You’d think with a full compliment of Premier League matches this midweek that most of the headlines would be about what’s happening on the pitch…

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But you’d be wrong…

A quick glace at some of the stories dominating the football world paints an increasingly depressing picture – and it’s all money orientated.

If it’s not the ongoing plight of Crystal Palace, whose fans today find their club advertised for sale in the Financial Times, it’s the worries over the chances of Portsmouth surviving beyond tomorrow’s day in court to try and sweet talk the taxman into postponing the payment of the debt the club owes.

Beyond that, the richest man in India is denying reports linking him with a takeover of Liverpool, while a pair who did recently take over a club – David Sullivan and David Gold at West Ham – warn of Armageddon should the Hammers end up being relegated.

Oh, and to cap things off down Upton Park way, it’s also been calculated that Kieron Dyer’s five games for the club will have cost in the region of £30m by the time his contract expires…

Here’s footage of the injury-prone star in happier times, for Newcastle United…

All this in a week where third face fourth (Arsenal vs Liverpool) seventh play second (Aston Villa vs Manchester United) and ninth play top (Everton vs Chelsea).

Three mouthwatering games, all of which could go a significant way towards determining the outcome not just of the Champions League places, but the title itself.

But then it’s not really about the football anymore, is it?