Man Utd and City brace for 'Manic Monday'

The defining plot twist of the most enthralling title race in years could be written on Monday as Manchester City attempt to seize control of their Premier League destiny against leaders Manchester United.

Three weeks ago, United already had one hand on a record 20th title after City's defeat at Arsenal left Sir Alex Ferguson's team a hefty eight points clear with only six games remaining.

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But a poor run of results from United, which has seen them take only four points from a possible nine, has suddenly given City the chance to put themselves back on pole position as the finish line looms into view.

City manager Roberto Mancini has insisted that he still expects United to win the league, citing the champions' experience in closing out title run-ins.

"I probably expect us to lose to Manchester United," Mancini said last week. "Their players are used to playing under pressure every year. But we don't have any pressure as we have no chance of winning."

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Mancini's downbeat public utterances are unlikely to fool anyone: the Italian knows that his expensively-assembled side can return to the top of the table with a victory on Monday.

Wins at Newcastle and at home to Queens Park Rangers would then guarantee City the league crown, provided United are unable to make up their rivals' significant advantage in goal difference, which currently stands at plus six.

Arguably United's biggest asset in what promises to be a nerve-shredding occasion on Monday is their manager.

After 25 years at Old Trafford, little fazes Ferguson and the 70-year-old is relishing the challenge from opponents whose seemingly limitless wealth makes them the biggest threat to United's position at the summit of the English game.

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Ferguson has calmly noted that the title is still United's to lose, and that a draw at Eastlands on Monday would leave his team in control. City, who must win, have no such margin for error.

"We know the exact situation we are in here," Ferguson said. "We are in a better position than Manchester City.

"We can get two results, they can only get one. They have to win. We can draw or we can win, although you know my attitude and the club's attitude. We will be trying to win."

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United have already demonstrated that they have the know-how to get a result at a ground where City have dropped just two points all season, winning January's FA Cup third round tie 3-2.

Yet Ferguson must be concerned by the sudden frailty of a United defence that was punctured repeatedly by Everton last weekend in a 4-4 draw.

City, who humiliated United 6-1 at Old Trafford in October, have rattled in 12 goals in their past three games, and their nimble strikeforce of Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tevez will fancy their chances of adding to that haul if Rio Ferdinand and Jonny Evans have another off-day.

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Of all the storylines to emerge from this year's Premier League page-turner, it is the re-emergence of Tevez that is potentially the most compelling.

Ostracised by Mancini after his infamous refusal to warm-up during the Champions League defeat at Bayern Munich in September, the former United striker then disappeared to Argentina for three months of unauthorised leave.

Mancini, who had previously said Tevez would never play for the club again, has been forced to reverse his stance during the run-in, particularly after ill-discipline saw Mario Balotelli sidelined for three games.

Tevez has responded to his recall by delivering goals, adding an injection of verve to a City forward line that had been struggling to reproduce their scintillating early season form.

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Ferguson was cool about the possible impact of Tevez, who has scored three times in five previous games against United, on Monday's derby.

"We have not watched the games a lot, but he scored a hat-trick," Ferguson said. "That is an impact.

"We will just have to wait and see what he does on Monday."

Classic encounters

Manchester United vs Manchester City

Overall head to record:

Manchester United wins: 67

Manchester City wins: 44

Matches drawn: 50

27/04/74: MANCHESTER UNITED 0 MANCHESTER CITY 1

Contrary to popular myth, Denis Law's backheeled goal for City against his former club did not relegate United, who would have gone down regardless of the outcome of this match.

Even so, Law's cheeky goal has become part of Manchester footballing folklore, almost as much for the Scottish striker's muted response to scoring the winner.

"I have seldom felt so depressed in my life as I did that weekend. After 19 years of giving everything I had to score goals, I had finally scored one which I almost wished I hadn't," Law later admitted.

23/09/89: MANCHESTER CITY 5 MANCHESTER UNITED 1

A crushing defeat at Maine Road that couldn't have come at a worse time for Ferguson, still struggling to mould United into a force after arriving at Old Trafford from Aberdeen less than three years earlier.

City took a stranglehold on the game in the opening 45 minutes, racing into a 3-0 lead with goals from David Oldfield, Trevor Morley and Ian Bishop as United were made to pay for some shambolic defending.

Mark Hughes pulled one back for United with a spectacular volley but further goals from Oldfield and Andy Hinchcliffe gave City a famous victory.

21/09/09: MANCHESTER UNITED 4 MANCHESTER CITY 3

An extraordinary game that marked Carlos Tevez's first match against United since his much-trumpeted defection to City in the close season.

Wayne Rooney shot United into the lead before Gareth Barry drew City level. Darren Fletcher put United ahead only for Craig Bellamy to restore parity with a thunderous 25-yard effort.

A further Fletcher goal in the 80th minute looked to have sealed the win for United only for Bellamy to snatch a dramatic equaliser on the stroke of full-time.

Six minutes into injury time Michael Owen popped up to poach the winner for United as City's then manager Mark Hughes raged at officials who had earlier signalled for only four minutes of time added on.

16/04/11: MANCHESTER CITY 1 MANCHESTER UNITED 0

With United still alive in three competitions, the two Manchester rivals met once more in a Wembley FA Cup semi-final.

Yet United's hopes of a second treble were shattered by Yaya Toure's 52nd minute winner as Roberto Mancini's side advanced to a final against Stoke which they went on to win the following month, ending City's 35-year wait for a trophy.

23/10/11: MANCHESTER UNITED 1 MANCHESTER CITY 6

Sir Alex Ferguson described it as his "worst ever day" in football, and few would be willing to quibble with that assessment after a remarkable mauling at Old Trafford that shocked English football.

Both sides headed into the game in form and unbeaten, but City took a 1-0 lead at half-time through a goal from Mario Balotelli.

The dismissal of Jonny Evans left United down to 10-men and City took full advantage to go 3-0 up with further strikes from Balotelli and Sergio Aguero.

Darren Fletcher gave the Red Devils hope on 81 minutes but as United surged forward in pursuit of a miraculous comeback, City picked them off mercilessly with Edin Dzeko scoring twice and David Silva adding another as United suffered their worst home defeat since 1955.

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