Prem Wrap: A Day Before Grand Slam Sunday

Does it feel like the clubs playing in England today are in a different league than the clubs playing tomorrow?

Perhaps it's a sign of the times that the Premier League would deem England's Big Four -- Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United -- worthy of their own big day. After all, the Big Four are not only back in the top four in the Premier League, but they all advanced to the knockout stage of in the UEFA Champions League. Liverpool got through by thrashing Marseille in France on Tuesday, while the other three advanced weeks ago.

Now the Big Four play two big matches against each other on Sunday. Liverpool faces Man United in the early match, while Arsenal and Chelsea square off in a London derby at Emirates Stadium. All the clubs below them? They continue fighting for the crumbs off the Big Four's table. At some point, they have to wonder if a UEFA Cup bid is even worth the trouble. (Steve Coppell already answered that question for Reading.)

That's why I liked Michel Platini's proposal to give domestic cup winners a Champions League bid. The FA Cup has too much tradition to be reduced to a mere cash lottery for lower-division clubs who manage to survive and advance. The FA could still let a potential FA Cup underdog get that fourth bid in 2009 if they wanted, but it seems they bow to the Big Four, just like everyone else. More's the pity.

Today's Premier League scores are after the jump.

Manchester City 4-2 Bolton. For a while there, Gary Megson's motley crew looked like they might break Man City's home winning streak. Alas, Bolton's defense collapsed in the second half. Their 2-1 halftime lead was erased in 3 minutes, and Martin Petrov set up Darius Vassell for the game winner in the 77th minute. Man City may actually finish the weekend in 4th place if their rivals take points from Liverpool on Sunday.

West Ham 0-2 Everton. Nigerian striker Yakubu scored his fourth consecutive Premier League goal for Everton at the end of a tense, back-and-forth first half. The Hammers kept attacking, but Tim Howard and his back line held firm, and Andrew Johnson sealed it with a second goal in stoppage time. It was Everton's second win in Upton Park this week, as they knocked West Ham out of the Carling Cup on Wednesday. Everton now sits just three points back of a top four position.

Portsmouth 0-1 Tottenham Hotspur. Just when you think Harry Redknapp's boys are primed to go on a goal-scoring frenzy, they pull a dud like this. Dimitar Berbatov punished the home side with a lone goal in the 81st minute, dropping Pompey behind Man City and Everton on the Premier League table. Spurs, meanwhile, continue their slow climb back up the table.

Wigan 5-3 Blackburn. Whoa! Where did this come from? Wigan got a hat trick from Marcus Bent, who scored two late goals after Brett Emerton was sent off in the 57th minute for his second yellow card. Bent's three nullified another hat trick from Roque Santa Cruz, who did everything he could to help the Rovers climb up from mid-table but came up short.

Birmingham City 1-1 Reading. The Royals get a rare point on the road, thanks to Birmingham goalie Maik Taylor, who dragged Stephen Hunt to the ground in the box after a weak back pass. Hunt converted the penalty to save the point and end a six-game road losing streak.

Sunderland 1-1 Aston Villa. Roy Keane's side could have won this one, but a Danny Collins goal was nullified after he was called for a foul by referee Steve Bennett. Keano then proceeded to glare at Bennett until the ref's head exploded. It didn't help.

Derby County 0-1 Middlesbrough. Two wins in a row for Gareth Southgate? A trip to Derby usually allows for such things. Derby's goal differential on the year is now -33.

Fulham 0-1 Newcastle. After 90 minutes of ugliness, Elliot Omozusi brought down Alan Smith in the box, and referee Howard Webb awarded Newcastle a penalty, which Joey Barton scored for his first Newcastle goal. Watching Carlos Bocanegra try to argue the call with Webb was like watching Daffy Duck take on Hassan.

Tomorrow's Fixtures:
Liverpool v. Manchester United (8:30 AM, Setanta Sports)
Arsenal v. Chelsea (11:00 AM, Fox Soccer Channel)