If took only two days for the anticipation to buy, but with the Manchester Derby dominating today's headlines, it sure seems that today's match at Eastlands has captured imaginations. Whereas the season has had important matches (look no farther than Sunday's Liverpool-Chelsea affair), City's match with United feels like the first match this year that really means something - where the lose will have to reevaluate what they're doing.
Of course, none of last year's matches carried that implication. In each match, City was rebuked but was still able to walk away feeling there where (at least) United's equals. Perhaps today's match will replicate that, in which case we'll be left anticipated the reverse at Old Trafford, vacillating between our desire for clarity and wanting another classic.
Elsewhere around England: Chelsea's in their own derby, with Fulham at the Bridge; Arsenal's at Wolves; Liverpool tries to avoid a slip against Wigan. Those are three of the seven other matches kicking-off around 2:45 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday.
Throughout the match day, we'll be providing live updated of the Manchester Derby as well as periodic news from the league's other matches.