If United can brush aside City in the derby, Fergie will focus on smashing their own record 18-POINT title-winning margin
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How it stands: The current Premier League top two
It’s all over bar the shouting – and the tedious but necessary mathematical confirmation.
Win against City tonight, and Manchester United can start to pinpoint when they’ll be waving those Barclays Premier League Champions banners and after which home game they can welcome the trophy back.
Victory in the derby and the gap will be 18 points with seven matches left to play, equalling the record points margin between first and second in the final Premier League reckoning, set by United in the 1999-2000 season when they left Arsenal trailing in their wake.
Title Countdown: Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United can establish a pretty much insurmountable 18-point lead at the top of the Barclays Premier League table with a win over Man City tonight. Coincidentally, 18 points is the record winning margin in the Premier League, set by United in 1999-2000 (above left and below).
Title party: Manchester United's players celebrate winning the Premier League in 2000
Class of 2013: Some of the United players who have helped win a 13th Premier League title
PREMIER LEAGUE WINNING MARGINS
1992-1993: Manchester United to Aston Vila – 10pts
1993-1994: Manchester United to Blackburn Rovers – 8pts
1994-1995: Blackburn Rovers to Manchester United – 1pt
1995-1996: Manchester United to Newcastle United – 4pts
1996-1997: Manchester United to Newcastle United - 7pts
1997-1998: Arsenal to Manchester United – 1pt
1998-1999: Manchester United to Arsenal – 1pt
1999-2000: Manchester United to Arsenal – 18pts
2000-2001: Manchester United to Arsenal – 10pts
2001-2002: Arsenal to Liverpool – 7pts
2002-2003: Manchester United to Arsenal – 5pts
2003-2004: Arsenal to Chelsea – 11pts
2004-2005: Chelsea to Arsenal – 12pts
2005-2006: Chelsea to Manchester United – 8pts
2006-2007: Manchester United to Chelsea – 6pts
2007-2008: Manchester United to Chelsea – 2pts
2008-2009: Manchester United to Liverpool – 4pts
2009-2010: Chelsea to Manchester United – 1pt
2010-2011: Manchester United to Chelsea – 9pts
2011-2012: Manchester City to Manchester United – 0pts, 8 goals
1993-1994: Manchester United to Blackburn Rovers – 8pts
1994-1995: Blackburn Rovers to Manchester United – 1pt
1995-1996: Manchester United to Newcastle United – 4pts
1996-1997: Manchester United to Newcastle United - 7pts
1997-1998: Arsenal to Manchester United – 1pt
1998-1999: Manchester United to Arsenal – 1pt
1999-2000: Manchester United to Arsenal – 18pts
2000-2001: Manchester United to Arsenal – 10pts
2001-2002: Arsenal to Liverpool – 7pts
2002-2003: Manchester United to Arsenal – 5pts
2003-2004: Arsenal to Chelsea – 11pts
2004-2005: Chelsea to Arsenal – 12pts
2005-2006: Chelsea to Manchester United – 8pts
2006-2007: Manchester United to Chelsea – 6pts
2007-2008: Manchester United to Chelsea – 2pts
2008-2009: Manchester United to Liverpool – 4pts
2009-2010: Chelsea to Manchester United – 1pt
2010-2011: Manchester United to Chelsea – 9pts
2011-2012: Manchester City to Manchester United – 0pts, 8 goals
And while City’s involvement in the FA Cup semi-final next weekend means United can’t equal their record of the ‘earliest’ Premier League win (April 14 in 2001), they could be champions if they beat West Ham on April 17, the second quickest conclusion to a title race since 1992.
Five title races have been concluded before the end of April, including two of United’s 12 triumphs. In 2001, United beat Coventry City 4-2 on April 14, a Saturday lunchtime, extending their lead over Arsenal to 16 points. Later in the day, the Gunners were surprisingly beaten 3-0 at Highbury against Middlesbrough and everything was done and dusted.
United stepped off the pace, losing their last three matches of that season, and the winning margin was cut to 10 points.
