"Gargantuan" Sunday: The Return

For whatever reason, the Premier League has decided two of the biggest rivalries in England should play their games on the same Sunday, almost at equidistant points during the season. This weekend, the "Grand Slam" returns, with Manchester United hosting Liverpool and Chelsea versus Arsenal.

Last time around, back in December, spectators were treated to one of the worst displays of football not involving Derby when Man United beat Liverpool 1-0. In a slightly better contest, Arsenal brought down Chelsea 1-0.

Why these games need to be crammed into one day is beyond me, but I'm certainly hoping the quality will be better this time around. I have a feeling it will be, but you never know when someone like Sir Alex will throw ten men behind the ball with hopes of grabbing all three points on the break, as he did at Anfield, turning a match into a dry, agonizing battle of attrition.

But I digress. Fergie will likely plan a more positive game, as he is wont to do at home. Chelsea is less likely to sit back, also at home and with the scent of blood in the water: Arsenal is vulnerable and a legitimate shot at the title beckons.

The one thing the Grand Slam has going for it now, that it didn't in December, is the end is near. We can clearly see the implications of possible results. If United wins and Chelsea-Arsenal ends in a draw (Arsenal have taken a shine to draws, posting four in a row), the Red Devils may have the title sewn up.

They would lead by five points with seven games remaining. Not insurmountable, but Man United seems to have a knack of winning in April and May. If Man United and Liverpool draw and Arsenal wins, it would seem to be a two horse race, with the Gunners and Devils fighting it out over the last two months.

The more interesting scenarios involve Chelsea winning and United dropping points. Chelsea would be level with Arsenal, only 2-3 points back of the leaders. Alternatively, and most intriguingly (and most unlikely, it should be said) is for red-hot Liverpool to pull off Rafa Benitez first defeat of Man United in the league and for the other game to finish in a draw.
The resulting table would look like this:

Manchester 70 pts
Arsenal 68 pts
Chelsea 66 pts
Liverpool 62 pts

With three games or less separating each team and head-to-head matches left to play, the final seven games would be something to behold.

Got all that? Enjoy your Easter Sunday!