For all the global appeal and excitement the Premier League generates, there is a clear danger that the dominance of Manchester City and Liverpool reaches a level of repetitiveness that undermines the competitive appeal of England's top flight.
The other members of the so-called "Big Six", however, are determined that when the action returns on Friday they can to least close the gap and begin to restore the unpredictable element that has been at the heart of the league's popularity.
