Tedious transfer sagas will make way for the fire and commitment of a local derby match for four of the Premier League's leading lights on Sunday.
Manchester United's Wayne Rooney avoids a tackle by Chelsea's Frank Lampard at Old Trafford, on August 26, 2013. Tedious transfer sagas will make way for the fire and commitment of a local derby match for four of the Premier League's leading lights on Sunday.
Liverpool, Manchester United, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have had very different experiences over the past three months, but all will have reason to feel relieved when the transfer window finally closes on Monday.
Liverpool and United resume one of the fiercest rivalries in European football at Anfield, with both clubs hoping their battles to retain the services of unsettled strikers are at an end.
Both Luis Suarez and Wayne Rooney looked destined to leave their respective clubs a few weeks ago, but the two giants from the English northwest girded their loins and refused to yield to their demands.
Having briefly been forced to train with the Liverpool reserves, Suarez has now been reintegrated into the squad, while Rooney demonstrated his commitment to the United cause with a determined display in Monday's 0-0 draw with Chelsea.
Suarez will not feature on Sunday due to his ongoing ban for biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic, but he could yet make his return against United after the teams were drawn together in the third round of the League Cup.
Rooney should play, however, having taken to Facebook to thanks United's supporters for the rousing reception he received against Chelsea.
"It was an unbelievable reaction from the fans, so thank you," he wrote.
"I really appreciate your support. It means a lot."
United's fans, who were implored by outgoing manager Sir Alex Ferguson to give David Moyes their backing, have certainly got behind the former Everton boss.
But Moyes knows a victory over their old rivals on Merseyside would certainly go a long way to ingratiating himself in Manchester, particularly as he was never able to record a victory at Anfield during his reign at Everton.
Liverpool have enjoyed successive 1-0 wins over Stoke City and Aston Villa in the league, although they needed extra time to see off third-tier Notts County in the League Cup on Wednesday.
Arsenal and Tottenham have had starkly contrasting experiences during the transfer window, which has witnessed Spurs doggedly clinging to their star player in a manner more typically associated with their north London rivals in recent times.
Spurs manager Andre Villas-Boas has since admitted defeat in the club's attempts to fend off interest in Gareth Bale from Real Madrid, but they continue to invest money in their squad.
Argentine forward Erik Lamela and Romanian centre-back Vlad Chiriches are both poised to arrive at White Hart Lane, following the signings of Paulinho, Nacer Chadli, Roberto Soldado and Etienne Capoue.
Were it not for the enmity that exists between the teams, Arsenal's fans might sympathise with their Spurs counterparts over the Bale saga, but the days of their own leading players being courted by Europe's top clubs are fading.
Having lost Samir Nasri, Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie in recent years, Arsenal now find themselves struggling to attract new signings of their own, having missed out on both Suarez and Napoli new recruit Gonzalo Higuain.
Former midfielder Mathieu Flamini returned to the club on Thursday after being released by AC Milan and Wenger hopes the 29-year-old will make an immediate impact.
"Physically, he is perfect. He was tested, prepared and he is physically in fantastic shape," Wenger said.
"He knows how we play football, knows the club and had a huge desire to come back."
Fixtures
Sunday (1230GMT unless otherwise stated):
Liverpool v Manchester United, West Bromwich Albion v Swansea City, Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur (1500GMT)