After three international breaks in three months, there are no more until March.
And after a week of rabid speculation over an accountancy case where nobody has seen the evidence or arguments, Saturday can finally bring about the return of talking about kicking a ball. That isn't to say that big issues around the game should be ignored, but it is a frustrating experience for all to witness a great game played out between two top sides and then see the coverage dominated by a minor incident that had nothing to do with the pitch.
That has happened too often where Manchester City and Liverpool are concerned, and last season brought unnecessary escalations. Despite the supporter groups of both clubs coming together to call for better, the three most recent meetings saw blood boiling in boardrooms and spilled in the stands as well as team buses attacked and unacceptable chanting.
ALSO READ: Lukaku can help City and Doku out again
ALSO READ: City told the three players they have missed the most
Tribalism in the game is inevitable, and it has been amusing as well as depressing to see various people claim with certainty this week that referee Chris Kavanagh is either a City fan, a United fan, or a Liverpool fan depending on the agenda of the individuals. Not that it should matter who the official supports, but it is a bit sad to see people lying about something so trivial to try to rile everyone.
Saturday could well be the first meeting of the year between the two main title contenders. It is still too early to say and Arsenal in particular wouldn't agree, but it can certainly be said that Liverpool have more zip about them this season that should give them a better chance of challenging.
The schedulers have not been kind after an international break to make it 12.30pm, but this was a decision reached by the safety advisory group precisely because of the trouble in previous games (and the fact City play on Tuesday in the Champions League). Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola can bemoan the effect on the players, yet if a minority of both fanbases had behaved better perhaps there could have been more time for recovery.
When the two managers speak, they are listened to and after Everton's points deduction both can expect to be asked about that as well as City's outstanding case. They will set the tone for the weekend and then the responsibility will turn to the fanbases to do everything they can to keep attention on the players and what has all the makings of a fantastic game.
The last week has shone a spotlight on the mess that the game itself is in, with decisions that will change the sport coming from lawyers and judges rather than players and managers. That remains important, but for a sport that owes its success to the joy of escapism it would show the best of football if everyone left the Etihad on Saturday talking about the match.
