Liverpool's players must put the courtroom drama and international wrangle over ownership of their club out of their minds for at least a couple of hours this weekend for their biggest match of the Premier League season - a trip to fierce city rival Everton.
With local pride and bragging rights at stake between clubs less than a mile part, Sunday's fixture is a huge one even when things are going well for both teams.
But Liverpool is in the relegation zone and facing an uncertain future that could yet include a points deduction, while things on the field are scarcely much better for an Everton side that has also picked up just one win so far.
Defeat for either side would leave it in the relegation zone, with only Saturday's meeting between bottom side West Ham and 19th-place Wolverhampton Wanderers guaranteeing that neither can end the weekend last in the standings.
An attempt by Liverpool's board to sell the club is progressing through courts in London and Texas but, with the club's topflight status in peril after 48 years, the players cannot afford to be distracted.
"Where I grew up in London, people supported all different teams but here it's one or the other. It's what you live for," Liverpool fullback Glen Johnson said. "You can sense when a derby is coming because of the buildup the week before.
"It's so intense."
Liverpool fans are used to looking for results at the top of the table but their attention on Saturday will likely be focused on Newcastle's meeting with Wigan than leader Chelsea's trip to Aston Villa or Manchester United's home game against West Bromwich Albion.
The attention given this week's hearings at London's High Court has at least diverted attention away from the team's problems on the pitch.
"I know how frustrated the fans have been with what has been going on and I can understand their feelings," Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard said. "But we've all suffered in this, especially the supporters, and now it's time for us all to pull together and help move the club forward."
Fans chanted for manager Roy Hodgson to be replaced during Liverpool's last match - a dismal 2-1 home loss against newly promoted Blackpool - but the manager could get a boost from striker Fernando Torres, who has spent the two-week break for international action recovering from an adductor strain.
"He has had intense treatment over the last 10 days and responded very well to that treatment," Liverpool club doctor Peter Brukner said. "He's ready to resume training today and if we can build up his training and get through the next few days, then we are optimistic but not certain that he will be able to line up against Everton.
"It's still early days but so far so good."
But forward Dirk Kuyt is set for a month on the sidelines after injuring his ankle playing for the Netherlands on Tuesday.
Manchester United's meeting with West Brom, which is in sixth place on its return to the Premier League, is the first of nine matches in 29 days for the Red Devils.
United could have injured-plagued midfielder Owen Hargreaves back in its starting lineup for the first time in two years, according to British newspapers, while England striker Wayne Rooney has said there is no problem with his ankle and could also play.
Also Saturday, Arsenal hosts Birmingham, Stoke is at Bolton, and Tottenham is at Fulham.
Manchester City is at Blackpool in Sunday's other game, while Sunderland is at Blackburn on Monday.
Queens Park Rangers will aim to stretch its lead at the top of the second-tier League Championship when it hosts third-place Norwich on Saturday, when second-place Cardiff hosts lowly Bristol City.
