Manchester United take on Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday (15:30 BST) in what is the 186th league meeting between England's two most successful clubs.
With four games to go, just three points separate United in third and Liverpool in fourth. A win for Michael Carrick's side will make Champions League football next season a certainty.
Neither side has mounted a serious title challenge, but the Red Devils hierarchy might be wondering what could have been had they appointed Carrick sooner.
Since the Englishman returned to the hotseat in mid-January, United have won nine of their 13 league games (including six out of seven at home) and top the overall form table for that timeframe.
After supplying Benjamin Sesko for United's second against Brentford on Monday, Bruno Fernandes is now just one shy of equalling Thierry Henry and Kevin de Bruyne’s record of 20 Premier League assists in a season.
Classy Casemiro will be hard to replace
Fernandes' midfield colleagues, Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo, also shone against the Bees. Those two players face very different futures, however, with Mainoo signing a new contract this week and Casemiro leaving at the end of the season.
The Brazilian got United's first against Brentford to take his league tally for the season to nine (he was briefly United's joint top scorer until Sesko edged ahead).
Aside from losing his vast experience and leadership qualities, the 34-year-old's aerial ability in the opposition box is unmatched among midfield players. Since making his United debut in August 2022, only centre-forwards Erling Haaland (18), Ollie Watkins (16) and Chris Wood (13) have scored more headers in England's top tier than Casemiro.
Reds chasing Champions League slot
Liverpool make the short trip across the M62 having won three league games on the bounce as they look to secure Champions League qualification for the ninth time in 10 seasons. Five points from their remaining games will guarantee just that.
It is a journey that has been a pleasant one for the Merseyside club in recent seasons – the Reds have won three of their past five league away games at Old Trafford, as many as in their previous 18 visits.
The departing Mohamed Salah has proven to be a constant thorn in United's side over the years, but it looks like a minor muscle injury sustained in the win over Crystal Palace last week will deprive him of one last chance to add to his 13 Premier League goals against Liverpool's bitter rivals – more than any other player in the competition's history.
Looking to life after Salah – with Hugo Ekitike sidelined for several months after rupturing his Achilles tendon – head coach Arne Slot will be hoping Alexander Isak's first Anfield goal, which came against Palace, gives the Sweden striker a timely morale boost.
Isak returned to action this month after breaking his fibula in December and has started just eight games since his British record £125m switch from Newcastle United in September. His next start will be his 100th in England's top flight.
Despite a 2-1 defeat in the reverse meeting in October, Liverpool's recent form against their old foes is generally very good – not since 2015-16 have Sunday's hosts done the league double in this fixture. In fact, the Reds have lost just three of their past 19 league games against United (won seven, drawn nine).
