Liverpool at Manchester United: Two bitter rivals. Two of English football’s most fabled clubs. Man U sit seven points clear at the top of the EPL. Liverpool, fighting to get back to the Champions League windfall, are nine points behind Tottenham with a game in hand. This match features the league’s two top scorers: Robin Van Persie and Luis Suarez. The former is thriving, playing for a relevant team. The latter has been a lightning rod for controversy. It will be interesting to see whether and how Liverpool works in new signing Daniel Sturridge. Rumors Howard Webb has already awarded a penalty to Man United are unconfirmed.

Manchester City at Arsenal: Both in the top four mix. Both moderate disappointments. Man City, coming off a dramatic EPL title win in 2012, were expected to exert control on the league this year. Instead, they are seven points off the pace. Arsenal sold their best player in the summer, again, and should face a fight not to lose out on Champions League play (and cash) for the first time under Arsene Wenger. This may be a “must win” for both teams. Mario Balotelli’s future remains up in the air, after this fiasco. Wenger defended charging exorbitant prices for tickets, when the club has won nothing since 2005.

[Photo via Getty]