The Easter programme will not decide who wins the Premiership or who leaves it although by Monday teatime Manchester City could be assured of a speedy return. But at least the situations at the top and bottom of the table will be that much brighter or gloomier depending on where supporters' affinities lie.

The contest for the championship has been unusually tight and involved more than the usual number of teams and all that is likely to emerge from the holiday matches is further evidence that Manchester United are about to lose their title. Yet even that prospect will be put on hold if United return to the top of the table today before Arsenal and Liverpool have kicked off.

On form the noon train of events at Elland Road should at least secure for Alex Ferguson's team the point which would be sufficient to take them above Liverpool on goal difference. Leeds have beaten United once in a dozen Premiership meetings and, with Roy Keane due to return, this run should continue unless Tuesday's Champions League match against Deportivo La Coruna distracts Ferguson's players from the task in hand.

A win or draw for United would put extra pressure on their rivals not to slip up at home. And Liverpool will not have overlooked the fact that Charlton tend to be a more potent force away from the Valley, where Arsenal will be Monday's visitors.

Arsenal's two matches in hand mean that neither United nor Liverpool have much margin for error over the remainder of the season. In fact, if United lose today they may find themselves five points behind Arsenal by the time they retire for the night in La Coruna on Monday.

Whatever happens Arsene Wenger's side will still have a game in hand over United and Liverpool when the holiday is over. To win the Premiership all Arsenal need to do is keep winning and, although the loss of Robert Pires for the duration will make this more difficult, Thierry Henry's return from suspension should ensure them a win against Sunderland this afternoon.

Liverpool and Arsenal have comparable run-ins. Liverpool are at home to Charlton, Blackburn, Derby County and Ipswich while Sunderland, Everton, Ipswich, Tottenham and West Ham are due at Highbury. Liverpool visit Sunderland and Tottenham, Arsenal are at Charlton, Bolton and - perhaps crucially, perhaps not - United.

One advantage for Liverpool could be that they won at Old Trafford in January when the fixture was brought forward from Easter Monday to avoid a clash with the Champions League quarter-finals. But for that to be the case Arsenal have got to start losing league matches on a more regular basis than they have so far.

This is going to be an anxious Easter for all of the bottom eight clubs with the possible exception of Leicester, who are now 13 points away from safety and must have settled for the reality of relegation. Even Middlesbrough, lying 10th, will not feel secure until their points total exceeds 40.

A good Bank Holiday for Ipswich and Derby could send a renewed shiver of apprehension through Blackburn, who are staying out of the bottom three by superior goal difference, and Bolton, a point above them. Nor can Sunderland or free-falling Fulham feel safe on 35 points.

The plight of Ipswich is exacerbated by a list of remaining fixtures that would make championship contenders blanch.

After their Easter games against West Ham and Chelsea, George Burley's side face visits to Arsenal, Liverpool and their fellow strugglers Bolton. For good measure they also meet Manchester United at Portman Road.

Derby County are stirring but John Gregory's team still have to meet Leeds and Newcastle at Pride Park as well as visiting Chelsea (today) and Liverpool. At the moment the most likely outcome is that the present bottom three will be in Division One next season.

The next 72 hours could find Manchester City set to occupy one of the Premiership vacancies. If third-placed West Bromwich fail to take maximum points from their games against Barnsley and Coventry, Kevin Keegan's team will be assured of automatic promotion with wins over Nottingham Forest and Wolves.

Since Monday's game at Molineux kicks off at 1 p.m., City's may be a delayed celebration. And, given Wolves' need for points to keep themselves in sight of automatic promotion, Keegan's players may even be left with a little more to do.