Crossing the line: Ryan Giggs scored as Manchester United beat Coventry City 4-2 on April 14, 2001 - the earliest the Premier League has been wrapped up
Title tipple: Ferguson marks United's 7th Premier League triumph in 2001
WHEN THE TITLE WAS WON
1992-1993: Manchester United – 2 games left to play, vs. Blackburn Rovers (H) 3-1 May 3rd
Mathematically won the previous night, when Aston Villa lost 1-0 at home to Oldham Athletic
1993-1994: Manchester United – 2 games, vs. Southampton (H) 2-0 May 4th
Mathematically won on May 2nd, when Blackburn Rovers lost 2-1 at Coventry City
1994-1995: Blackburn Rovers – 0 games, vs. Liverpool (A) 1-2 May 14th
Won because Manchester United drew 1-1 at West Ham on the same afternoon
1995-1996: Manchester United – 0 games, vs. Middlesbrough (A) 3-0 May 5th
1996-1997: Manchester United – 2 games, vs. Newcastle United (H) 0-0 May 8th
Mathematically won on May 6th, when Newcastle drew 0-0 at West Ham
1997-1998: Arsenal – 3 games, vs. Everton (H) 4-0 May 3rd
1998-1999: Manchester United – 0 games, vs. Tottenham Hotspur (H) 2-1 May 16th
Last day drama: United celebrate winning the Premier League, the first leg of their 1999 treble, with a win over Tottenham
1999-2000: Manchester United – 4 games, vs. Southampton (A) 3-1 April 22nd
2000-2001: Manchester United – 5 games, vs. Coventry City (H) 4-2 April 14th
2001-2002: Arsenal – 1 game, vs. Manchester United (A) 1-0 May 8th
2002-2003: Manchester United – 1 game, vs. Charlton Athletic (H) 4-1 May 3rd
Mathematically won on May 4th, when Arsenal lost 3-2 at home to Leeds United
2003-2004: Arsenal – 4 games, vs. Tottenham Hotspur (A) 2-2 April 25th
2004-2005: Chelsea – 3 games, vs. Bolton Wanderers (A) 2-0 April 30th
2005-2006: Chelsea – 2 games, vs. Manchester United (H) 3-0 April 29th
2006-2007: Manchester United – 2 games, vs. Manchester City (A) 1-0 May 5th
Mathematically won on May 6th, when Chelsea drew 1-1 at Arsenal
2007-2008: Manchester United – 0 games, vs. Wigan Athletic (A) 2-0 May 11th
2008-2009: Manchester United – 1 game, vs. Arsenal (H) 0-0 May 16th
2009-2010: Chelsea – 0 games, vs. Wigan Athletic (H) 8-0 May 9th
2010-2011: Manchester United – 1 game, vs. Blackburn Rovers (A) 1-1 May 14th
2011-2012: Manchester City – 0 games, vs. Queens Park Rangers (H) 3-2 May 13th
Source: Opta
It should have easily exceeded, or at least equalled, their mammoth 18-point winning margin of the season before, when the title was wrapped up with a 3-1 win against Southampton on April 22nd.
By anyone’s standards, 18 points is a clear expression of dominance and Sir Alex Ferguson will no doubt be encouraging his players to try and exceed this record in the run-in.
But whatever the final margin, City fans can take the long-term view that at least their side are now competing with United at the top of the Premier League.
New challengers: Manchester City have reduced the gap between them and United, winning their first Premier League title last season
TABLE: How Manchester City have grown closer and closer to United
Source: Opta
The likely difference between the sides is one place, a stark contrast to the 1998-1999 season when 46 places on the league ladder separated Treble-winning United and second division play-off winners City.
The gap has been closing ever since, even before Sheikh Mansour’s billions, and before their title triumph last season, the number of places City had finished behind United had been in single figures for four seasons.
Still, that’s not been good enough this season and more re-building or investment is required to narrow the gap again.
TITLE RUN-IN
Tonight: Manchester United v Manchester City (8pm, Old Trafford)
MANCHESTER UNITED
April 14 - Stoke City (A)
April 17 - West Ham United (A)
April 22 - Aston Villa (H)
April 28 - Arsenal (A)
May 4 - Chelsea (H)
May 12 - Swansea City (H)
May 19 - West Bromwich Albion (A)
MANCHESTER CITY
April 17 - Wigan Athletic (H)
April 21 - Tottenham Hotspur (A)
April 27 - West Ham United (H)
May 4 - Swansea City (A)
May 12 - Reading (A)
May 19 - Norwich City (H)
TBC - West Bromwich Albion (H)
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2305690/Manchester-United-v-Manchester-City-United-Barclays-Premier-League-records-break-title-run-in.html#ixzz2PsthJO4z
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