as all that.
We shall see.
What wonâÂÂt happen: A Kuqi hat-trick on debut, in all likelihood
What will happen: Scant benefit for Blackburn as Santa Cruz makes his return, as the Paraguayan still needs to find his shooting boots after a long time on the bench. Nonetheless, 1-0 home win
Blackpool v Aston Villa (3pm)
HollowayâÂÂs mob have slowly gone from being everyoneâÂÂs second team to getting on everybodyâÂÂs wick, or at least a few wicks. Now the increasingly whiny westcountryman is insisting he needs to sign an emergency keeper.
Emergency keeper my elbow â they have three first-choice keepers plus a reserve team and a youth outfit. This rule allowing emergency transfers is ridiculous and it's hard not to be thoroughly unsympathetic. And an injury crisis between the sticks serves Holloway right, anyway, for disposing of Richard Kingson after one high-profile mistake and replacing him with Paul Rachubka, now injured. Well, KingsonâÂÂs your only fit keeper now, Olly. Deal with it.
In happier Blackpool-related news, Jason Puncheon is set for a home debut, just five since the 24-year-old was playing non-league football. Good luck to him.
VillaâÂÂs England heroes return to domestic action, keen to help the team that pays their not insignificant wages.
What wonâÂÂt happen: Ollie picks himself in goal and saves a penalty from â who else? â Darren Bent
What will happen: Kingson, low on confidence, fluffs again and Blackpool lose their ninth game in ten
Liverpool v Wigan (3pm)
Suffice it to say that Steven Gerrard is, unbelievably, set to play for Liverpool having missed the England game through injury. Loves his country, he does. Jonjo Shelvey is out for months, too. Disaster!
Gary Caldwell, brilliantly, may play this game wearing a mask, due to a fractured cheekbone. Hopefully someone will make the suggestion that he goes with a Kane mask, or perhaps the Hannibal Lecter facial treatment. Alternatively, wearing a cardboard box over his head and pretending to a robot would bring some joy for the 12 travelling Wigan fans.
James McCarthy is available having missed IrelandâÂÂs win over Wales, but Maynor Figueroa is still out with a hamstring. Lucky him.
What wonâÂÂt happen: Caldwell to wear any of those above suggestions. Hmph
What will happen: A Wigan game to feature fewer than four goals for the first time since January, as the Reds steal a narrow win â their fifth in a row
West Brom v West Ham (3pm)
Roy Hodgson, your time is now. Unite a disparate squad. Win games. Soar up the league table. Win the respect you deserve.
Alternatively, record a bunch of 0-0 draws and become the latest in a long line of managers to go down with West Brom.
ItâÂÂs 50/50, really.
What wonâÂÂt happen: Davids Gold, Sullivan and Brady (you know that is KarrenâÂÂs real name, right?) to take the Olympic victory over Spurs with quiet grace, avoiding all media opportunities on account of taste
What will happen: âÂÂYEEEEAAAHHH! F*** YOU, SPURS! THIS WHITE ELEPHANT IS OURS!â In this game: draw
Sunderland v Spurs (7.30pm, ESPN & ESPN HD, TalkSPORT Radio)
Lee CattermoleâÂÂs unavailability gives Sunderland a good chance of winning by virtue of having 11 men on the field, though Danny Welbeck is injured, so unable to fill Darren BentâÂÂs boots. WhereâÂÂs Shefki Kuqi when you need him?
Spursâ injury worries are continuing to mount, and Rafa van der Vaart and Gareth Bale look likely to miss out in order to avoid exacerbating niggling injuries ahead of the Milan game.
What wonâÂÂt happen: Sunderland lack that cutting edge...
What will happen: ...and itâÂÂs another smash and grab win for Spurs
SUNDAY
Bolton v Everton (4pm, Sky Sports 1 & HD1, 1st half: 5 Live Sports Extra, 2nd half: 5 Live Radio)
This could be a very exciting game, so itâÂÂs a good choice for TV coverage. WeâÂÂre allowed to say that, too, having complained last week before the games that Newcastle v Arsenal (4-4) should be on television ahead of West Ham v Birmingham (0-1).
WELL, ITâÂÂS GOOD TO SEE YOUâÂÂRE BLOODY LISTENING NOW, SCHEDULERS.
What wonâÂÂt happen: A penalty to the away team â the Toffees havenâÂÂt been awarded a single one all season
What will happen: 5-4 to Everton. Like, really
MONDAY
Fulham v Chelsea (8pm, Sky Sports 1 & HD1, 5 Live Radio)
Bit of a toughie for Chelsea, now level on points with Spurs after losing to Liverpool.
If âÂÂArryâÂÂs men get anything out of their game against Sunderland, Chelsea will start their match playing catch-up. Interestingly, Frank Lampard talks about this exact scenario in the new issue of FourFourTwo [PLUG], saying that he would always prefer to be leading than chasing (as it were) and one of Jose MourinhoâÂÂs strengths is in accentuating the positive.
âÂÂYou can either go into your game with a negative idea that if we lose, weâÂÂre going to be three points behind,â explains Lampard. âÂÂOr, you can think, âÂÂIf we win this game, weâÂÂll be back level on points.â ItâÂÂs a small thing but youâÂÂre more likely to win with a positive mindset. And Jose was good at making sure everyone stayed positive.âÂÂ
Your move, Carlo.
What wonâÂÂt happen: A worse start, or more closely scrutinised performance, for Fernando Torres than against Liverpool
What will happen: Fulham fail to grab their second win over Chelsea in 29 meetings, with the Blues prevailing by a single goal. Still, at least Bobby Zamora is nearing a return, yes?
TUESDAY
Birmingham v Newcastle (7.45pm, 5 Live Sports Extra)
This rearranged game is a good opportunity for Brum to grab some much-needed points, with Newcastle tottering slightly after their loss to Blackburn (we have to stand by our predictions here). Sure enough, Toon slip up again...
What wonâÂÂt happen: A Shefki Kuqi hat-trick. Again
What will happen: Home win
