Manchester United, Manchester City Race for EPL Title: Can United Overhaul City?

After Manchester United's 2-0 defeat of Stoke and Manchester City's 1-0 loss to an extremely resolute Everton side, the two teams from opposite sides of Manchester sit atop the Premiership table with 54 points apiece.

Much has been said and written about Roberto Mancini's side finally toppling their red neighbours, and though their season has been impressive by anyone's standards, are the cracks beginning to show? Their lead has been cut to goal difference alone, their away form is shaky at best and trouble seems to constantly simmering somewhere in the blue camp.

Conversely, United have steadied their midfield with the return of club legend Paul Scholes, they have dispatched City from the FA Cup, disposed of Arsenal in the league and are showing ominous signs of approaching that "higher gear" they are so famous for post-Christmas.

It is a widely held belief that United perform better in the second half of the season, and this is more often than not the case—perhaps the most telling example of this being the 2002/03 championship title. Arsenal led United by eight points on March 2nd, only to relinquish pole position come the end of the season.

After the defeats to Blackburn and Newcastle, United have notched up three straight wins and their away form boasts eight wins, two draws and just the one loss, with a goal difference of plus-14.

Coinciding with this good form has been the emergence of Anders Lindegaard as a keeper with serious potential (up until the 3-0 to Newcastle, the Dane hadn't conceded a goal in the Premiership), a string of assured performances from Michael Carrick in the centre of the park and the return of Paul Scholes to ensure the middle of the park is never found lacking in creativity. Add to this Danny Welbeck's goal-scoring prowess against the top teams and everything seems to be clicking into place.

And all that is without mentioning the likes of Wayne Rooney, Patrice Evra, Nani and Antonio Valencia, who perform exceptionally on a consistent basis.

Then contrast this with the recent fortunes of Man City—knocked out of the FA Cup, the trophy they won last season, as well as being eliminated out of the Carling Cup. Their league form hasn't exactly been brilliant of late either. A draw with West Brom, as well as losses to Sunderland and Everton have allowed the Red Devils to close the gap.

However, City have a flawless home record, with 11 straight wins and only six goals conceded, and this is nothing to be scoffed at, even if the two clubs are level on points; Sir Alex Ferguson still has to take his team to the Etihad.

This being said, there are cracks beginning to show in a previously watertight assault on the Premiership. Vincent Kompany's rather unfortunate red card necessitated a change at the heart of the defence, and Stefan Savic often looked troubled during the captain's absence. Furthermore, Mario Balotelli got himself in yet another spot of bother with his alleged stamp on Scott Parker during the 3-2 victory over Spurs, meaning a three-match ban is on the horizon—something Mancini could sorely do without.

In defence of Man City, they have, at times, shown true "Champions' grit," especially concerning their late—albeit fortuitous—winner against Tottenham and their last-minute victory over Wigan. Grinding out 1-0 wins when you're not playing well is usually indicative of a title-winning side; just look at United and Jose Mourinho's Chelsea.

But there is the potential problem that very few of the City side are already holders of league medals. You hear talk of how the FA Cup victory of last season provided a new-found sense of hunger for the City players, but what United have in their squad is the experience of knowing just how special it is to win the Barclays Premiership.

Fergie's team face a tough month ahead of them with games against Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham in the league, as well as a two-legged affair with Ajax in the Europa League. It is crucial United maintain their winning form, as in this same period, City play Fulham, Villa and Blackburn—all three of which are hardly in the ascendancy. But with Mancini's men still having to play Arsenal and Chelsea, it may well come to a head on April 28th, just three games shy of the season finish.

If both teams manage to sustain good form, it would be up to United to beat City on their own turf (a place where they have yet to lose in the league this season). The bitterness of conceding the title in front of your own fans is all too familiar for Sir Alex, as his United side lost the 2001/02 championship to a Sylvan Wiltord goal at Old Trafford, and no doubt the wily Scot will be keen to inflict the same punishment on his latest adversaries.

City have announced the loan signing of AS Roma's David Pizarro, an unusual move given that the diminutive Chilean is a deep-lying playmaker and it is difficult to see just where he will slot into this City team (probably right into a bench spot alongside Adam Johnson...), but they will have to learn to cope better with absent first-teamers in this second half of the season.

Kompany's suspension proved they were lacking in confidence without him, and with Balotelli's imminent absence there is further pressure on the misfiring Eden Dzeko to shoulder goal-scoring responsibilities. Yaya Toure has certainly been missed, as his marauding forward runs added power and dynamism further up the pitch. As with United, it could be a midfield crisis that could derail the City title charge; Owen Hargreaves is short of fitness and Nigel de Jong is too reckless should Gareth Barry or James Milner succumb to injury or suspension.

For United, the key will be keeping the midfield strong in order to compete in the middle of the park. Goals are no problem, with Rooney well into double figures and Javier Hernandez, Welbeck and Dimitar Berbatov all finding the net regularly too. The absence of Nemanja Vidic would be a huge blow to any team, but when fit, Rio Ferdinand provides much-needed experience.

Evra still performs admirably at left-back, while Chris Smalling and Phil Jones have both had largely outstanding seasons up til now. Fortunately Carrick has found his form, as injuries to Darren Fletcher, Anderson and Cleverley have left the centre of the park looking depleted. Scholes, though a legend, does a job, but is merely a stopgap. If Anderson, Carrick and Cleverley can be kept fit, United should have enough quality to compete in an area they have lacked in this campaign.

Whether United drop points in a tough February period and City open up another six-point lead, or United shift into another gear and City lag as they start to feel the fatigue of a gruelling title challenge, it remains to be said that this season looks set to continue the tension and excitement.

And it could all boil down to a do-or-die battle at the Etihad on April 28th.