Scheduled at the tail end of the season, reading the fixture list in pre-season, this looked to be the title decider, yet with United 15 points ahead and stuck in a post-Madrid rut, the Manchester derby became something of a farce for Sir Alex's men.

Van Persie and Rooney started up-front, with Young and Welbeck on the flanks. The fluid…

It's strange to think that Samir Nasri, artistic playmaker, and James Milner, determined workhorse, cost Manchester City roughly the same amount of money, depending on one's valuation of Stephen Ireland in the Milner swap deal. But although Nasri is the more talented footballer, Milner was excellent against Arsenal last weekend, and deserves to keep his place for the home match…