Fixture congestion now becomes the shrill cry and the weather man says more postponements to jam the schedule could be in the forecast. Transfers during the winter window will also feature some surprises, both those made and those put off.

In one of those surprises Sol Campbell goes back to Arsenal and Lucas Neill makes a move to Istanbul to join his countrymen Harry Kewell at Galatasaray. Neill leaves Goodison Park after only 15 appearances since his signing in September while Wenger's signing of Campbell violates one of his supposed tenets; that is, to not resign any player that has left the nest.

Maxi Rodriguez is tying up the final details related to his move from Atletico to Liverpool. Will this guy help rejuvenate the Reds offense who led the league in goals scored last season? So far in this campaign the only club scoring fewer goals that are above Liverpool (7th) in the table is Aston Villa who sits 6th.

Burnley named Brian Laws to the manager post just one month after he was dismissed from Sheffield Wednesday to replace Owen Coyle who moved to Bolton.

Here, the deep cold grip continues around the country but Philadelphia promises to warm the hearts of soccer fans with the MLS draft being held this week and player combines to comb the ranks of those interested in pursuing a pro club. USL clubs are also in the mix such as Charleston's multiple weekend player evaluations and their Challenge Cup pre-season tournament is on the horizon. Along with that is the National Soccer Hall of Fame inductions will be announced at the draft.

FA Cup replays got the action going on the pitch in the mid-week with Pompey getting past Coventry in stunning fashion with a late, late 2-1 victory. Pompey were gifted a 1-1 scoreline just ahead of stoppage time on an OG. Then, in added time of extra time Mokoena produced a glancing header off a corner that sent the Sky Blues home.

Nottingham Forest's 18 match unbeaten streak came to an end with Birmingham City's 1-0 victory on Barry Ferguson's first goal for City (62); Sheffield United nearly lost their 3-0 lead and held on for the 3-2 victory over QPR; Derby got by Millwall on penalties after a 1-1 draw and Bristol City and Cardiff will do it again after a 1-1 draw.

At Anfield Reading's Royals again provided a surprise defeating the Reds on their own ground with a 2-1 win in extra time. Even worse news on the day for Liverpool fans, they lost both Gerrard (46) and Torres (61) to injury again. Actually, the Royals scored all the goals on the day as the Reds tally was an OG in the 45th minute. What mattered most was the 90th minute penalty that sent the match into extra time and the match winner from Shane Long ten minutes later. Yossi Benayoun had a really bad day for the Reds with his foul resulting in the penalty that tied the game on the cusp of stoppage time and in extra time he should have done better on a break that could have been the match winner.

The aftermath of the loss to Reading got even worse when the injuries to Gerrard, Torres and Benayoun were investigated further. Gerrard will miss two more weeks (thigh) while Torres will need surgery to repair damage to his knee and be out for at least six weeks. Benayoun suffered a broken rib.

Championship leaders Newcastle thumped Plymouth 3-0 at St James' Park to win their spot in the 4th Round on a hat-trick from Peter Lovenkrands.

In one of the two-legged Carling Cup Semifinals Villa hit on a counter with Milner directing home the cross from Downing for the 1-0 victory at Ewood Park. Villa may not score many goals (they don't; among the top 8 clubs Villa has scored the fewest (29)) but there is only one team in the EPL that has conceded fewer and that is leaders Chelsea.

The match at Fratton Park with Birmingham was postponed for a water-logged pitch, a much more common event for this time of year in the UK than the snow and ice.

Rafa is probably wishing it had snowed a foot or two and put off the match at the Britannia with Stoke. The lack of quality in his first 11 selection made for a truly dour display in the opening half, one in which his side were defending their own area far too much. When they did manage to get forward no real chance came of it. Kyrgiakos poked in his first in a Liverpool shirt for the lead (57) and it looked as if the Reds had done enough (barely) to earn the points until a 90th minute free kick led to a Robert Huth leveler. Again Liverpool concede the late goal from a set piece to drop points in this season that is becoming a disaster. The Reds remain 7th but only because Birmingham's match at Portsmouth was postponed.

