Following two thrilling UEFA Champions League ties involving English sides this weekend we could see an equally exciting weekend in England's top domestic league with the sides occupying first and second in the league facing each other.
Chelsea currently sitting second in the Premier League travel to Old Trafford to take on league leaders and reigning Champions Manchester United. With one point currently separating the two clubs the weekends result is likely to have a massive bearing on who wins the title.
However in spite of the significance of this monumental fixture I have chosen to concentrate on arguably an equally significant game: Sunderland v Tottenham.
Tottenham Hotspur's visit to the Stadium of Light on Saturday could define their season.
The North London club currently sit fourth in the Premier League which crucially gives them the last position that offers a English club an opportunity to qualify for the champions league.
Spurs are two points clear of nearest rivals Manchester City with Liverpool a further two points off Tottenham having played an extra game; Aston Villa also have an outside chance of finishing forth with their current total of 51 points being seven points of the pace.
Whilst to those who do not follow English football forth may seem a weird milestone it is of great importance to the club's chasing it.
For the past four seasons the same teams have occupied the Champions League qualifying positions: Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool. This domination at the top of the league has proved frustrating for the division's other sixteen competitors.
Television and competition bonuses offered to Champions league competitors gives these clubs often referred to as the 'big four' a financial advantage over their domestic rivals and the lure of playing in the top competition in Europe often attracts players to the 'big four' and away from the other teams in the Premier League.
This years competition could signal the end of this hierarchy; Liverpool have struggled to look like one of the four best clubs in the league all season and Tottenham's squad now looks like a match for the Merseyside club following manager Harry Redknapp's extensive spending. The big four's financial advantage has also been shattered due to the riches of Manchester City's new owners. In September 2008 City were taken over by an Abu Dhabi based investment group who brought unrivalled spending power to the club. The club spent £118million this summer almost £75million more than the next biggest spenders Manchester City. The club have also offered huge contracts in attempts to tempt World-class stars Kaka and John Terry to the club whilst both attempts were unsuccessful it highlighted the intent of the club.
With Tottenham only having seven league games remaining every Premier League game bears huge importance but considering the quality of the teams that Tottenham face following the game against Sunderland winning this weekend may be considered a must. Harry Redknapp's side play Arsenal after Sunderland in the league on Wednesday April 14th; they then most host Chelsea that weekend followed by a daunting trip old Trafford to take on Manchester United.
While Tottenham need to take some points from the Stadium of Light they cannot take Sunderland lightly. Spurs have not won at the Stadium of Light since Sunerland's return to the Premier League in 2007. And in Darren Bent Sunderland posses one of the most potent forwards in the division and he will have a point to prove going up against his former club where he was often over-looked.
Sunderland have also proved formidable at times at home this season the only teams to have beaten Sunderland on home soil are Chelsea and Aston Villa with both Liverpool and Arsenal losing to the North East club. One issue for Sunderland has been drawing too many games at home.
While Sunderland have proved hard to beat they have also struggled to win games at points this season they have drawn to Wigan, Portsmouth and Stoke at home all games the Wearsiders would have expected to win. Dropping points late in games is also an issue for the side they have dropped ten points in the last ten minutes of games this season something which has left the club still needing one win in before the end of the season before the club can be confident of holding onto their Premier League status.
Sunderland are possibly the best club to judge club's top four calibre against today's game will mean Sunderland have faced the four clubs challenging each other to finish fourth in recent weeks.
A draw at home against Manchester City following City's win at Stamford Bridge highlighted how erratic the Manchester club have been. A draw at Villa Park typified a frustrating March for the Birmingham club. Whilst last weekend a demolition of Sunderland at the hands of Liverpool suggested the Merseyside club may be about to hit form at the end of the season like they did in the previous season.
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