Andrew Leci

Apart from the fact that we get to see some of the top teams in action in the UEFA Champions League - at least those of us with a plentiful supply of coffee who are prepared to tune in for matches at 3.45 in the morning - it means that the subsequent Barclays Premier League weekend schedule is staggered.

This in turn means that we do not have to try to watch three games at the same time on a Saturday night, wearing out batteries in the remote control and almost invariably switching over just before a goal is scored and missing all the important bits. Or is this just me?

The current season is panning out as one of the most fascinating in years. The bottom 10 clubs are separated by a mere seven points, while the gap from seventh place to rock bottom is a paltry eight points - that's less than three wins after taking into account football currency conversion rates.

It means that a win can propel teams up the table in the time it takes to score a winner, while even the clubs in the relegation zone know that relative safety could be just around the corner.

Usually, I might even say ‘traditionally', at this stage of a season, one or two clubs are detached and fighting for their lives. Although West Bromwich Albion have had to look up at every other team for a couple of weeks now from the depths of the Premier League table, a win at Wigan on Saturday would put them back into the survival mix.

However, Tony Mowbray's men continue to try to play attacking, flowing football, and many pundits feel that this may not be the order of the day when it comes to maintaining top flight status.

Stoke City have proved that the direct approach can work at this level, and have used their admittedly limited resources to good effect. Rory Delap's long throw, and the considerable physique of their players have contributed to Stoke winning five games at home already this season. Only Liverpool, Manchester United and Fulham can match that.

While teams continue to play their somewhat manic mid-table game of musical chairs on Saturday, all eyes will be on two cracking Sunday matches, the results of which could have significant ramifications for the rest of the campaign.

Manchester United will be only too aware of the fact that their city rivals beat them twice in the league last season - an almost unprecedented series of events. Manchester City were the only team to emerge from Old Trafford in the 2007-8 campaign with all the spoils, something that must have been particularly galling for Sir Alex Ferguson.

On Sunday, we will see just how far Manchester City have come, and perhaps are capable of going, with their current squad, which could give us some indication as to their transfer window intentions come January.

Manchester United are now eight points adrift of Chelsea and Liverpool at the top of the table, and nothing less than a win will be required to maintain their title credentials. City players will be aware that they are all playing for their places in view of the club owner's vast financial resources and their stated desire to bring in the world's best, regardless of cost.

Following the Manchester derby, Sunday also sees a titanic clash at Stamford Bridge as Chelsea entertain Arsenal. London derbies are never for the faint hearted and the context for this encounter is particularly intriguing.

Arsenal still have to answer most of the questions raised about their bravery and commitment to the cause, and while rumours of back-biting and dissension in the ranks continue to rumble, Arsene Wenger may be facing one of the more significant challenges in his distinguished managerial career. There will be no bigger test than at Stamford Bridge.

ESPN STAR Sports pundits had a poor weekend last time out when it came to making predictions, but then, didn't we all? Who, for example, would have imagined that with all the firepower at the disposal of Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal, not one of the teams would have been able to score?

Three 0-0 draws, and a 3-0 home loss for Arsenal, were all the elite teams in English football were capable of mustering, and the shock waves are still reverberating around the Barclays Premier League.

It proves once again, that on any given day, any team in the Premier League is capable of beating any other, and the Big Four don't have a divine right to get results against seemingly inferior opposition.

Nothing is certain these days in the world's best football league, except uncertainty. Will there be more surprises this weekend? I wouldn't be at all surprised.