The Premier League’s winter break means action is scarce this weekend, with just five games in three days.
The positive side of all this is that today’s matches should offer plenty of talking points.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe will attend Old Trafford this afternoon for the first time since his minority takeover was formally announced, while Timo Werner could make his Tottenham debut after returning to the Premier League.
Before all that, however, our collective attention is focused on Merseyside, where Everton host Aston Villa in a very important match for both.
The days when Everton seemed to have climbed out of the relegation zone are as distant a memory as Christmas dinner.
Three consecutive defeats have left the Toffees back in the thick of things and they start the day in 17th place in the table, but far from the relegation zone simply on goal difference.
Villa, meanwhile, would temporarily move to the top of the table alongside Liverpool with a win this afternoon, even though they have played one more game than Jurgen Klopp’s team.
Unai Emery’s men overcame a slight festive wobble with a last-gasp victory over Burnley on December 30 and are third in the standings.