London: Thirty-one matches played, in the majority of cases at least, seven to go.
This is the start of the run-in when virtually every English Premier League (EPL) fixture has something riding on it, whether in terms of the race for the title, the scramble for European places or the dogfight to avoid relegation.
Between now and the end of the season, every goal, every controversial refereeing decision and every defensive mistake will be scrutinised over and over again as managers and players strain every sinew to achieve their respective ambitions.
Manchester United's late, late recovery against Aston Villa in last weekend's thriller kept them in pole position to retain their EPL crown but Alex Ferguson admits they are doing things the hard way, making up for defensive lapses with a strong reliance on attack.
Ferguson knows his team are nowhere near as formidable as they were a month ago when United were a side who just did not concede goals as Edwin Van der Sar kept 14 consecutive clean sheets. Pundits were predicting they would coast home. How wrong they were.
United's back line, with Vidic suddenly looking fragile and Rio Ferdinand missing crucial games through injury, now looks distinctly wobbly. For Ferguson that is worrying, especially when the season is coming to its business end and even a squad of United's size is beginning to look stretched.
Against Villa they were decidedly fortunate to come away with all three points but such is their strength of their attack that opponents are never safe. Sunderland are Saturday's adversaries, a side sliding ominously towards the danger zone and in desperate need of a boost.
Although the EPL is a different competition to the Champions League, much could depend on how United react to being held at home by Porto in midweek - and whether their minds will be on the return leg in a few days' time.
Sunderland boss Ricky Sbragia certainly hopes they will be. Sbragia succeeded Roy Keane in December, but is in serious danger of losing his job with the Black Cats having slipped to within three points of the drop zone.
Sbragia will hope United show the same kind of vulnerability as in recent weeks. "Anything can happen," he said. "We have to hope that they maybe have an off day and we have to be more adventurous. Their Champions League games either side of this weekend hopefully might make a little bit of a difference."
Liverpool and Chelsea are also locked in the midst of Champions League action, but, if anything, have been showing better form than United. One point behind, but having played a game more, Liverpool are peaking just at the right time and have the advantage of a home game against Blackburn today.
Rafa Benitez, whose war of words with Alex Ferguson seems to get more juicy by the week, believes United are scared of Liverpool who also left it late against Fulham last weekend who but are very much in the groove. Benitez insists his spat with Ferguson is nothing personal.
There is a mouth-watering London derby as one of Harry Redknapp's old teams, West Ham, visit his new one Spurs. Avoid defeat and the Hammers will edge close to a well-earned European place under their enterprising manager Gianfranco Zola.
Two other Uefa Cup-chasing teams, Manchester City and Fulham , square off, as do Aston Villa and Everton who are both virtually assured of European football, but have their own private battle to finish in fifth place.
Andrew Warshaw is a soccer expert based in England.