Chelsea jumped on Sunderland early and often on goals from Anelka (8), Malouda (18), Ashley Cole (22) and Lampard (34) to lead 4-0 at halftime. Of those first half goals at least three of them might be called 'soft' in that you'd expect an EPL keeper to make those saves more often than not. The Blues stretched the lead to five via Ballack (52) before the Black Cats would get one on the board from Zenden (56). Anelka got his second on the day (65) then Lampard his in stoppage time before Bent's for the 7-2 final. A thoroughly overwhelming performance by the Blues to hold their 1 point advantage over United at the top of the table.

Burnley played their counter-attacking game almost perfectly for the first hour producing the better chances but neither of their front runners, Eagles or Nugent, made any of them count. Then terrific work by Rooney at the top of the area and a nice pass into space sent Berbatov in for the first for United in the 64th. Five minutes later Rooney poked one in and debutant Diouf added the third in the first minute of added time for the final 3-0 score.

Tottenham and Hull ended scoreless at White Hart Lane in Redknapp's 500th game as a Premier League manager as the Tigers keeper Boaz Myhill was man of the match being credited with 11 saves. Wigan got two second half goals to win at Wolves. James McCarthy (60) and N'Zogbia (73) provided the scoring for the Latics as they go to 13th.

Man City's bid to run their winning streak to 5 under Mancini at Goodison Park had Everton manager David Moyes and his injury ridden side under pressure before a ball was kicked. Would Donovan be able to contribute again as he did in his debut last week? In the first half he did have positive impact as Everton held City at bay. Santa Cruz was lost to injury and hobbled off in the 5th minute replaced by Robinho but he contributed little to City's cause. The Toffees took the lead in the 36th minute via a Pienaar free kick and Saha added the 2nd from the spot (45). Mancini replaced the ineffective Robinho in the 62nd who showed the petulance of youth as he stormed off. The win by the Toffees soothed some rough edges for Moyes as he's been indignant about City's pursuit and signing of Lescott going beyond the rules.

Aston Villa welcomed West Ham to Villa Park in hopes of winning the full points and moving up the table overtaking Man City and Spurs to take 4th. With that inspiration you'd think they would produce a spirited effort. Nothing of the sort happened in a dour scoreless draw. Instead it was the Hammers fans that were celebrating as the point moves them out of the zone to 16th. The point leaves Villa in 6th.

Blackburn got goals from both their central defenders (Samba & Nelsen) to defeat Fulham 2-0 at Ewood Park. The Cottagers, previously on the rise, have suddenly found it difficult to score. Despite a large margin in possession and shots they couldn't get the job done again.

Bolton hosting Arsenal in Owen Coyle's first match in charge at the Reebok offered both sides a test of their mettle. With a victory Bolton would move well out of the zone. For Arsenal another win on the road would keep them within 2 points of United with a game in hand and make them the EPL side to win the most points in games away from home. Bolton started brightly and had the ball in the net in the 2nd minute only to see it waved off for offside. With the home fans spurring on their side Bolton had a good spell but couldn't find the net. In the 28th minute Fabregas changed the game on what most would say a goal against the run of play. In the second period Bolton again seemed the more likely to score and the pivotal point of the match became Matt Taylor's miss after being put in alone from close range. Merida added Arsenal's second despite an obvious offside on the play in the 78th (his first for the Gunners) shortly after coming on for the final scoreline.

In the mid-week to come these same two sides will reverse the scene as the Arsenal game in hand gets cashed in. Will the Gunners take the opportunity and to go to the top? A Gunners victory would tie them with Chelsea and a margin of 3 would put them alone at the top.

Liverpool will host Spurs in another contest on Wednesday that is truly important for both sides. The Reds in obvious disarray and a terrible funk will be facing Spurs in dire need of a win themselves. Spurs, now tied on points with Man City could tighten their grip on 4th with a win. Meanwhile Liverpool need a resounding win to boost their sagging confidence. Can they get it without Gerrard, Torres and Benayoun or does their slide to mediocrity continue?

The Carling Cup semifinals will make another attempt to get back on track on Tuesday when United goes across town to face City at Eastlands (1st leg) and Aston Villa hosts Blackburn on Wednesday (2nd leg).

Next weekend the FA Cup 4th Round takes center stage but Man United will also be in action as they play the postponed match with Hull as the only EPL game on the schedule.