Former Manchester United full-back Gary Neville has claimed that the battle for the Premier League title is now a two-horse race.
Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool all dropped points at the weekend while Manchester City and United scraped narrow wins against promoted opposition, increasing their lead over the chasing pack.
City remain the clear frontrunners with an eight-point advantage over even United, but Neville believes that victory for the Red Devils in next month's Manchester derby could set United on their way to catching Pep Guardiola's side.
"It definitely does [remain a Manchester duel for the title]. At this moment in time, it is United who are closest to Man City but I don't think Liverpool, Tottenham, Arsenal or Chelsea are right this season. Man Utd are certainly the most capable, I think, to mount a challenge to Man City but it's about getting close enough to them. At the moment, Man City's performances are really good, it's a high level," he said on the Gary Neville Podcast.
"But you have to retain hope if you're Man Utd and think that something could happen in a couple of weeks' time in that Manchester derby that could start a run of results that will put doubt in Man City's mind, that's the only way United can be thinking. They certainly have to beat Man City themselves. One thing you can't do it ask other teams to take points from them when you can't go and do it yourself so United have that chance in a few weeks.
"United should not be further away by the time that game comes around in two weeks. Man Utd have got Watford away on Tuesday night before Arsenal on Saturday, while Man City have West Ham and Southampton at home in those two matches. So at this moment in time, if you're Man Utd going into that game in two weeks' time and you are still eight points away, I think they would be really happy because they've got two very tough games. Man City on paper, with the way they've been playing, you think would get the six points.
"At the moment, the pressure is all on the other teams because the other teams have to get close to Man City and that's the real problem. I think for United, they have to win at Watford and Arsenal. They have to make sure they stay close enough to Man City because it won't be complacency that costs this Man City team, but it could be pressure as it builds through December, January, February if another team can get close to them. But over the next few weeks, you could say Man City will be further in front if you look at the fixtures that both Manchester clubs have."
City have made the best ever start to a Premier League season, amassing 37 of a possible 39 points from their opening 13 games.
Barney Corkhill
