Either Manchester United have virtually wrapped the Premier League title or Manchester City have them exactly where they want them after a weekend that saw the gap grow to nine points. Champions City’s draws with Queens Park Rangers and Liverpool in a week in which United ground out narrow wins against Southampton and Fulham left Alex Ferguson’s side in the clear with 13 matches remaining. City manager Roberto Mancini said the race is far from over after his side’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool and while straws are possibly being clutched by the Italian there is plenty of recent evidence backing up his optimism. Last year City were in even worse shape, trailing by eight points with six games remaining, only for an uncharacteristic United wobble to allow their neighbours to snatch the title with almost the final kick of the season. The bitter memory of that gripping finale, in which United thought they had won the title only for City’s Sergio Aguero to score deep into stoppage time at home to Queens Park Rangers, means United will be taking nothing for granted. They will also be acutely aware that one bad result can lead to two, or three, as happened last season. A 1-0 defeat in April last year, was followed by a 4-4 draw at home to Everton, having led 4-2, and a 1-0 defeat at City which effectively took matters out of their hands. United face Everton at home again this weekend before, then an FA Cup tie against Reading before a run of three comfortable looking league fixtures leading up to a potentially decisive home clash with City on April 6.
