Even accounting for the hyperbole, this is a truly special Premier League gameweek that is bookended by some rather captivating local derbies: West Ham vs Chelsea on Saturday lunchtime, Liverpool vs Everton and the Manchester derby on what can rightfully called, for once, a Super Sunday.
With plenty of other intriguing narratives in the top flight this week, make sure you check out our Premier League injury news before placing your bets and setting your fantasy teams live.
West Ham vs Chelsea (Saturday, 12:30pm)
Strap yourself in because we’re about to run through West Ham’s injury list. Okay, so definitely out of this match with Chelsea are Cheikh Kouyate (hamstring), James Collins (hamstring), Andy Carroll (knee) and Jose Fonte (ankle). Struggling for fitness are Sam Byram and Winston Reid, while Javier Hernandez is rated as 50/50. The good news is that Michail Antonio should be ready.
Chelsea’s injury problems are rather less comprehensive: indeed, of their first team squad only David Luiz (knee) will miss this trip across the capital.
Burnley vs Watford (Saturday, 3pm)
Burnley’s list of long term absentees (Heaton, Marney and Walters) are all still sidelined, and they have now been joined on the treatment table by Robbie Brady and Matt Lowton. Happily for them, Ben Mee is likely to shaken off a knee knock in time for this game against the Hornets.
The long-term absentees for Watford remain absent: Chalobah, Kaboul, Success, Cathcart, Hoban. Now Will Hughes looks likely to be out until the Christmas period, Stefano Okaka Chuka is out after tweaking his calf and Miguel Britos may not be fit enough to start.
Crystal Palace vs Bournemouth (Saturday, 3pm)
Roy Hodgson is hoping to have Scott Dann and Wayne Hennessy back after they missed the West Brom game last time out, and James Tomkins and Yohan Cabaye should be fit enough to start alongside James McArthur and Joel Ward. Damien Delaney, Connor Wickham and Chung-Yong Lee miss out.
Adam Smith is suspended after accumulating five yellow cards this term, and he will watch on from the stands alongside Brad Smith, Adam Federici and Tyrone Mings.
Huddersfield Town vs Brighton (Saturday, 3pm)
Rajiv van Le Parra serves the last of his suspension and will watch on alongside the injured Philip Billing, Jon Stankovic and Michael Hefele. Martin Cranie will need to pass a late fitness test after hurting his ankle.
Brighton are essentially at full strength: their only absentee is Steve Sidwell, who is yet to play a minute of football this season.
Swansea City vs West Brom (Saturday, 3pm)
Kyle Bartley is nearing a return for Swansea after a lengthy injury lay-off, although he won’t be ready for this match. Federico Fernandez remains absent on compassionate leave.
Alan Pardew should be able to welcome back Chris Brunt and Matt Philips for the trip to Wales, although Gareth Barry remains on the treatment table alongside James Morrison, Craig Dawson and Nacer Chadli.
Tottenham vs Stoke City (Saturday, 3pm)
Tottenham have suffered no new injuries after taking on APOEL Nicosia in midweek. Danny Rose has a cut head but should be able to play, while Davinson Sanchez is suspended. Victor Wanyama and Toby Alderweireld remain sidelined until approximately early January.
Bruno Martins-Indi won’t play again for Stoke in 2017 after suffering a groin tear. Jese Rodriguez is back home in Spain for personal reasons, although Geoff Cameron could return if required by Mark Hughes.
Newcastle United vs Leicester City (Saturday, 5:30pm)
The Newcastle skipper, Jamaal Lascelles, is back in full training and could be fit enough to start against Leicester. Christian Atsu could also be included in the squad after upping his rehab following a thigh injury, although Paul Dummett is definitely out.
Leicester are back to full strength apart from long-term absentees Robert Huth and Matty James, so Claude Puel has a complete squad to call upon for this trip north.
Southampton vs Arsenal (Sunday, 12pm)
Shane Long should be fit to return for Southampton – whether he can depose Charlie Austin from the starting eleven is anybody’s guess. Cedric Soares is touch and go with a persistent hamstring strain.
Shkodran Mustafi has a thigh complaint and may not be risked against the Saints given that there’s a Premier League fixture list in midweek. Otherwise, Arsene Wenger has a full deck to play from.
Liverpool vs Everton (Sunday, 2:15pm)
Joel Matip’s injury is a cruel blow for Liverpool, and their defensive shape is hampered yet further with the news that Alberto Moreno’s ankle injury is as bad as first feared, and he will play no part in this Merseyside derby.
Given Everton’s lengthy injury list it is time-consuming to just bullet-point those who will miss this game: Coleman, Barkley, Bolasie, Stekelenburg, Baines, Funes-Mori.
Manchester United vs Manchester City (Sunday, 4:30pm)
There’s something of a mini midfield crisis at Manchester United, with Paul Pogba, Michael Carrick and Marouane Fellaini all absent for this huge game. The good news for Jose Mourinho is that Nemanja Matic appears to be winning his battle with a muscle injury. Zlatan Ibrahimovic could make a cameo appearance from the bench.
The big news for Manchester City is that David Silva is almost certainly out – assuming Pep Guardiola wasn’t trying a bit of kidology, of course. The Spaniard has barely trained this week after picking up an injury while scoring against West Ham. Otherwise, John Stones and Benjamin Mendy apart, City are relatively injury free.